EARLY CLASH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1942, Page 3

EARLY CLASH

v ANTICIPATED IN SIBERIA ACCORDING TO CHUNGKING CORRESPONDENT. JAPAN LIKELY TO STRIKE BEFORE THAW. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, February 22. ■ Extraordinary military activity is reported from Manchuria, indicating that a full-dress RussoJapanese clash will occur before long, says the Chungking correspondent of the “New York Times.” Informed circles in Chungking point out that the Japanese realise that their entire previous success in the war would be jeopardised in the case of a surprise attack from the Siberian bases, and, further, Japan must strike before the thawing season to enable the Japanese forces to- cross the frozen Heilunkiang and Amur Rivers in order to attack the trans-Siberian railway. Also the Russian Far East Fleet now lies icebound at Sungari and Vladivostok. The latest reports from Siberia, the correspondent says, show that the Russian Far Eastern Army, in spite of the battle against the Nazis, has not been decreased and has still 1,000,000 men. It is well mechanised and self-contain-ed and has strong air support from subterranean aerodromes. Russia also has a very modern Far Eastern Fleet, including 90 submarines and many torpedo-boats. The official Chungking organ, “Central Daily News,” today urges Russia to strike first against the Japanese, delating that the ostensible peace now prevailing on the SiberianManchukuoan border is simply a prelude to a coming storm. “The opportune time to strike is now, when Soviet cavalry can operate on the frozen Siberian frontier as they have done on the western front against Germany,” it says.