END NOT IN SIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1939, Page 5

END NOT IN SIGHT

THE JAPANESE INVASION OF CHINA

CHINESE EXPRESSIONS OF DETERMINATION.

ENEMY HARD PRESSED BY GUERILLAS.

(Independent Cable Service.) PEKING. July 7

Neither the Japanese nor the Chinese leaders see much hope of ending the war in the third year. General Chen Cheng, one of China's ablest commanders, made the state ment: "We don’t hope to win the war this year nor next year, but we will win if it takes five years or even longer.”

The Japanese are unable to make further advances owing to being hard pressed by guerrillas in the areas of which they are stated to be in control. The Japanese claim that the Chinese troops have been depleted to 929,000. but foreign military observers scout this and emphasise China’s vast man (power and also point to the strenuous recruiting campaign that is being carried on. “NEVER SUCH HATRED” JAPANESE SPOKESMAN'S OUTBURST. LONDON. July 7. The Japanese army spokesman, according to a message from Tokio, declared: “Never during the history of Anglo-Japanese relationships has Japan borne such hatred for Britons. Japan is determined to rid the British Concession at Tientsin of hostile influences.” PUPPET LEADERS. MEETING IN NORTH CHINA. TIENTSIN, July 8. The Japanese spokesman said that a new regime in North China is being formed. The Chinese puppet Government in Peking and Nanking will meet in Tsingtao on July 10 to elect a supreme leader. It .'is expected Mr Ching Wei will be chosen. ENGINEER RELEASED. MANHANDLED BY JAPANESE. (Independent Cable Service.) TIENTSIN, July 7. It is announced that Mr E. T. Griffiths, the engineer of Butterfield and Shire's steamer Yochow, was released by the Japanese and handed over to the British Consulate this morning. The British Consul stated that Mr Griffiths is in good health. Japanese soldiers manhandled him in order to extract a “confession.” They twisted his thumbs and fingers, but he suffered no serious injury. Major-General Grasett, commander of the British troops in Hong Kong, has arrived to inspect the garrison of the concession. CHINA’S BACK DOOR THE ROAD FROM BURMA TO YUNNAN. STORY OF PROPOSED CESSION OF TERRITORY. (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, July 7. It is learned on good authority that a visit to Simla by Sir Archibald Coch ■ rane, Governor of Burma, Mr Phelps, Defence Secretary, and Major-General D. K. McLeod, G.O.C. of Burma, to confer with the Viceroy, is concerned with a plan advanced in certain high Chinese circles to cede to Britain the western part of Yunnan Province for incorporation in Burma. This section of Yunnan is of great strategic value both to China and lo Britain, in view of the new motor road to China from Rangoon via Mandalay and Lashio, which is China's backdoor entrance for the transport of munitions.

Japan is at present driving westward from Canton for the purpose of closing this back door. The purpose of giving up part of Yunnan is alleged to be to make secure a further stretch of this new road. The same source declares that the recent Singapore conference discussed the dispatch of Gurka and Sikh regiments to Australia in the event of the outbreak of a general war. Troops, would be flown to Darwin for use in North Australia, where the climate is suitable for these troops. It is understood that the general Pacific defence scheme envisages the extensive use of Indian troops in the Far East generally.

HANKOW INCIDENT

PROTEST MADE BY JAPAN. THREAT TO BLOCKADE FRENCH CONCESSION. (Received This Day. 9.45 a.m.) HANKOW. July 9. Japan has protested to the French municipality against the incident icported on July 7 and has stated that a blockade of the concession is likely if the French do not respond in a proper manner.

A dangerous anniversary incident occurred at Hankow, where a hundred French marines, armed with machine-guns, defied the Japanese garrison and refused to allow a decorated float to traverse the concession.