COVETED BY JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 98, 28 April 1939, Page 6

COVETED BY JAPAN

VULNERABLE ISLANDS NAURU AND OCEAN NEW ZEALAND INTERESTS One of the groat Pacific prizes Japan xvould attempt to secure in a war in which she and her allies were opposed to Britain would be Nauru ana Ocean Islands, with their vast phosphate deposits. This opinion was endorsed yesterday by an officer on the BaiiN Line’s motor-vessel Willowbank, which is discharging a shipment ot Nautu Island phospnate al the Castleclift Wharf, for Kempthorne, Prosser and Company’s fertiliser works at. Aramoho. New Zealand's interest in the question is direct, for the bulk of the phosphate manufactures into superphosphate in the Dominion comes from these two equatorial islands. Their vulnerability in the absence of strong naval protection is obvious. The nearest island of ihe Caroline Group, formerly mandated to Japan, but nowannexed by her, to Nauru, is only 4(m. miles away-less than the distance from Auckland to Wellington—and Nauru, like Ocean Island, has no land defences. More important for the naval purposes of a hostile Japan, however, is the Truk Lagoon of the Carolines, 1000 miles distant from Nauru. This lagoon has every natural advantage as a naval base. The barrier reef has a circumference of 100 miles ano through it arc deep channels leading to perfectly sheltered anchorages. Many islands dot Ihe lagoon, and a fleet could lie among them in security. Should Japan be able there to maintain naval power stronger than could be sent against it, her occupation of the phosphate islands would bp certain. Japan uses large quantities of phosphate. the average annual import being about 1,000,000 tons. She buys it in the world market, heavy supplies coming from Florida, Northern Africa and Christmas Island, with occasional shipments from Nauru or Ocean Islands. Present economic stringency appears to have reduced her phosphate import.;, but. the fertiliser is necessary to maintain her primar.v production. Thus, in the event of war. she would have the greatest incentive to seize the deposits which are so important t.» New Zealand and Australia and make herself independent of all other sources. The money value of the prize • temporarily held would be tremendous, to say nothing of Ihe crop value oi the f ertil iser. .