BLOW AT RUSSIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 8

BLOW AT RUSSIA

JAPANESE PLANS FOR

SPRING?

CHINESE FORECAST

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Rec. 2 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 20,

There is a strong possibility of a Japanese attack against Siberia before April, coinciding with Hitler's spring offensive against the Soviet, said the Chinese War Minister, General Ho Ying-Chin, in an interview with the Chungking correspondent of the "New York Times."

He expressed confidence in the Russians' ability to match the Japanese. Japan, he said, was extremely vulnerable to air attacks from Siberia.

If Rangoon fell Japan would immediately drive on to India in the hope of joining hands with her Axis partners somewhere in the Near East, but this drive was unlikely to be successful, because it was possible only with strong naval support in the Indian Ocean, and Japan could not risk an unlimited extension of naval operations.

"We advise our British and American allies not to be overconcerned about the immedialte Japanese successes," 'said General Ho, "because the Japanese losses of nian-power, ships, and equipment are enormous, considering the limited possibility of their being replaced, while the combined Allied resources are overwhelming.