YELLOW PERIL ?

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2780, 23 October 1923, Page 5

YELLOW PERIL ?

AUSTRALIAN OPINIONS.

NATIONAL ARMOURY AT •LITHGOW.

REVOLVERS TO 18-POUNDERS.

[By Electric Cable—Copyright]

[Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Monday, 10.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 22.

In his presidential address at the annual conference of tfie National Federation, ex-Senator Plain declared Japan was the on^ - country likely to cross swords with Australia and demanded that America and Britain should call a stop to Japan's increasing navy. He said Japan was not adhering to the spirit of the Washington Conference, as. much as forty-nine per cent of the national expenditure was being spent on increasing her navy.

Senator Pearce, in replying, denied that Japan was not carrying out to the letter the spirit of the Treaty and added that she took steps to put many of its operations into power before the Treaty was actually passed. He concluded: "This does not absolve Australia from her responsibility. We are living in an armed camp and war seems to become an occupation." Senator Borden, addressing the Conference qn defence matters, said Australia, New Zealand and Japan were not limited in the slightest by the recent Armaments Conference as regards navVl bases, which were absolutely necessary. He added that the present efficiency of the fleet had never been higher, but the reduction in personnel was serious, and it had been reduced from 10,113 in 1921-22 to 7564 in 1922-23. In referring to munitions, he said small arms factories at Lithgow and Maribyrnong would be manufacturing revolvers and IS-pounders shortly, in addition to shells for the letter guns. Plant was being installed to make shells up to 6 inches. At present, however, the position of our fixed defences and artillery units was serious as far as am. munition was concerned, for stocks must be replenished.