Singapore, Feb. 12.
Warships of four West Powers—Great Britain, the United States, France and Holland—gathered here to-day in what may be one of the most significant naval demonstrations in history, The only major Power interested in the Far East which will not be represented at the opening ceremonies of the naval base here, will be Japan.
In recent months, anti-Japanism feeling has spread and become intense. Japanese shippers and importers admit that their business is the worst they have had with the port and estimate that the sale of Japanese goods has declined more than forty per cent. since September, 1937.
Intense bitterness of feeling between Chinese and Japanese is concealed by an outward show of amicabil but the Chinese have shown their real feelings by severing the ears of Chinese persisting in trading with Japanese merchants.
Ceremonies for a formal dedication of the base will begin on Monday when the government launch will carry Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of the Straits Settlement; Colonel J. J. Llewellyn, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, and other officials, in a trip round the Island to fetch the Sultan of Johore. The ship will complete the circuit of the island to arrive at the naval base wi in the presence of two Vice-Adniirals and other officers of the British East Indies and China squadrons and with American, Netherlands and French ships standing by, the ribbon stretched across the new £11,000,000 grave ing dock will be broken Dignitaries of many nation inchiding six Malay Sultans, will attend the elaborate dedication cerer: oi More than 11000 ¿p%tators guests will watch as the ribbon is cut, officially announcing completion of the graving doeh; vhic* ant land batteries ana "arti W make Singapore's £20,000 000 aval base one of the strongest in world—United P:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.