Tokyo Surprised at Transfer of Fleet Balance Maintained Washington, Apr. 17.
The sudden transfer of the U.S. Fleet to the Pacific is an effort to checkmate possible Japanese eneroachment in the Philippines or the Netherlands East Indies during current tension, Senator William King, Democrat of Utah, said today, "It notifies Japan that we are still a power in the Pacific and that any further moves by Japan will affect us," he said.
Well-informed circles stressed today that the United States Government is not definitely aware of any new dangerous element in the Far Eastern situation beyond the continuance of the Sino-Japanese war. However, this war, has Trara been regarded as a "í volcano." Some authoritative circles believe Hongkong might well be Japan's next objective.
By transferring the Fleet to the Pacific, it is believed, the United States may be trying to neutralize such a'projected move by Japan or exercise a restraining influence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.