“OUR TOY NAVY”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22519, 13 March 1935, Page 5

“OUR TOY NAVY”

TO THE EDITOB

g Xßj —With reference to the corre"spondence which has been appearing m your paper on the question of the Japanese menace in the Pacfic, may I ask Mr G. Steel what authority he has for stating that 'America has realised the phantom nature of the 'yellow peril? My reason for asking is based on the fact that for some considerable time past I have been receiving authentic information from the United States which, without any doubt, indicates deep concern, in the official and semi-official mind at any rate, on the question of Japan's war plans in the Pacific— plans which, in the opinion of United States experts, most certainly involve New Zealand and Australia. I may add that arrangements have already been made for the immediate training of an enormous number of young American men in aviation work with a view to protecting the Californian coast. My informant, who is closely associated with the making of these srrangements, expresses profound surprise that so little concern in this vital matter is, apparently, shown by the Government and the people of this Dominion. And if his views and the views of other American military experts are to be accepted there are ample grounds for surprise.—l am, etc.. . G. W. Dunedin, March 12.