THE WAR IN CHINA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 44, 22 February 1939, Page 6

THE WAR IN CHINA

THE war in China proceeds, with Japan extending her commitments to Hainan Island in the hope of cutting off supplies reaching China from the south. Realising that such a development would occur sooner or later, China has not relied solely on receiving supplies from the cast but has consistently endeavoured to develop the western provinces of the Chinese Republic. Coincident with the developments in the south, Japan is endeavouring to construct a Maginot Line against Russia in the north. It, may be doubted whether such a feat is at all possible because of ihe very great length of the frontier. If it is attempted it will tax the efforts of Japan in a very serious manner anti even then it may be impossible to prevent the line from being broken by a concentration of force at one point along the line. Maginot Lines require to be heavily garrisoned and provisioned and a thin Maginot Line may well prove to be no defence at all. Meanwhile, Japanese occupation of the territory which it is claimed lias been conquered is very slight and results in the Chinese being able to embark successfully on surprise offensives every now and again.