Washington, Dec. 29.
Reports reaching Washington from Manila quoting usually well-informed, Sources state that Japan is allowing: twelve German vessels. in. Japanese and Japanese-controlled Chinese ports to arm and provision for raiding work jin the Pacific.
also reported that some Ger-/man vessels from Japanese harbours are already provisioning a raider or raiders now operating in the Pacifc. The ports at which there activities fare going on are stated to be Kobe, Dairen and Tsingtao.
The American naval authorities are said to be keeping closely in touch with the situation, while its effects fon Japan's position as a neutral are being discussed should the reports [prove well-founded.
The arrival in Washington of these reports concerning various Axis naval activities in the Pacific has centred much attention on that arca, and has. caused many people to wonder precisely what role Japan ix really playing While it is not suggested that the alder which shelled the Nauru had Japanese permission to fly the Japan= ese flag and to use a Japanese name, the calm manner in which Tokyo has taken this violation of its flag being contrasted to the violence with which alleged violations of Japanese Tights by the Democracies are usually saluted. In Japan.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.