ATTACK RUSSIA?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 7

ATTACK RUSSIA?

JAP. PREPARATIONS Chinese Minister Says Enemy Losses Are Enormous Rec. 2 p.m. I\£J\V YORK, Feb. 20. There is a strong possibility of a Japanese attack against Siberia before April, coinciding with Hitler's spring offensive against the Soviet, said the Chinese War Minister, Ho Ying-chin, in an interview with the New York. Times Chungking correspondent. He expressed confidence in the Russians' ability to match the Japanese, and said Japan was extremely vulnerable to air attacks from Siberia.

If Rangoon fell Japan would immediately drive on to India in the hope of joining hands with her Axis partners somewhere in the Near East, he said, but this drive was unlikely to be successful because it would be possible only with strong naval support in the Indian Ocean, and Japan could not risk an unlimited extension of her naval operations.

"We advise our British and American Allies not to be over-concerned about immediate Japanese successes," he said, "because the Japanese losses in manpower, ships and equipment are enormous, considering their limited possibility of replacement, while the combined Allied resources are overwhelming. Therefore, the turn of the tide is certain as soon as Britain, America and China have rallied for the attack."