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Star (Christchurch), Issue 18901, 28 October 1929, Page 9

Japan’s Growing Power. VANCOUVER, October 20. “ Japanese naval and military preparations would astound the Western world,” said Colonel Frederick Palmer, a noted American war correspondent, when returning from a tour of Japan, Korea, Manchuria and the Philippines. “ The amazing change to me from my former visit,” he said, “ was the strength of Japan’s industrial and military power. Her naval programme, in the face of all the talk to the contrary, makes her plan of defence a real offensive in distant waters. She could take the Philippines in a fortnight. Such is her present cruiser strength, she could sweep the American flag off / the Pacific by commercedestroying raids. The British might .suffer the same fate if Britain should have her naval movements through the Mediterranean interrupted.” Colonel Palmer thinks it will be a long time before China becomes a Republic in anything but name. “ All the Chinese having now heard the gospel, is it not a fair question to consider withdrawing missionaries?” adds Colonel Palmer, who suggested that a commission of business men should investigate the actual results of the mission funds spent in the Orient.