Retired Vice-Admiral Otto Groos, in a special article in the "Nauticus" says, "In case the Japanese go to war against another great sea-power the question of bases, which have always Played a great role in the Orient, would be decisive."
In discussing naval bases of the United States and Great Britain in the Far East, the Admiral emphasized the vital importance of the Philippines Islands, to British as well as to U.S. strategy. He called attention to the fact that Singapore is far from Japan, while Hongkong is at present weaker than it has been owing to the Crown Colony's present isolation.
The article goes on to say that in the event of the United States remaining n the Philippines "the strategictriangle\of Hongkong-Manila-Singapore. could eventually be made impregnable to any attack on the part of the Japanese forces. The decision of the United States to vacate the Philippines seems not irrevocable, particularly since it seems difficult to reconcile with the U.S. huge naval rearmament plans."
The article admitted that the balance of sea power largely depends upon "whether Japan emerges from the present Oriental war weakened or strengthened."
The writer believed that the island. of Oahu, largest of the Hawaiian Islands, was almost impregnable at present. The real danger to the United States from Japan, it said, would come by way of Dutch Harbour and the Aleutian Islands, since along that route the Japanese naval forces would not be forced to pass any enemy bases—United Press, same" for many years to come.
Japan, he went on, would be unable to bury the hatchet until the present nationalist administration is Obliterated so that a new order may be established in East Asia.
While the Chinese nationalist armies were badly demoralized, Lieut.-Gen. Tejo asserted, their number was stil! large, with 1,000,000 regulars under arms in addition to 500,000 guerillas active behind the Japanese lines. In such circumstances, the Vice-Minister of War said, Japanese military operations in China will be continued as vigorously as ever.—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.