JAPAN’S THREAT TO RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23712, 10 August 1942, Page 5

JAPAN’S THREAT TO RUSSIA

CHINESE REPORT PREPARATIONS FOR OFFENSIVE LONDON, August 7. The Japanese are preparing to attack Russia during the present battle in the Caucasus,, said Doctor George Yen, London Director of the Chinese Ministry of Information, who added that the Japanese have deployed their forces, first, indicating a probable attack on Russia’s maritime provinces, and second, to resist a flanking movement by the Russians and Chinese. The Japanese, he says, have brought up their strength in Manchuria to at least 1000 aeroplanes, which are concentrated in the north-east, presumably for a blitz against the eastern end of the Trans-Siberian railway and the important towns of Khabarovsk. Blagovyeshchensk, and Vladivostok. The Japanese are concentrating troops on the southern edge of the Mongolian plateau, across which the Russians could strike down to the Gulf of Chili, cutting the Japanese army in two, but the Japanese are alive to the danger, and are preparing to prevent the Russians joining up with the Chinese forces in western Suiyuan. The Japanese are also preparing to forestall an attack from the Chinese in this area. The Japanese occupation forces in China are reorganising and reinforcing as fully-equipped offensive divisions. The Berlin radio has quoted a speech by Colonel Hawogawa, head of the Press Department of the Kwangtung Army, in which he said that Japan’s northern defences could not be broken. Russia could arrive at a position where she would be forced into war against Japan whether she liked it or not, because the United States had the greatest interest in the Soviet starting a direct attack against Japan and at the same time securing India. Stalin was now in a position which might force him to accede to demands from the United States, he said, from fear that he will lose American help, on which he now depended more than ever. ALLIED DIPLOMATS IN MOSCOW SPECULATION ON SECOND FRONT LONDON, August 7. Representatives of Allied nations have been arriving in Moscow in the last few days. , , In addition to the British Ambassador (Sir Archibald Clark Kerr) and the United States Ambassador (Admiral W. H. Standley), it is reported that -he Fighting French Minister (M. Garreau) and General Steffansen, of the Norwegian Legation, have arrived. Major-General Forrest Bradley, formerly Commander of the Ist American Air Corps, is'already in Moscow, and it is reported that the United States Ambassador to Turkey is on his way there. Mr L. Steinhardt, United States Ambassador to Turkey, interviewed at Ankara, denied that he was going to Moscow. While these reports reach London of large-scale arrivals in Moscow of Allied diplomats for what the Ankara radio terms “a big Allied second front conference,” Vichy is experiencing a bad attack of second front nerves, and asserts that British and American forces will soon join Marshal Timoshenko’s troops. . ■ The Vichy correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Tidningen” says: “London’s second front propaganda is comparable to the war of nerves before the German attack against France. Discussion of the second front predominates throughout France. The wildest rumours are circulating and sabotage outrages have created an atmosphere of tension.” The Governments of Russia and Czechoslovakia have decided to raise their legations tc the rank of embassies. SOVIET SYMPATHY IN FINUCANE’S DEATH LONDON, August 7. A telegram of condolence has been received from two Russian fighter pilots—both holders of the Russian decoration of Hero of the Soviet Union —in connexion with the death of Wing Commander Brendan Finucane. The telegram says: “By a joint supreme effort against the sinister forces of Hitlerism, we must ruthlessly avenge our fallen friends and all the unmentionable atr: cities of bloodthirsty Hitlerism.” British Summer Time.—The twohour period of summer time, known as double British summer time, comes to an end in Britain at 3 a.m. on August 9, when clocks will be set at 2 a.m.—London, August 7.