RISING SUN

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1940, Page 8

RISING SUN

(By Chen I-wan). (The writer is an author and traveller, artist and political commentator, son of China’s most celebrated Foreign Minister). Looking at history from the point of view of this century and not this decade, the vast slow war in the Far East is of more decisive importance than that of Europe. For while the latter is exhausting its three combatant nations, that in East Asia is freeing, stirring and uplighting four hundred and fifty millions of the earth’s people, the great Chinese nation. Through infinite misery, a new Great Powder is being born which shall be more powerful for good or ill than any other in history.

The Generalissimo has said recently to the People’s Political Council that the nation is now twice as strong militarily as when the war was launched. Life the ancient Antaean fable of the Greeks, China rises more mighty from her first overthrow. I reported early this year that a “mystery army” was being formed and trained in the Western interior of China, its numbers being estimated at the immense total of ten million men. Little more was at that time known and no other correspondent could add to that report. Now Dr. Sun Fo, son of famous Sun Yat-sen and President of the Legislative Yuan, has announced in London that this army is indeed a fact and is rapidly nearing the point when it can be launched upon the Japuanese. Wherei did it find its weapons? Much doubtless came mover the Burma-Yunnan road, thanks to British permission. But more, there is reason to believe, came across the Old Silk Road from Siberia .where on the steppes and in the deep Ural valleys smoke rises night and day from the forges and the mines. Always our steadiest helper, Soviet Russia has lately been able to give us more assistance than ever. Ten thousand Red Army lorries have been sent us on credit. At the beginning of Jfine 200 new Soviet planes appeared over our western airfields and were handed to our young, eager pilots.

Russia trades with us as a neutral, and we recognise her neutrality. But it is a wise and freedom-favouring policy. Dr. Sun Fo, speaking to a famous English M.P. and political writer this week, said: “Russia has granted us credits for fifty million pounds. And Great Britain has not given a tenth of that. The Russians are business-like. I myself secured thirty millions of that amount on my recent visit. We discussed the matter for only a few hours and then it was all arranged.’’ The famous Conservative M.P. adds his comment: “It was when Dr. Sun Fo spoke of the contrasted attitudes of Russia and Britain towards his country that I sensed a slight lack of pro-British fervour. In his opinion Japan is very tired and will be unable to set up a puppet Government in place of the Chinese Generalissimo’s Administration.