GRAVE WARNING

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 52, 25 November 1941, Page 7

GRAVE WARNING

American Fleet’s Task

(Received November 24, 7 p.m.) „

WASHINGTON, November 23.

The immediate dispatch of the United States Pacific fleet from Hawaii to Singapore is -urged by Rear-Admiral Stirling, says the United Press naval commentator. “This is the one chance of stopping Japan,” says Rear-Admiral Stirling. “Guarded by this fleet, augmented by British naval forces, Singapore should be safe.” “Japan, however, would probably never allow such a move to go unchallenged,” he said. “She has a fleet of at least 12 battleships, nine aircraftcarriers, 40 cruisers,, 150 destroyers, and 60 submarines. She also has an air force of 2000 naval planes, and 3000 army planes. . “If the United States fleet moved to Singapore, the Japanese would probably be mobilized at Cabranh Bay, from which they would take the offensive. The Japanese navy’s ships are equal to any in the world. “A war between Japan and the United States would be long _ and arduous. For America to win it would require an all-out effort far exceeding anything most of our people realize. The war would be a naval war and would have to be fought in waters of-Japan’s choosing—waters in which Japan has literally hundreds ol bases.”