JAPAN IN THE PACIFIC

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4803, 1 February 1936, Page 5

JAPAN IN THE PACIFIC

THE MANDATED ISLANDS. AMERICAN WRITER’S VIEWS. (Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 12.12 p.m.) London, January 31. The Sun-Herald says that despite the Mandates Commission’s repeated requests to Japan to candidly explain her activities in the Pacific mandates, only a generalised account has been supplied by asserting that the construction is limited to harbour improvements. The Japanese have failed to allay the League’s suspicions, especially as under the mandate fortifications are not allowed. Important new light is thrown on these developments by an American journalist, Mr. Willard Price, who has just concluded a four months’ investigation of these islands. In an article in the Spectator he says he left the islands with the clear conclusion that there are no grounds for suspicion regarding the fortifications, but there was every reason for grave concern regarding the islands’ significance in Asia’s future. These include an amazing labyrinth of islands, comprising the Marianne, Caroline and Marshall groups, consisting of 1400 islands respectively, small islands ancl reefs. They are so situated that Japanese aeroplanes could reach Australia in six hours, Hongkong and Singapore in six hours, the Dutch East Indies in three hours, and the Philippines in two hours. Some of the islands provide perfect hiding places for warships, submarines and aircraft. The writer describes Palau Harbour as being valuable as a potential naval base to accommodate at least fifty large warships. Occasionally Japanese warships anchor there, but merchantmen are not allowed. Its existence is not generally known. He saw no refueiling bases and no fortifications, though if necessary these probably would come into existence with surprising alacrity. Mr. Price refers to the Mandates Commission’s fears that a naval base is being constructed in Saipan Harbour, but says that Saipan is so exposed that it is only important as a harbour and would he completely useless as a naval base.