Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1942. CHINA’S VALIANT EFFORT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1942. CHINA’S VALIANT EFFORT.

ANOTHER example and an impressive one of what has been called fairly the unconquerable spirit of China —the spirit that has enabled the Chinese armies and people to lengthen out for nearly five years their resistance to the numerous arid formidably equipped Japanese invading forces—has been given within the last few days. In Yunnan, the Chinese have hit back with heavily damaging effect against the Japanese advancing into that province along the Burma Road. Simultaneously other Chinese troops, cut off in Burma, have operated in real of the invaders in an extended thrust which was carried to the outskirts of Mandalay.

The exploits of the isolated detachments in Burma may rank only in the category of guerilla warfare and be of temporary effect. Even the battles in the Yunnan borderland, in which the Japanese were definitely outmanoeuvred and outfought, and suffered loses running into thousands killed, cannot yet be taken to mean that the Chinese will be able immediately to roll back an invasion of their territory from Burma. The Japanese are stated to be bringing up reinforcements in the region of their latest defeat and they are well placed to do this, 'having at their disposal shortened land communications. Signal proof has once again been given, however, of the high determination and fighting spirit of the Chinese forces. At a minimum their gallant efforts are gaining time which may be of the utmost value to them and to their Allies.

It has been suggested that the Japanese are intent, not only on isolating China from the other United Nations, but on extending and completing their hold on the eastern seaboard of China, with a view to securing uninterrupted land communications into south-eastern Asia. Much as they are hampered by the lack of mechanised and other heavy equipment, with which tljeir enemies are 'well supplied, the Chinese are doing a good deal to hinder the attainment by the Japanese of these aims. Not only are the invaders being opposed stoutly in the Yunnan frontier zone, but guerilla attacks on a considerable scale have lately been made by the Chinese on various parts of the eastern seaboard southward from Shanghai, held and garrisoned by the Japanese.

While the effect, of these operations is far from being negligible, China’s opportunity for fully effective action no doubt will come only when Allied pressure on the Japanese in various fighting areas has been intensified greatly in sea, land and air operations. As matters stand, however, China is holding in play no small part of the total Japanese land forces.

It has been estimated, for instance, that the Japanese Army numbers about 1,800,000 effectives, plus reserves making a total of about 3,000,000 men, of whom. one-third are tied up in China. Another third are ranged in Manchukuo against Russia, and the remainder are available for service elsewhere. China hopes eventually to strike with an army of 5,000,000 men at the Japanese rear, but an opportunity for action on this scale may come only when Japan has been defeated heavily in other war areas and when Russia has been added to the list of her enemies.

One fact of great interest aS it bears on China’s part in the struggle against the common enemy relates to the recent raid by American bombers on Japanese industrial cities. The announcement made a day or two ago by the United States War Department that these bombers were Army planes seems to leave room for no other conclusion than that they operated from bases in China. In that case an important addition is being made to the air support lately given to the Chinese by the American Volunteer Group in Burma and in Yunnan. If it is found possible to build at all rapidly upon what has already been accomplished in this way, new and serious problems evidently will develop for Japan.