Bonin Islands

Japan’S Fortifications In The

THE Pacific Islands which Japan really has fortified are the Bonin Group, which lie N.N.W. of the Mariannes (Ladrones) and between the latter group and Japan.

The little Bonin Islands, which are situated some 500 miles south-west of Japan, up to the present have attracted little attention. Ships hardly ever anchor near their coasts, as they lie away from the great steamer tracks.

These Islands might have remained in obscurity, if an unexpected event in the struggle for supremacy in the Pacific had not suddenly drawn the world’s attention to them. The Right Rev. S. Heaslett, Bishop of Tokio, to whose diocese the Bonin Islands belong, intended to visit the group in his pastoral capacity. All preparations had been made, when the Japanese authorities informed him that he must abandon the voyage, since he, or any other foreigner, was not allowed to set foot on the islands.

What is the strictly guarded secret of the Bonins? Though the Japanese Go vernment never has given any explana tion to the Bishop, the position is obvi ous. The Islands probably are being for tified as an advanced centre for Japan’s naval and air forces, and therefore are carefully hidden from unauthorised spec tators.

If one takes a chart of these waters and draws a straight line from the Bonins to the Carolines and Mariannes (the strategic importance of which is fully realised by the Japanese) we are shown a flank position of great strength for the navy and an air squadron, which could hardly be broken by foreign battleships, and which provides ( an excellent protec tion against any attacks on the coasts of Japan.

According to the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, the Japanese Government undertook not to construct further forti fications or defences on these Islands; but many believe that Japan has not car ried this out. It is said that the port of the largest island in the group, Chichi Jima, which can be entered by the biggest steamers, has been transformed into an impregnable base for the navy, and that huge premises for the storage of explo sives and food have been erected. The harbour on the second largest island Port Lloyd, is said to contain a whole squadron of bombing planes. Therefore, one can assume that if the Pacific should become the stage for another World Mar the Bonin Islands will play a very im portant part.

One should not under-estimate the im portance of Japan’s secretly created strategic outposts on these Islands. Fur ther, one should realise the haste with which the powers fighting for a new re partition of the world are concentrating their attention on the Pacific.

Recent statements by the Japanese War Minister, General Araki, when he ad dressed the world in a programme speech, were only too clear. Neither should we forget speeches made during the Pacific Conference held not long ago at Banff in the Canadian Rockies. Count Michisma objected, in sharp terms, to the presence of the North American fleet in the Pacific, and demanded that the Western American States should be opened to Japanese immigration.

Again and again, Japan has claimed “Asia for the Asiatics,” in accordance with the principle of the American Monroe doctrine. But the Anglo-Saxon powers cannot concede this point of view, and, therefore, they prepare for emergencies.

Australia’s northern port, Port Darwin, is being fortified. Singapore is already a great naval base. Hawaii and Singapore are bases of an immense air force. Japan possesses fifteen air squadrons.

Brazil, Peru, and other South American States are ordering cruisers and sub marines, to be built in Japanese ship yards. It is obvious that, in case of war Japan would not deliver these battle ships, which would add another thirty five units to the Japanese war fleet.

Japanese propagandists are spreading pan-Asiastic ideas; the echo is heard all over the Eastern countries from India to the F.M.S. The Far East is not only facing important events, but is already involved in far-reaching transformations.

There is no doubt that neither the Soviet nor the Anglo-Saxon Powers want war. and that Japan would prefer to avoid a decision by arms. But where the destiny of nations is at stake, freewill seems to be tied up by some higher power.

If the avalanche once begins its disas trous rush down the hill, nobody can stop it; the development may contain in itself the eventual catastrophe.

One must not ignore signs. The forti fication of the Bonin Islands, in spite of the Washington Treaty, and their trans formation into a base for the Japanese naval and air forces, seem to have a definite significance. —R.B.

The Montoro took from Port Moresby for Australian ports on July 4 the fol ing Papuan cargo: 1.210 packages rubber; 271 cases desiccated coconut: 971 bags copra: 162 packages sandalwood; 18 bags shell: and 219 bags coffee.