JAPANESE HOPES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE HOPES

RELIANCE ON AXIS ALLIES EMPHASISED BY FOREIGN MINISTER. AMERICAN COUNTER-ATTACK ANTICIPATED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, April 23. Addressing the Japanese Economic Federation, the Foreign Minister, Mr Togo, according to Japanese official radio, warned the people to be prepared for any emergency, because the United States would stage a counterattack* He added that “The world situation was most favourable for Japan because Germany and Italy were now girded for a powerful offensive against Britain and the United States, and “the. Kremlin is too wise to pick chestnuts from the fire for the sake of the Allies.”

He emphasised that the RussianJapanese* neutrality pact would be maintained, and also the recent fishing agreement. He predicted that the Axis would soon knock out throughout the world the old order and establish a new order.

PUSHED BACK JAPANESE IN IRRAWADDY VALLEY. BUT CHINESE LOSE GROUND ON SALWEEN FRONT. u (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) CHUNGKING, April 23. The Associated Press of America says Chinese troops are mopping up the last Japanese clinging to villages along the Irrawaddy River, immediately below Yenangyaung, while the invaders’ main lines have been pushed back three to four miles southward. An Army spokesman revealed that on the eastern flank, however, General Stilwell’s Chinese troops have been forced to retire under intensive pressure along the Salween River, and up the road to Mandalay, where fierce fighting continues.

POISON GAS JAPANESE ALLEGATION & THREAT. LONDON, April 23. The Tokio correspondent of the Rome newspaper “Messagero” reported that during the battle from April 12 to April 14 at T'nagaya and Wagnel, in Burma, British and Chinese troops used gas. The Japanese High Command contemplated applying thesame method of warfare, the correspondent said. Chungking reports that nine mobile hospitals have been rushed to Burma to safeguard the Allied troops against malaria and cholera. Dr Chiteh Loo, director of the Army Medical Corps, will personally supervise the anti-epi-demic measures.