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Show Uncle Sam Shoves Out His Chipi THE U. S. navy, probably at the direction of Ihe White House, has announced that shortly irwin move a "pretty fair sized" force of warship! war-ship! to Hawaii. That force, according to reports, re-ports, will be a strong scouting and raiding fleet consisting of heavy cruisers, submarines, destroyers and an aircraft carrier. - ' J3Ti move Is extremely significant despite announcement from Washington that it has no ulterior motive." -t-It-means that Uncle Sam Is very positively strengthening his naval position In the Pacific. 1 " rtpmPMiher, we a li'eady tisve an Aielle a'lnat i ef-some 30 vessels based on Manila; and re-J re-J oantly the aircraft carrier Langley was moved M Manila, also 15 long-range patrol bombers. Our fleet has been stationed on the Pacific . onisl since last April. Now we're moving a sTJDflg force half way across the Pacific to a etra regie and almost Impregnable spot, in the center of the ocean, from which It could strike elfiiroy In any direction. WhyT Are we being threatened with at-ak at-ak WelL not that anybody has noticed. The "Philippines? Yes, there's been some fear i that Japan might like to add them to her m-I m-I ' pire but then we agreed not so long ago to f give the Philippines their Independence In 1946, 10 why should we worry about their defense? The answer Is plain. We're not really . wassvled about the Philippines, but we are a bit Worried about Japan becoming master of all the western Pacific, from the Indian ocean to I the Bering sea. - j recent article written In Shanghai pre- j dieted that Japan was considering the following program: First peace with Russia and assur-' assur-' ancsUhat she Is safe from attack on that quar-tr. quar-tr. Second, a quick peace or victory In China. Third, with her hands free, a move to drive the white race out of the far east Britain out of Jong Kong, the Malay peninsula and North 1 Borneo; France out of Indo-Chlna; Holland out f the East Indies; America out of the Philippines; Philip-pines; all foreign nations out of concessions In ghlna. ; - It' an ambitious program, and maybe Japan ' Jon't try It But with Britain and France well ccupled In Europe, and Holland too weak to resist it it is great temptation. If Japan could lie sure that America wouldn't Interfere, It would be a good gamble. tAh! There we have It. Whether America ould Interfere is the question and so In this game of international poker, Uncle Sam is having hi naval clips way out on the Pacific ; ( labia and In effect saying to Japan: Take a took. We've got quite a lot of chips and don't te too sure we won't sit In on the game!" Z Right now Japan seems to be extending the Olive branch to Uncle Sam. It is to be hoped here will be resumption of completely amicable ami-cable relations between the two countries, and An end to Japanese aggression in the orient, go that th two countries can again cooperate to the advantage of both. Z. But there's no assurance of It yet The olive branch may be mere diplomatic maneuvering en Japan's part an effort to insure American noninterference while Nippon extends her drive tor mastery In the far east. If that is Japan's plan, can Uncle Sam bluff her with his naval chip into not starling the game?' And If we can't bluff her, will Uncle Sam back down, or will he sit In himself? I - That's the issue which I far more likely to decide peace or war for America than what we ' Bo about the arm embargo. Because an 1 ' ' America at peaoe, but holding back Japan In the orient might easily be far more valuable to I Britain and France than an America at war ; Jn Europe and the Atlantic and thus too weak ' lo bluff Japan In the. Pacific. But If we don't I Muff Japan with our naval poker chips, then y may be in the war right up to our necks, J nd on both side. |