Cable despatches received here, with regard to proposals by the "Big, Navy-ites" in America, for a naval programme of close on $1,000,000,- 000, have not caused any official anxiety, the Navy Office, for instance, giving to the press a official statement to the effect that, '30 long as the United States continu eto adhere to the's-6-3 naval ratio, Japan was not bothered and no} change.in the "building policy of the Japanese navy would result asa consequence of the Proposed new appropriations for Uncle Sam's fleet. It was further stated that things are yet in the deliberative stage and that Congress would not sanction "such irrational and sudden" building programme. The papers, however, have not hech able to maintain the poise of the officials. They think! that America's primary object is to tain naval parity with Great britain, but express fears that this sudden outburst of energy may lead to rivalry of a very undesirable sort, situation in North China practically is on -a par with it which necessitated: the despateh summer.
Japanese troops-to China
War Offce-experts in Tolyo-enter, tain grave doubts as to-sehether Shantung forces can hold "back hordes of Feng Vu-hsiang -withoat reinforcements from Mukden -and at the same time believe that Mfakden is"too hard-pressed by Shans to release any conviderablo body of yen to aid its Shantung allies. "Tt the belief here that Feng is holding the key to Shantung pro~ vince and that, if he wants to, he can invade the region. Accordingly, publi opinion holds that, besides the despateh of marines for the protection of Japanese nationals and Interests inland around Tsingtao, it may be absolutely necessary to send) another expeditionary force to render assistance and evacuate those in the interior.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.