FIGHT AGAINST JAPAN

Evening Star, Issue 24334, 24 October 1942, Page 5

FIGHT AGAINST JAPAN

IMMEDIATE COUNTER-OFFENSIVE URGED MOVE THROUGH ASIA (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY.. October 23. An immediate Asiatic continental counter-offensive on a major scale against the Japanese is being urged from many quarters. Far Eastern correspondents of Australian newspapers stress as the first necessity a campaign to reopen the Burma supply route to China. The danger is foreseen that if Japan’s Asiatic successes are further extended her defensive position will become so strengthened that her defeat will certainly be delayed for some years, and she may even become impregnable because of her man power resources and the impossibility of cutting her off ffom raw materials. It is contended that advantage should bo taken of Japan’s present preoccupation with the South-west Pacific, whore she has been forced to divert considerable strength by the American success in the Solomons. Some well-informed observers are quoted as believing that, following rehabilitation of the Pacific position, Japan’s next moves will be: 1. An invasion of Bengal, to begin the conquest of India by States. 2. The capture of Yunnan, bordering Upper Burma, to prevent the Allies from restoring the supply lino to South China. Siberia will not be invaded until Germany achieves the maximum penetration of Russia in Europe, and then only if Hitler can destroy the Red Army’s offensive power. FEVERISH JAPANESE PREPARATIONS. Mr Edgar Snow,' who is now the Far Eastern correspondent of the New York 1 Saturday Evening Post,’ and is the author of ‘ Red Star Over China ’ and a leading authority on Far Eastern affairs, says that Japan is reported to be planning to join her homo islands to the Asiatic continent with an undersea tunnel to Korea. She is also working feverishly to complete railways linking Bangkok, the Siamese capital, Rangoon, the occupied Burmese capital, Lashio, the Burmese terminus of the former supply route to China, , Saigon, in Soutlislndo-China, and Singapore, in order to ensure the free flow of vital rubber, oil, tungsten, and, chromium supplies. “ The Allies can defeat Japan to-day only by a major campaign cutting her off from these essential resources she is trying to secure,” Mr Snow says. “ The alternative —a successful invasion of Japan proper—can hardly bo conceived without a Continental base.” The primary move in a land drive on Japanese-held territory from India must be one of political strategy—a proclamation of freedom for all advanced colonial people. The Allies, Mr Snow believes, could thus count op the full mobilisation of India’s and Burma’s 400,000,000. TIME FACTOR IMPORTANT.

Then, with only a small fraction of the American forces now being poured into Europe, we could safeguard cue remaining bases in East Africa and launch an early counter-offensive to reopen Burma and restore China’s active front, says Mr Snow, urging America to reinforce India at much greater strength. “In a few months that opportunity will no longer exist. AVhat can be ddj|e now M'ith five divisions and 100 planes will afterwards require 10 tinics that force. The war, which can be fought now largely with Indian supplies on the spot, may afterwards have to draw entirely on American bases, 15.000 to 18,000 miles distant. Japan to-day is the world's second largest empire, populated by 500,000,000 people. If India were conquered Tokio would rule more than half the men and women on earth. “ Naturally, Japan loves our get-Hitler-first strategy,” says Mr Snow, in conclusion. “ Tokio hopes wo will continue to neglect our Asiatic bases until wo shall have none left when the time comes to support our eventual Pacific counter-offensive.” SHACKLING J)F_ PRISONERS TROUBLE IN CANADIAN GAMP (Roc. 12.25 p.m.) OTTAWA. October 23. Mr J. L. Ralston (Minister of Defence) announced that prisoners and Canadian guards were injured on October 10 .during a' clash at Bowfflanvillo, when prisoners resisted shackling. There was mild resistance at another camp, but no trouble in the other 15 camps. The prisoners at Bowmanville barricaded themselves in the barracks. Warning shots were fired, three in the air and one into the ground, which ricocheted, wounding a prisoner jn the leg, when the prisoners seized and brutally assaulted an officer of the guard. Two other prisoners suffered light bayonet wounds. There were no fatalities. A hole was chopped through the roof and a fire hose used to help quell the disorder. Considerable furniture , was smashed and windows broken. Machine-gun fire and tear or other gas were not used. Some prisoners went on hunger strike for two days. Shackling in Bowraanville was eventually carried out and normal camp life restored when the guard was reinforced. The Canadian Press announced that the Canadian Legation had made official representations to the United ,State.s_ authorities regarding ‘ Time ’ magazine’s description of the riot at Bowmanville. Canadians regard it as a serious breach of the censorship regulations. especially since It might have drastic repercussions on the lives of Canadian prisoners in Germany. The representations seek a full investigation of the source of information and tbo manner in which it was brought across the border The American censorship a fortnight ago banned publication of the Bowmanville, incident. CHAINED TO CAPTORS BRITISH PRISONERS IN NORWAY (Roc. 11.35 am.) LONDON’, Oct, 23. Seven British soldiers were recently captured in Norway after blowing iii’p a power’station, states the Norwegian Telegraph Agency. Each was chained to a German soldier while being taken to Oslo, aboard a Gorman ship. The British soldiers were reported to have landed south of Bobo from a warship. RAF. DAYLIGHT RAIDS (British Official Wireless.) (Ree. 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 23. Spitfires and Mustangs made a number of low-level attacks on objectives in Northern France to-day. Wellingtons and Mosquitoes bomlbed targets in Gormeny and Holland. The Air Ministry says a few enemy aircraft dropped bombs oil several points in England, resulting in a few casualties and some damage.