NOT VERY PROMISING

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 132, 11 January 1939, Page 4

NOT VERY PROMISING

OUTLOOK . FOR JAPAN GUERRILLA WAR MENACE LONDON, December 18.—Can Japan conquer China? While Japanese progress has exceeded the expecta tions of most experts, diplomatists, military authorities and those in close touch with developments in the Far •East consider that the Chinese wilL ultimately reassert themselves and that the Japanese will have to seek a settlement.

Most recent articles in dailies and weeklies, by experts who know the Far East, subscribe to - this view, although writers admit that Japanese headway so far lias confounded prophecies. Far Eastern correspondents of., the Daily Telegraph - and the Manchester Guardian, reviewing the war, both concluded that the outlook for the Japanese is not very promising. The Mancliestere Guardian’s correspondent points out that the Chinese guerrillas, were so successful in north China in the first five months of 1938, during the wet season, that Japan was compelled to send an army of 80,000 men to recover the areas of Hopei. After Forty Battles. In an attempt to destroy, the autonomous Shansi Government, 40 pitched battles were fought at Jehol in August, and yet the guerrillas still attacked.' Tientsin.

The Japanese recovered some territory, but only at the expense of maintaining, large bodies of troops to guard lines and communications. That the drive in East Hopei is not yet finished is proved by the fact that in November tlie Japanese reported victories in places where fighting took, place in the previous August. The Chinese fight with arms and ammunition captured from the Japanese and, when retreating, leave nothing behind, compelling the Japanese toi bring up extensive supplies ami to reconstruct . buildings which the Chinese have blown up. Over 14,000,000 Chinese in, North east/ Shansi and in central Hopei have a base from which guerrillas operate, keeping the Japanese immobilised along the railways.

Warning of Long War. The guerillas also prevent the sale of Japanese goods and execute Chinese possessing Japanese* currency. The Eighth Route Army still coil trols most* of China north of the Yellow River.

The Daily Telegraph’s Tokio correspondent points out that the Japanese Government, is warning people to endure a long Avar and also a long period of reconstruction of the “new China,” but it- is difficult to sec How the Japanese will be able to reconstruct, as atrocities have engendered a feeling of hatred all over China. Although she occupies the Chinese coast, the main railways and also the Yangtse as far as Hankow, the Chinese interior is filled with millions ready and able to continue a fight* which the Chinese* say is only just beginning. Japan’s grandiose schemes of economic development of the conquered territory, which will cost more* than the war, are impossible without leans. These are* procurable only in London and New York which are not ■likely to provide them tvliile Japan tramples on British and American interests in China.