JAPAN'S NAVY

Evening Star, Issue 18020, 14 July 1922, Page 4

JAPAN'S NAVY

CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME.

POWERFUL SUBMARINES ■ INCLUDED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z Press Association.

SYDNEY, July 14. (Received July 14, at 9.30 a.m.)

The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ publishes a special article by Mr Pooley, who was formerly Reuter’s special correspondent in Japan, dealing with Japan’s naval policy. He says; “ The latest designed 1 Japanese submarines aro of 2,300 tons development. They are -armed with six torpedo tubes, and are armored over their vital parts. They will have -a cruising capacity of 7 % knots over a radius of 16,000 miles. They are capable of voyaging around Australia and back to Japan without touching port.” Air Pooley considers that there is nothing insuperable in such a feat. After dealing with other details of Japan’s naval construction, he adds-. “It is not unnatural, in view of past history, that some suspicions of Japanese intentions have been aroused, but for the present at any rate there does not appear to bo any fair grounds for imputing aggressive designs to Japan.” The writer declares that Japanese naval opinion does not share the view that the submarine is useful only for commerce raiding. On the contrary, he has a great belief in tho future of submarines in a fleet. He points out that Admiral Kato scrapped his war and pre-war submarine programme when the surrendered' German submarines which were allotted to Japan arrived, and drew up an entirely new programme after careful examination of tills booty had been made.

Mr Poofey concludes bis review of other branches of Japan’s naval policy and construction as follows: —“If tho Japanese programme does not justify the suspicions of the bombardment of Sydney and the raiding of Australian commerce, no harm is done by keeping a watchful eye on its future developments. Perhaps that is why a most distinguished admiral is steering the New Zealand ship of State, and why one of the most distinguished submarine experts has taken command of lhe_ Royal Australian Navy, or what is left of it.”