U.S. FEARS IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23003, 24 April 1940, Page 9

U.S. FEARS IN PACIFIC

INVINCIBLE NAVY URGED JAPANESE DESIGNS IN SOUTH ASIA (UNltteft £>RE!SS ASSOCIATION—COTViIIGItT.) (Received April 23, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 23. Rear-Admiral Taussig, former Assistant Chief of Naval operations, testifying before the Senate Naval Affairs Oommittee, expressed the opinion that Japan would attempt 10 take the Philippines, French Indochina,. and the Netherlands East Indies. “1 cannot see how we can ultimately prevent being drawn into the War on account of the Far Eastern situation,” he. said. ,He urged the building pi an invincible navy the fortification of the Philippines and. Guam, and co-op-eration with Britain and France in the East. Major George Fielding Eliot, a military writer, expressed’.the opinion that a British, American, and Netherlands Pacific alliance Would be ineffective, because Britain and Holland at present have ho freedom of action. He advocated instead an agreement with Australia, and he added that if the United states had the support of Australian bases and loaned money to improve them, it might be in a better position in the Pacific, Tribute to British Navy Major Eliot, who served with the A.I.F. in the World War, said; “Australia and America are much in the same boat. Australia could supplv military, naval, and air bases, and the United States Could Contribute funds for their construction and maintenance. The United States is very interested in the Far Eastern supplies of rubber and tin.” Major Eliot paid a tribute to the effectiveness of, the British Navy, ahd said he believed that the Allies held the advantage in Norway because they yere able to transport troops and supplies and challenge the Germans. Herr Hitler’s attempts to maintain sea communications with Scandinavia would be disastrous. The British were effectively interrupting communications across the Skagerrak, where it would be Useless for Britain to risk capital Ships, it is stated ih Washington. That Major Eliot is a native of New York. He went to Australia with his parents at the age of eight. He enlisted in the A.I.F. in the Great War and took part ih action at the Dardanelles and on the Western Front. He was Commissioned as a major in the United States Army Reserve Corps in 1928. REPRIMAND FROM MR HULL WASHINGTON, April 23. Admiral H. R. Stark'emphasised that Rear-Admiral TaUssig Wife sneaking oh his own responsibility. He added that the Views Were contrary to those of the Navy Department. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) also in effect reprimahded Rear-Admiral TaUSslg, stating that the Government had a well-defined foreign policy and none outside the' State Department was authorised to discuss it. FLIGHTS OYER GERMANY UNCEASING ACTIVITY BY R.A.F. (britlss arricut wiftftLSss.) RUGBY, April 22. While particular attention has been paid in the last few days to the exploits of the Royal Air Force in reconnoitring German bases in Norway, it is important to remember that there has beeh no cessation of Royal Air Force activity over Germany itself. Since the outbreak of war, aircraft of the Somber Command have flown floOO miles over what is known as Greater Germany. Opposition to the raiders has generally been marked, particularly by day, but the British losses have been small and the value of the work is demonstrated by photographs and Verbal intelligence brought back. The crews have also become thoroughly familiar with flying conditions over Germany, and now knew the tactical approach to their objectives In all conditions, both day and night. At night, except when the raiders come down to inspect a town or some anti-aircraft defended area, the principal enemy is not the Germans, but the , weather, which often has been so cold that ice has formed within the aircraft, Thick banks of cloud may obscure what light there is and make the night impenetrably black all the Way to and from Germany, ft may also be necessary to fly blind in heavy cloud layers for hours at a Stretch, imposing fib sftYaW ftevVoua attain. During the daylight reconnaissance flights, when enemy opposition is fierce, photographs have to be taken and the information added to the copious notes made on the spot. The countryside must be watched for troop movements or other unusual activity Oft roads, railways, or rivers, ahd the sky scanned for the approach of enemy aircraft. A further result of these flights is the fact that mere than 880 flights by day or night without serious mishap have taught the crews to trust their aircraft, They have also given the crews complete self-confidence and taught them to regard their work as a piece of familiar routine for which they have no doubt of their capacity.