AMERICAN FLEET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 9

AMERICAN FLEET

MOVE TO SINGAPORE U.S. ADMIRAL’S PROPOSAL “SHOULD STOP JAPAN” (Reed. Nqv. 24, 2.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. The immediate despatch of the United States Pacific fleet from Hawaii to Singapore is urged by Rear-Admiral Stirling, the United Press naval commentator. “This is one chance of stopping Japan,” says Rear-Admii-al ' Stirling. “Guarded by this fleet and augmented by British naval forces, Singapore should be safe. “Japan, however, would probably never allow such a move to go unchallenged. She has a fleet of at least 12 battleships, nine aircraft-carriers, 40 cruisers, 150 destroyers and 60 submarines. She also has an airforce of 2000 naval planes, and 3000 army planes. “If the United States fleet moved to Singapore, the Japanese would probably be mobilised at Cambranh Bay from which it would take the offensive. The Japanese Navy’s ships are equal to any in the world. “War between Japan and the United States would be long and arduous. For America to win would require an all-out effort, far exceeding anything that most of our people realise. The war would be a naval war and would have to be fought in waters of Japan’s choosing—waters in which Japan had literally 100 bases.”