TWO-OCEAN NAVY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21370, 14 March 1941, Page 6

TWO-OCEAN NAVY

UNITED STATES NEED MEET AXIS STRENGTH HIGH COMMAND’S WARNING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 14, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 13 Warning Congress to-day that the international situation may continue to grow worse, the Navy High Command urged all possible haste in the completion of the two-ocean Navy, because of the potential superior strength of the combined Axis fleet. Colonel Knox told the House Appropriations Committee during testimony on the Naval Supply Bill for the coming year that the German, Italian and Japanese fleets comprised 1,835,000 tons on January 1, compared with the United States 1,250,000 tons. The acquisition of the French fleet would further swell the Axis strength. Colonel Knox said the major units under construction would not be completed till 1946. Meantime the United States confronted, firstly, the possible defeat of Britain, and. secondly, the possibility of Japan becoming an active belligerent. It was obviously most desirable to prevent these possibilities becoming realities. Admiral Stark. Chief of the Naval Staff, told the committee that requests undoubtedly would be made in excess of the 3,359,000,000 dollars sought to carry out the huge naval expansion programme in the ensuing year. The committee was informed that thi Navy had developed equipment which detects the approach ox enemy surface ships or aircraft in time w use the information tactically. This alone will cost 50,000,000 dollars icr the existing fleet. The new graving dock will take a 55,000-ton battieship, but the largest now in prospect are four 45,000-ton battleships. By summer time the Navy will have the largest combat shipbuilding programme in the nation’s history.

NEW LABOUR SCHEME ACCEPTANCE BY DOCKERS * United Press Assn .—Elec. Tp!. Copyright) (Received March 14, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON. March 13 The north-west regional port director announced that dockers on the Merseyside and in the Manchester and Preston area generally have accepted a new labour scheme. From a full attendance to-day only six were unwilling to register. THE PEACE TERMS THAILAND AND INDO-CHINA GUARANTEE BY JAPAN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) TOKIO. March 12 Under the Thailand-Indo-China peace terms, the Mekong frontier will be fixed in accordance with the principle of a deep-water channel, but the two islands of Khong and Khone will be under the sovereignty of Thailand, with France and Thailand jointly administering them. Existing French establishments on the islands shall belong to France. The treaty stated: “In signing the terms of mediation, letters were exchanged between Japan and France and Japan and Thailand, in which 1 Japan guarantees the definite nature of the settlement and agreements will subsequently be made respecting the maintenance of peace in greater East Asia, also the establishment and promotion especially of closer relations between Japan and Thailand and between Japan and Indo-China.” The Miyako Shimbun said the Thailand and French mediation delegates would remain in Tokio in order to draft a new treaty. They were also inviting their home Government specialists to negotiate under tne auspices of the Foreign Office. CHINESE COMMUNISTS ASSISTANCE FROM RUSSIA (United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SHANGHAI, March 12 Japanese press circles stated that a secret mutual assistance pact was concluded at Moscow on March 8 under which Russia agreed to assist Chinese Communists to establish a Chinese Soviet area. ITALY’S REMINDER JAPAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) ROME, March 13 The Italian newspaper Popoiy di Roma reminds Japan that her signature to the Three-Power Pact carries obligations as well as advantages. WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVACUATED FROM THAILAND ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA (United Tress Assn. —Eler. Tel Copyright) SYDNEY. March 13 Thirty women and children evacuated from Thailand have arrived in Sydney. Most are wives of tin mining engineers and officials in Thailand. One woman said that everything was quiet when they left. The Thai people did not seem troubled by international disputes. They were neither pro-Japanese nor pro-British. They were really not pro-anything.