TOGO IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1943, Page 4

TOGO IN CHINA

VISIT TO PUPPET LEADER CHINESE PAPERS APPEAL TO ALLIES. TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO FAR EAST. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) NEW YORK ,March 15. In his first official journey outside Japan, the Japanese Premier (General Tojo) visited Nanking and conferred wiht Wang Ching-Wei (head of rhe puppet Government) on questions relative to Japan's new China policy. The Tokio radio says General Tojo also acquainted the Japanese authorities in China with the significance of the new policy. ■ The Associated Press correspondent at Chungking reports that Chinese newspapers, commenting on Tojo s visit to Nanking, again appealed to Britain and America to pay greater attention ot the Far Eastern theatre. The consensus of opinion was that Tojo hoped to counteract the Allied strategy agreed upon at Casablanca during the breathing spell afforded to the Japanese while Allied power was concentrated against Hitler. ~ The “China Times,” _ while drawing attention to the possibility of a Japanese attack against Siberia, pointed out that the Japanese might attempt large-scale action against American air bases in China, or a decisive naval engagement with the United States Battle Fleet. If she attacked Siberia, Japan would require both troops and supplies from the puppet territory. The “Takung Pao,” discounting an all-out attack against Chungking, said Japan realises that every ounce of strength used in China is an ounce taken from her striking power against Britain and America. It added that Japan’s depreciated naval strength and distance rule out the possibility of a decisive sea battle.