Reported Preparations for Rapid Expansion

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 13 September 1937, Page 9

Reported Preparations for Rapid Expansion

JAPANESE FEAR SOVIET AID FOR CHINA German Officers as Defence Instructors In Tokyo (CXITED PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRIGUT.) (Received September 12, 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 11. The Helsingfors correspondent of the "Morning Post" says Russia has begun a big drive to expand her air force in the Far East. She is sending daily consignments of the latest bombers to Siberia. ' The newspapers openly claim that Russian pilots will soon have no difficulty in laying Tokyo and Osaka in ruins. Japanese official circles, it is believed, fear that Russia will shortly join China against Japan. German staff officers are reported to have arrived in Tokyo to instruct the Japanese in defence from air attacks. Meanwhile the two nations are negotiating to strengthen their pact against Bolshevism. The Soviet is immediately beginning to build fast singleengined bombers under licence from the American Vultee Corporation, which will supply supervisory engineers. A great engine factory is hurriedly being built on the outskirts of Moscow, and a second factory, specialising in seaplanes of American design, is under construction on the shores of the Black Sea.