MIXED WARFARE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 150, 21 March 1933, Page 6

MIXED WARFARE

Airman’s Impressions of Chinese Campaign “RUTHLESS JAPANESE” “The Chinese are slow to learn aviation, but they eventually make good x flyers,” said Colonel Vincent Schmidt, who arrived from Sydney by the Maunganui yesterday. Colonel Schmidt, who is an American, is on his way to Papeete, after 18 months’ warfare as commander of the air force attached to the Tenth Chinese Route Army. The Japanese equipment was superior to the Chinese, he said, but the purchase of English, French, German, and Italian machines was bringing China into line. A lot of money was being spent on aviation in China, and within a few years he expected them to have a strong air force. There was no real front presented to the Japanese on account of the change of Governments in China, Colonel Schmidt said, but resistance to aggression was increasing, and in two or three years the position would become consolidated to a great extent. There was no doubt that the Japanese

would establish a buffer state at Manehukuo, but it was unlikely that they would go south of the Great Wall. In equipment, staff work, and air corps, the Japanese were as good as any forces in Europe. They were quite ruthless in war, and did not hesitate to bomb from the air. even at the cost of many civilian lives, to achieve their objective.

Life meant comparatively little to the Chinese or Japanese, and they saw nothing wrong in their methods of warfare.

"Fighting in China is kind of crazy,” Colonel Schmidt said. “You can never be sure what side you are on, or at least who’s on your sidd. Your fellows are liable to run out on you at any moment. They are not particular whom they are fighting—so long as they’re fighting, and there’s money in it.” Colonel Schmidt related that a high officer in the air department of the Cantonese Army once said that he was afraid to send up more than ten planes at a time, in case they decided to “turn dog” on him and join the enemy.

Foreigners were not welcome in any part, of China, Colonel Schmidt said, as it was felt that they went there only to exploit the country. This feeling. however, did not apply to military experts who could teach the Chinese how to improve their methods.