ISSUES IN THE BALANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1938, Page 6

ISSUES IN THE BALANCE

CONFERENCE OF ARMY CHIEFS IN TOKIO Reports on the Border Warfare VITAL DECISIONS SAID TO HAVE BEEN REACHED By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) TOKIO, August 9. A conference of Army chiefs summoned by General Itagaki (Foreign Minister) in reference to the Manchukuo situation gave keen attention to the reports of General Ngaki (War Minister) on the progress of the border warfare. The decisions reached, though not revealed, are expected to have a vital effect. OPINION IN MOSCOW. JAPANESE EXTREMISTS DETERMINED, HEAVY RUSSIAN FORCES ASSEMBLED. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 9. The conviction here is that Japan’s military extremists are determined to force the issue, despite the moderates in the Tokio Government, while Russia is equally determined not to recede from its present stand'. This will present a serious situation for the second session of the Supreme Soviet on. August 10. . Today’s Russian infantry attack was carried out by fresh Soviet troops from Novokisvsky, possibly under Marshal Bluecher’s direction. They advanced to positions up to between five hundred and a thousand yards from the Japanese lines. The Japanese admit that an Air Force thrice the normal peace dimensions has been concentrated at the Soviet base at Romanovka, while large forces of Soviet foot, guns and hcrse are assembling near Hansh, on the south-western shore of Possiet Bay, with fifty tanks. This seems to indicate that, whatever diplomatic conversations may dictate local feelings are so exasperated that the Russian troops on the spot are prepared to fight to a finish, with or without official Soviet backing.

WAR BURDENS

AMBASSADOR ON JAPANESE RESOURCES. COULD FIGHT BOTH RUSSIA & CHINA. (Recd This Day, 10.35. a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 9. The British United Press correspondent in Paris says that, asked whether Japan could successfully oppose both China and Russia, the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Sugimura, said: “We are using only six divisions of reservists on the various Chinese fronts, but have always had the advantage over the enemy, owing to our superior discipline and material. Nevertheless, we are aware that the Russians are better trained and equipped than the Chinese, and for this reason we have our best troops in Manchukuo. Japan could collaborate with Manchukuo to defend her rights for at least two years without disturbing her economic life.” ANTI-COMINTERN PACT. THE ATTITUDE OF GERMANY. (Recd This Day, 10.15 a.m.) . LONDON, Aug. 9. The “Telegraph’s” Berlin correspon-. dent says, while the report of assurances to Japan is not definitely denied, it is officially insisted that Germany is not interested, because the AntiComintern agreement is only cultural.

A message from Berlin states that the Japanese Ambassador said that in the event of a Russian-Japanese war Germany would afford Japan moral and other forms of support. A cablegram from London on Monday said: “ ‘The Times’ Tokio correspondent says it is understood that the German and Italian ambassadors have urged on Japan moderation in handling the frontier dispute, the former pointing out that this is the worst possible time to involve the-Anti-Com-intern triangle with Russia, while Japan is occupied with China and Germany concerned with Czechoslovakian developments. Nevertheless, Army leaders do not expect an early cessation of hostilities.” ALLEGED ASSURANCE HERR RIBBENTROP’S REPORTED STATEMENT (Recd This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 9.. The “Daily Mail’s” Tokio correspondent says that according to the newspaper “Asahi Shimbun,” Herr von.Ribbentrop (German Foreign Minister), is reported to have assured Mr Shigenori Togo, Japanese Ambassador to Berlin, that Japan could be assured of something beyond moral support from Germany, no matter how far the Rus-sian-Japanese dispute might develop. The “Mail” says it is officially stated that reports of material German help to'Japan are misleading.