The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1933. THE WAR IN CHINA.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1933. THE WAR IN CHINA.

The success of the Japanese in the eiiurt. to dig in hi Manchuria, where a. .new state has lately been created, has Leen more eucce.-sful than could have been expected. The Chinese were prepared to offer stubborn resistance in territory which favoured tnose in norocadcn, but when the test came, it .proved that the Chinese were quite ill-prepared and ill-found for the task, The Japanese were equipped with every class of modern armament for theiy task, and no doubt their aerial strength wan a great advantage in clearing put the Chinese from some of their fastnesses. With the Chinese in full retreat, the Japanese may claim a substantial victory, alnd though itliere may be further fighting in places with the remnant of the Chinese army, the possession of the country will be maintained by the Japanese and Manchukuo will be an appendage of the liind of the Rising Sun. During tlie late intensive fighting,, little has been heard of the League attitude regarding Japan’s overt act in the fact of the findings against the invasion of Manchuria. Japan was evidently prepared to take all responsibility and snapped her fingers at the arms embargo imposed by Britain. Japan now in possession, will consolidate her position and presumably defy the League as the representative of the nations. It is a bold step to take, and Japan justifies it by the lack of ability of China to maintain law and order in the appropriated territory, and Japan’s own need to find an outlet for the teeming, millions. Manchuria in a highly mineralised country and these latest resources 1 I Japan will develop. The land is also highly reproductive, and in point of .fact; properly governed, and with a stable administration, is a rich territory. Menfding the position in that quarter Japan will do mu eh to justify her bold action, and at the same time will create a further buffer to Russia reaching the sea in aheacomible clime, and will retard, if not stop, the efforts of Russia to exploit China with the spirit of Bolshevism, China will be very disl naught at the defeat and l H ss imposed on her by Japan, China je not a' warlike nation, nor Q'f a fighting disposition, China js in an ■insecure (position internally, bemuse of the so-called War Lords’ differences. Those gentry are mostly concerned about self, and it was instanced in ■the recent campaign that one of the Chinese generals went over to the enemy! The same lack of national spirit pervades other lenders, and thinwant of co-ordination and unity in the country’s interests accounts for’the present situation in China. Japan is now at the Great Wall, and has indicated it is not intended to trespass' further. ’ Probably Japan will now set about with the endeavour to win the goodwill of the 'Chinese, and allow pateit feuds to die down, with the common purpose of the two yellow races maintaining their own integrity. It is a problem now for the League of Nations to decide on the next move. Japan has many friends in the west who believe her presence irn northern China will be a useful check on Russia, and for that reason there is more than a desire to leave the two races to themselves, in which event, no doubt in time there will be .a fusion of forces for common defence. Their interests, it would appear, lie together, and it will be for them to try and maintain them.