ENGAGED AT ALL POINTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 11

ENGAGED AT ALL POINTS

Japanese Invaders LANDINGS IN SOUTH CHINA (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, March 6. According to the Hong Kong correspondent of the American Associated Press, the Japanese claim that their landings in Tonking have nullified United States aid to the Central Chinese Government. A Japanese army spokesman declared that the doom of the Chiang Kaishek regime has been sealed. The Chungking High Command asserts that the Japanese are being engaged at all points in their attempts to drive inland. Competent observers consider that the landings will possibly cripple the food supply to Hong Kong. A communique issued in Chungking indicated that very heavy Japanese landing operations began early on Monday south-west of Kwangtung between Sunwui and Pakhoi. It is said that more than 1400 Japanese landed at Kwanghoi and headed north to Towshau. Simultaneously a force pushed westward from Sunwui toward Tanshuihu. It is said that the Japanese also landed further west along the Kwangtung coast, and that fighting is very active on all sectors. The Japanese looted Pakhoi and Tinpak and destroyed the surrounding salt fields. Five warships and a dozen motor launches were used in the landing at Pakhoi. The Japanese army spokesman at Shanghai said that landings had been made along a 240-mile coastal strip from Kwanghoi to Pakhoi, with forces occupying the Luchow Peninsula, but said that Kwangchowan would not be occupied, because it was already surrounded. The spokesman . asserted that the Japanese landings in Febru ary in Bias Bay had revealed a network of supply routes to Chungking which it was the purpose of Monday’s operations to cut off. Chinese Confidence. General Chiang ’ Kai-shek, in a speech at Chungking, said: “It is my fundamental belief that Russia, Britain and America would never obstruct Chinese resistance and would surely aid our resistance. Some people have been hoping that Russia or America would aid China by actually joining the war, but I have never counted on that because China alone has the strength for final victory. “We don’t necessarily need friendly Powers to join in the war, but we do need them to maintain strict neutrality.

“It is my strong belief that these Powers will never reach a genuine compromise with Japan and consequently we have nothing to worry about regarding our foreign relations.” Speaking of China’s position, General Chiang said that Japan could never totally blockade China. The food shortage last year had been the result of poor administration. China’s most difficult period since the Japanese attack had been in the six months from April to September last. Though communications into the interior had been disrupted, China had remained firm. He still had 60 per cent, reserve of cash on the Chinese note issue.