BID FOR VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1941, Page 7

BID FOR VICTORY

CONTEMPLATED BV CHINA PREPARATIONS ON GREAT SCALE. MILLION JAPANESE “BOGGED DOWN.” (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CHUNGKING, July 7. The Associated Press of Great Britain reports that General Chiang Kai-shek is steadily preparing to attempt to seize the offensivt in the hope of achitving victory in 1941. The Chinese say they have 5,000,000 soldiers in the field a nd. 10,000,000 more in reserve or training, while Japan’s position is unchanged with a million troops bogged down in the Chinese quagmire.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Kung, asserted that Japan’s new debt as a consequence of the hostilities was about four times larger than China’s. Calculated at the official exchange rates, China’s total national debt at the end of 1940 was 9,250,000,000 Chinese dollars, compared with Japan’s 28,250,000,000 yen. A Shanghai message says Chinese guerrillas observed the fourth anniversary of the war by attacking the Shanghai-Hanchow railway within the Shanghai city limits and dynamiting a large section of the track. * SAVAGE BOMBING HUNDREDS HOMELESS IN CHUNGKING. BRITISH EMBASSY MADE UNTENABLE. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) CHUNGKING, July 8. Japanese bombers, striking heavily on a fourth successive day, rendered the British Embassy untenable, two hits penetrating the Ambassador’s private study. The Ambassador’s hillside residence is virtually demolished. Hundreds of people are homeless and the water supply has been disrupted. JAPAN CONCERNED OVER AMERICAN ACTION IN ICELAND. TALK ABOUT OCCUPATION OF INDO-CHINA. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) SHANGHAI, July 8. A Japanese Army spokesman said the United States did not send forces to Iceland for a summer outing. Asked about reports of the Japanese occupation of Indo-China, the spokesman replied: “Just as the United States has not announced the 1 occupation of Iceland until it has been accomplished, we cannot announce our future moves.” Mr Akiyama professed that Japan was greatly concerned over the possible passage of United States material to Vladivostock. Both Mr Akiyama and the Naval spokesman declined to say whether such vessels would be subject to search. They said it was a question of fundamental problems Japan would follow in future. The Associated Press of America says this reply is seen confirming tho possibility of a Japanese move in IndoChina. Mr Akiyama denied that Japan at present intends sending forces to the Netherlands East Indies, but added: “If she ever does, it will be as important as the United States occupation of Iceland, that is as a stride towards war.”