PACIFIC WAR

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 317, 30 September 1940, Page 2

PACIFIC WAR

FORECAST OF DANGER U.S. ADMIRAL’S VIEWS. JAPAN’S COVETOUSNESS NEW YORK, Aug. 26. —“If seems evident that unless the United States and Japan compose their ever-mounting differences, war is inevitable, now that Germany has overrun the Low Countries and France,” said Rear-Admiral Yates Stirling, former Chief of Staff of the United States Navy and ecminander in the Far ..East, in an interview to-day. “Tension is almost at breaking, point,” he added. “The main reason is Japan’s covetousness of French Indo-China and the Netherlands East Indies. “Should war come in the Pacific it would be a naval war, fought mostly in the East, in which bases would be vital and the United States would have' an initial disadvantage, but not necessarily a fatal one.

“Naturally, our air strength is essential for success. In addition to the planes aboard five aircraft-car-riers, with two more building longrange planes and appropriate bases would be important for assisting the fleet in any operations west of Hawai. If our bases at Midway, Guam, and Wake Islands could be held, they would form steppingstones for planes and enable them to reach the Philippines, whence they could operate against Japan.

“Since the United States has no suitable fleet base at Guam Island or in the Philippines, the fate of the British bases at Singapore and Hong Kong are of vital interest. Therefore, japan will make every effort to prevent our fleet from using them, and undoubtedly will attempt to seize them. “While Japan is strong militarily and navally, she is impoverished economically, indicating ultimate victory for the United States.”