JAPAN’S NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1940, Page 6

JAPAN’S NAVY

SECRET WARSHIPS. , WASHINGTON, May 2. , “Japan niay be building secretly four super-battleships.” The United States Secretary for the Navy (Mr Charles Edison) said this to-day'. He has just returned from U.S naval manoeuvres off Hawaii. He offered to exchange y’.S. naval ,building data with Japan. He was replying to a Japanese j spokesman’s comment on the state- j meii.t of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Navy (Admiral Stark) to the Senate Naval -Affairs Committee last month that Japan was secretly building heavy battleships. “Sheet* propaganda,” was the Japanese spokesman’s comment. Mr Edison said that the United States needed more naval bases in the Pacific to protect the Panama Canal frohi western approaches. Air Attacks Referring to the Vulnerability - of battleships to air attacks, Mr. Edison said: — | “The bombing aircraft’s power to ' damage battleships severely is a temporary advantage. “Even if a bomb does not sink a ’ battleship, it can cause heavy personal loss and disorganise guns. ; “Battleships need more protection j on the upper decks against high ex* I plosive bombs, and this can be fixed 1 n l ) * .. I ; “The United States will have to Te- > design the superstructure and upper decks of Her battleships to give better , protection from bomb splinters to J crews.” I' " } Battleship’s Value I He. added that he endorsed the United States naval opinion that the battleship was still the bulwark of fighting forces at sea. Last month the United States Navy ! Department told the Senate Naval Affairs Committee: — “Germany’s air arid submarine !’ forces have proved no match for the i battleships _of Britain and France.”