Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1938. A CHINESE OFFENSIVE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1938, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1938. A CHINESE OFFENSIVE.

PROSPECTS of any decisive and lasting advantage being gained by the Chinese in the operations they have undertaken for the recovery of Canton no doubt depend largely on the strength of the additional forces the Japanese are able to bring against them. Bravely as the Chinese have resisted the invasion of their country, they have never yet shown themselves able to make more than a temporary stand in areas into which the Japanese have been able to throw powerful forces, well equipped and supplied. Tt is, of course, no reflection on the Chinese that they suffered successive defeats, though only after long-drawn-out battles, in the Shanghai, Nanking, Suehow and Hankow areas. Taking account of relative conditions of organisation and equipment, the marvel is that the invasion has been resisted so stoutly and well.

A number of important questions are open so far as the campaign in the Canton area is concerned. There are apparently well-grounded reports that local treachery, or inefficiency, or a combination of both, had much to do with the capture of the great southern city by the Japanese. News that a powerful Chinese army is' making good headway in an effort to recapture the city in itself suggests that these reports are in accordance with the facts. The Japanese troops immediately available appear to be incapable of withstanding the onslaught to which they are now being subjected. Tt has yet to be determined, however, how far Japan is capable of augmenting the limited force she has meantime established in the Canton region. Possessing full command of the sea, she is in a position to pour in reinforcements rapidly if they are available.

That every effort will be made in this way to stem and defeat the Chinese move to recapture Canton is almost to be taken:for granted. In itself, and at the most direct view, defeat in Southern China would be an extremely serious and damaging setback for the invaders. In addition, however, it would naturally be regarded as affording suggestive and significant evidence of the strain imposed on Japan’s total resources in. her undeclared war on China. Even should that course entail taking heavy risks elsewhere, it seems highly probable that Japan will use her strength freely in endeavouring to maintain her conquest of Canton. It is therefore much too soon to assume that the Chinese are likely to be able to recapture the city, or to hold it if they succeed in overthrowing the Japanese forces at present in occupation.

Whatever the outlook may he in the Canton region, however, the war retains broad features which are by no means encouraging to Japan. Battle after-battle won by the Japanese armies has proved to be, in the fullest sense of the term, indecisive. Not only have retiring Chinese armies time and again passed through the Japanese lines of envelopment, but the Chinese nation, in spite of appalling sufferings, shows as little sign as ever of failing or collapsing morale. The imperfect hold of the Japanese on their ostensible area of conquest also is constantly being indicated. One of yesterday’s cable- '

grams, for instance, reported that Chinese guerillas in NorthEastern Shansi have fought over a hundred battles against 50,000 Japanese and that in these engagements the invaders are said to have lost 8,000 killed and 10,000 wounded. As an example of what may happen in areas from which organised. Chinese armies have long siißo been driven, this is impressive.

Apart from the progress of events in the Canton area, China has a basis for continued resistance in her four great south-western provinces of Kwangsi, Kweichow, Yunnan and Szechwan. In these provinces many factories have been methodically established and developed in recent times and even though communication with the external world through Canton and through French Indo-China should be cut bff, other routes would remain available. A road has been formed across the mountains westward from Yunnan to Burma, and there is another overland route from Lanchowfu, in the north-west, to Russia.

It has been said by a correspondent who has had exceptional opportunities of making himself familiar with the essential facts of the Far Eastern situation, Mr E. A. Mowrer, that: “The strain on Japanese endurance will come with the tasks of effective occupation of a country they have overrun, hut not conquered.’’ It may be long enough before the Chinese are able to meet and defeat the Japanese in battles between great armies. It may be 100 much to hope for the ultimate success even of the bold connterstroke that is now being attempted in Southern China. But the Chinese nation in its martyrdom is exhibiting wonderful qualities of courage and constancy and as wonderful powers of resistance. Exceptions like the failure to resist the capture of Canton serve only to emphasise the rule of unity and resolution. While the future is uncertain, the Japanese are still far short of achieving their ambition of reducing China to helpless submission to their will.