Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28. 1938. THE FALL OF CANTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 15, 28 October 1938, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28. 1938. THE FALL OF CANTON.

Though the fall of Canton, followed by that of Hankow, must seriously affect the Chinese m their struggle against the Japanese their spirit is apparently not weakened. The President ot the Executive Yuan, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese forces, has, notwithstanding representations by the British Ambassador, reiterated his determination not to seek peace and the Chinese Press asserts that resistance will not be abandoned until China’s territorial integrity and sovereign rights are restored. China’s policy, according to the military spokesman, is based on the anticipation of prolonged warfare. From the point of view of military strategy and prestige, Hankow has greater attraction than Canton as a prize. As soon as Chiang .Kaf-shek’s Government was established there, soon after the fall of Nanking, the Japanese concentrated large numbers upon a plan to seize it, although this concentration meant a weakening of the invasion of Shansi province and the north generally. On their part, the Chinese were as plainly aware that the fight for Hankow might be' crucial. "The hope of the Chinese Government,” wrote an English observer in June, "is that in front of the great Yangtse town the Japanese will meet their Waterloo.” The occupation of Canton is of importance not so much as a military achievement as because it means virtually complete mastery of the main parts of the coast and a valuable commercial entrepot. China s export trade must suffer, but already the necessary war supplies are being received through channels not affected by the Japanese occupation. The effect on trade has considerable interest for foreign countries. It may be, as is said by authorities at Hong Kong, that the economic worth of that British territory will not be jeopardised, but Japan’s earlier disposition to treat nonChinese rights with'scant courtesy cannot be forgotten. Japan’s hold on Canton severs Hong Kong from free communication, for any purpose, with China; that communication, if maintained, can now be enjoyed only on Japanese sufferance. The southward extension of the Japanese campaign affects France also. When there was reason to fear that the invaders planned to occupy the large island of Hainan, south-ward of Canton, both Britain and France made protests, emphasising the risk of interference with covenanted national rights in its vicinity. An assurance was forthcoming from Tokio that no territorial ambitions were cherished in that region. As far as it went, the assurance was satisfactory, but Japan had earlier attached a condition to promises applying to Shanghai concessions and to shipping on the Yangtse—“military necessity” must be understood as excusing interference, should such a necessity arise. This is an aspect that presents a danger greater than any loss of trade through actual military operations restricted to the two combatants.