Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1942. JAPAN THREATENS SIBERIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 September 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1942. JAPAN THREATENS SIBERIA.

is said Io bo iiioiiipiug iii ol'l’icial eiis’loi in llic Ibiilod Stale's th, - il lli<’ Ja|i:inoso are |H‘op:iriii)’’ Io allat’k in Hiheiia, I’veeisi'lx how far tins de\olopiueiil in or iilionhl ho I’onroil, in the liuted States or elsewhere, perhaps uifiv ho a nnillor of opinion, l| seems possible that m view of Iho wide oxlonl of Japan's existing- war commitments, Iho mhlil ionnl ilein of ;i camp.'iiitn in Siberia would involve a heavy lux on her lol,al resources and that in those eonditiomi Iho Allies miplil he able. Io .give effective air and oilier support Io Russia.

At the moment Japan is allowing no hint Io escape of her real intentions where Siberia is concerned. Iler official news agency has just quoted an Aruii spokesman an saying that, nothing untoward can happen in Iho north so long as Iviissia keeps strictly to her limit rality treaty with Japan, hut, as adding that the United Slates. Britain ami (’llina were al lem.pl in; 1 ; Io incite Russia against Japan. An attack wilhoul warning mi Siberia would be thoroughly in keeping with Japan’s standards and. in the cablegram already mentioned and elsewhere, a. number of reasons have been cited lor believiiii l ; that, she is preparing to make such an attack. A delad in this ealegory worthy of attention is (hat General Stillwell, commander of the American forces in China, is stated Io have, repealed recently that the defensive attitude of the Japanese in China was logically to be explained by concentrations for an attack in Siberia.

An ultimate Japanese movement against Asiatic Russia lias been predicted for months past by Chinese authorities. Cabling to the “Christian Science Monitor” from Chungking on July 21 last. Air Gunther Stein said that, opinion in the Chinese capital was practically unanimous that Japan would attack Russia in the summer or early autumn, “especially in view of (he aggravation of the Russian situation in Europe.” The Chinese do not regard this as altogether an unfavourable prospect, “because it would open a second land front in Ihe Far East without which Chinese circles have found it. difficult, to see any way Io defeat Japan decisively.” At the same lime, Air Stein observed, the Chinese warned against a complacent estimate of Russia’s chances of defeating Japan.

They realise (he continued) that the Japanese have their best troops in Korea and Formosa —at least one-third of their entire Army, equipped with first-rate modern armaments —that the largest part of the Japanese Air Force and Navy have been held in reserve for the war against Russia, and that the present measure of Japan's consolidation on other fronts will make it possible to throw in heavy reinforcements and to use larger quantities of metal and oil in the Russian campaign than was thought possible a short while ago.

Assuming that Japan at an early date, extends tier aggression to Asiatic Russia, a great deal will depend in the first place upon the extent-to which the strength of the independently organised Siberian Army has been maintained and in the second place on the volume of air and other support given to Russia by her Allies—chiefly, no doubt, the United States—and the rapidity with which this aid is given.

There has been mention from time to time of the presence of Siberian troops on the Russian front in Europe, but Siberia is a vast territory and the fact that troops from Siberia are fighting in Europe does not of necessity mean that the strength of the army organised, with its own arsenals and bases, to defend Siberia has been drawn upon to any large extent. If Vladivostok and the Russian airfields within easy striking distance of Japan can be held securely, Japan will be open to heavily damaging attack by air from Siberia as well as from China.

The Japanese are said to be counting’ upon their ability to develop an overwhelming attack which will enable them speedily to capture Vladivostok and the vital air bases. Taking account from the broadest standpoint of the position, not only in the Pacific, but in the war as a whole, it may be not less important that quick and powerful aid—particularly that of American air forces —should be given to Russia in Siberia than that offensive action on the grand scale should be taken by llie Allies as soon as possible in Western Europe.