JAP WITHDRAWAL IN CHINA FIVE DOMINIONS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 282, 27 August 1942, Page 5

JAP WITHDRAWAL IN CHINA

FIVE DOMINIONS

Possible Intentions

CHUNGKING, August 25.

The “Takung Pao” expresses the opinion that the Japanese are withdrawing their forces from Chekiang and Kiangsi to prepare an attack against Australia and India or Siberia, “which would be more advantageous for Japan than to’waste troops on unprofitable enterprises in China.” The “China Times” also believes that the Japanese are preparing an attack against the Allies, and urges the United Nations not to sit still waiting to be attacked, but to launch a general offensive against the Japanese now. A military spokesman said that 50,000 Japanese troops have moved from Chekiang -toward southern Shansi. It- is supposed that they are planning to cross the Yellow River. The Japanese concentration is stated to be insufficient for an attempt to cut the north-west China supply route. The Chinese have recaptured Tengpu, in Kiangsi, and inflicted great losses on the Japanese in a direct attack on Lishui.

Suggested Division Of India

(Received August 26, S p.m.) NEW DELHI, August 25.

Malik Sir Firoz Khan Noon, Defence member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, has suggested that India should be divided into five Dominions, the delegates of which would sit in central authority to control defence, customs, foreign relations and currency, with power of secession from a reaccession io the central, authority. The Dominions would lie completely independent, like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, except in matters for which the united efforts of the central authority and the Dominions would be essential. Application of Dominion status would be applied to the following provinces:—Bengal; the Central Provinces, the United Provinces and Bihar; Madras; Bombay; the Punjab, Baluchistan; Sind and -the North-West Frontier. Violence Subsiding. The wave of violence in India is rapidly subsiding, the correspondent of “The Tinies” in New Delhi says, aud law-abiding sections in some areas are co-operating with troops and police in rounding up . looters. Demonstrations in Bengal continue on a reduced scale.

There have been individual instances of damage to Government and also public utility property in Madras. A stay-in strike in one mill at Coimbatore led to a riot in which two were killed. The police nt Cawnpore fired on a violent crowd, resulting in four casualties. It is premature to assume that there will lie no more trouble. Clandestine Congress tracts are being circulated widely. Congress members at Bihar are distributing pamphlets calling on public servants to resign. Congress supporters in one area in Bengal are urging non-payment of rents and taxes, also free manufacture of salt. A Lucknow communique reports that in two instances in which the police were forced to fire, eight were killed. Collective lines of £l5OO and £560 were imposed on two villages. A communique issued by the Government of the Bihar and Orissa province says that 17 people were killed on August 19 in the Buxar area when police and troops fired on crowds. There were serious riots nt Katra ami Asanol, troops firing on crowds. Sixteen people were killed at Sasaram on August 14 when the authorities fired on a mob led by dacoits.