U.S. MARINES PROVIDE KEY TO TOKYO MOVES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 6

U.S. MARINES PROVIDE KEY TO TOKYO MOVES

FAR EAST

SHANGHAI. August 8. Watch Russia. . ' Watch the Fourth Regiment of th United States Marines, , These are two keys to Japans nex moves in the Far East. __ s For in spite of warlike Tokyo p threats, informed “S that Prince Fumimaro Konoye <iuu Foreign Minister Admiral Teijiro Toy but not beyond, where democracies will take military % f c tl0 " •,th at observers continue to an Tokyo does not intend to take an irrevocable course until results of the German-Soviet war are more definite. Thus the position of Russia in its present conflict with Germany remains one of the determining factors m Ja The e attitude y of the United States is, meanwhile, interpreted m how long the Marine Corps maintains J ts troops in Shanghai. It is true that this may look mofe important at close range so that residents of this city may be ex cused if they are fully aware of the relationship of the International Settlement to the entire crisis. But it is, nevertheless, clear that tne purpose of the marines here is to guard American citizens and property. They would in all probability be evacuated, together with the Americans, if Washington felt that a “shooting war were about to begin. And again, the effect on Japanese policy is obvious. Shanghai, however, is nervous over the future, with some hoarding in evidence. There is some hope that America will send special vessels for evacuation purposes. . , It is recognised in informed circles here that whatever the restraint upon Japan may be, Tokyo is preparing for all eventualities. This is the explanation of the fact that the Japanese are speeding troops to Indo-China, hurrying Indo-China defences, and continuing pressure on, Thailand, Troops in Manchuria Simultaneously Japan is sending at least 100,000, and probably more, men to Manchuria. These are massed near Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, Siberia. The total force in Manchuria now is probably 400,000 picked troops. However, there is no evidence here that the Soviets are relaxing their Siberian defences and the Japanese reinforcements are believed intended solely to

[By FREDERICK B. OFFER] (Published by Arrangement with the "Christian Science Monitor”!

-meet future eventualities and not to launch an immediate attack. The Japanese are calling up reservists, many of whom already have served in the China war and were mustered out in addition to civilians living in China. They also are reexamining and reclassifying men as old as 45 years for possible service. In Tokyo, authoritative Japanese pictured their empire as ringed by the military, political, and economic power of the United States. Britain. China, and the Netherlands, but that it would be easy to break the economic encirclement if Japan adopts “the German fashion.” There was nothing specific in the comment to indicate that more than a diplomatic power campaign was suggested It came from one of Japan’s most authoritative naval experts, Lieu-tenant-Commander Tota Ishimaru. The Associated Press reported that his statement, appearing in the newspaper “Hochi,” said: . , . , “Manchukuo, China, Indo-China, and Thailand have joined the co-prosperity sphere. Now we can draw on IndoChina and other food. Oil and Rubber "Getting the (Netherlands) Indiei oil and Malay rubber is a bit difficult, but should be a cinch if we tackle the problem after the German fashion. Domei, Japanese news agency, said it was reliably understood that Admiral Toyoda was selecting a special envoy for French Indo-China to be charged, presumably, with all diplomatic and economic negotiations. With all of this, the American colony in China experiences a sense of relief with every report of the strengthening of the' democratic garrisons in the Far East. Those who know the preparations going forward in Malaya are ready to accept the .statement by the Australian Air Minister (Mr John McEwen) that British Air Forces in the Far East are strong enough to meet any emergency. It is known that large transports primarily for the use of the Australian Air Force are being ordered for the Malayan stations. These will permit rapid shifts of troop concentrations over a wide area. From Singapore, Straits Settlements, Reuters, British News Agency, reported that United States aid to China was pouring in over the Burma road. An Information Ministry statement there said that if. this flow of material were stopped it would be equivalent to “drawing the war fangs