YEAR OF WAR IN FAR EAST

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 11

YEAR OF WAR IN FAR EAST

Exhorting The Rival

Nations

CHINA TO “FIGHT TO FINISH” Enormous Casualties And Cost B, Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Messages from China and Japan received yesterday report that General Chiang Kai-shek and the Japanese Emperor delivered messages to the two nations on the occasion of the first anniversary of the war. The Chinese commander-in-chief said in a broadcast speech from Hankow, the present capital of China: “We shall fight to a finish. If only one inch of territory.is left and one Chinese remains alive we shall resist until our territorial integrity and sovereignty . are safe. This determination is final, come what mav.”

The Emperor of Japan, in his message, called for national sacrifice and concentration to eliminate long-stand-ing evils. Prosperity, through Chinese and Japanese co-operation, would serve to ensure world peace.

The Minister of Finance, Mr.. Ikeda, announced that Japan’s financial and economic position was now favourable. A minute’s silence was observed at noon yesterday as a tribute to the war dead.' Memorial services were held throughout the country. Meanwhile foreign observers at Shanghai estimate the total war casualties as a result of the year’s fighting at a million Chinese and 300,000 Japanese. They point out also that large tracts of occupied territory are in the hands of Chinese guerrillas.

Actually the Japanese control extends for five miles on each side of railways and waterways. None of the Japanese victories has been decisive. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” estimates the cost of the war to date at £430,000,000, which is being met by increasing taxation. The burden of internal indebtedness is heavy but bearable.

The same correspondent states that the Japanese northern army in China is still immobilised as a result of the floods. Reports from Hankow state that the Japanese advance to the capital is being met by hand-to-hand fighting and a fierce battle is being waged between Hsiangshan and Hsiangkow.

FLOOD DEATH-ROLL IN KOBE

252 Dead And 390 Missing

Kobe, July 7.

Two hundred and fifty-two bodies have been recovered following the floods in Kobe. Three hundred and ninety persons are missing and many injured. The damage is estimated at £6,000,000. Many families have been entirely wiped out. Four Europeans are dead.

TERRORIST HUNT IN SHANGHAI

Co-operation From The

Nations

Shanghai, July 7. The biggest terrorist hunt in the city’s history, including raids on shops, homes, cabarets and theatres, marked the anniversary of the outbreak of the war to-day. Police stopped cars and trams and mobilised all forces in the settlement, including Japanese troops, Seaforth Highlanders, Russian volunteers and American marines, and detained thousands of suspects.