RUSSO-JAP. CLASH

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1942, Page 5

RUSSO-JAP. CLASH

IN FAR EAST. AMERICAN PREDICTION. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l NEW YORK February 22. The Chungking correspondent of the "New York Times’.’ says: Extraordinary military activity is reported from Manchuria, indicating that a full-dress Russo-Japanese clash will occur before long. Informed circles ip Chungking point out that the Japanese realise their entire previous war success will be jeopardised in case of a surprise attack from Sibernan bases. Further, Japan must strike before the thawing season to enable the Japanese forces to cross the frozen Heilunkiang and Armur Rivers .with a view to an attack on the Trans-Siberian railroad, also on the Russian Far East fleet which is now ice-bound at Sungari and Vladivostock. Latest reports from Siberia show that the Russian Far Eastern army, despite the battle against the Nazis, has not decreased and still totals 1,000,000 men, well mechanised self-contained and strongly air-sup-ported from subterranean aerodromes. Russia also has a most-mod-ern Far Eastern fleet including 90 submarines and many torpedo-boats. JAP TROOP-TRAIN BLOWN UP. CHUNGKING, February 21, The Chinese attacked Chiyuan in North Hunan Province, and blew up a Japanese troon train south of Tangying, killing 400 soldiers and destroying the engine and four coaches. The Chinese attacked Japanese troop concentrations near the Hunan-Shantung border, and also carried out offensive operations m North Kiangsi Province.

Chinese Advice

FOR RUSSIANS TO ATTACK JAPS. .

(Rec. 11.0). CHUNGKING, Feb.' 22. The official “Central Daily News” has urged Russia to strike first against the Japanese, declaring the ostensible peace now prevailing on the Siberian-Manchukuoan border to be simply a prelude to a coming storm. “The opportune time to strike is now, when the Soviet cavalry can operate on the frozen Siberian frontier as they have done on the Western Front against Germany,” it stated.