JAPAN’S AIMS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1937, Page 2

JAPAN’S AIMS

SEEKING MINERALS

ISOLATING THE NORTH

The possession of expanding maikets and the control of an area which will afford an almost limitless supply of raw materials are the real reasons for Japan’s invasion of China, in. the opinion of a resident of the Dominion who spent 27 years in China, mostly in the northern portion, where the armies are now in conflict. In an interview he dismissed as insincere Japan’s claim that the cause of the war is her regard for the Chinese and her desire to protect China from the ravages of the Communist hordes.

The present objective of the Japanese, he said, was to get to the Yellow River. It would not be sufficient for them to advance as lar as the river, however, as they would not be able to maintain their position there without control of the Belgian railway (Pien-lo-lung-hai railway) further south. Control of this important railway would complete the isolation of the north and that was evidently the present g al of Japan. The Russians would then be blocked on both the northern and western frontiers. Already the Japanese had obtained control of the road to the north by taking the important Ralgan Pass.

Mines and Grain Belt

Another reason to support the contention that the Japanese immediate objective was the control of t-e Belgian railway is that contiol of that railway would give Japan possession of two important junctions—the Kin-; lian railway at Cheng-chow and the Tsin-pu at Hsu-chow. It would also* give her possession of the arsenal at Kung-hsien, west of Cheng-chow. A farther important factor regarding this: railway is that once the Japanese gained control they would have a monopoly of one of the biggest grain belts in the. world and would be able to take charge of bituminous mines at Tbn-shan, lvaiping and Lang-chow. ‘•The Japanese are after m'nerals,' which abound in China, and that de-‘ sire is perhaps the chief reason for the presence of Japanese troops in China,” the speaker continued. ‘‘Japan has long felt the need of minerals and her present invasion of China has not been undertaken without lbng preparation. As an indication of the manner in which the Japanese have gradually asserted themselves, I can recall the presence of Japanese Chambers of Commerce throughout China as far back as 1917, when no other foreign nation would have attempted such a venture.

Vast Mineral Resources

“A rich reward awaits the Japanese' in the 'way of minerals. In the Honan area there is one of the biggest seams of anthracite coal in the world. It extends right up to the north under the Yellow River and to the west to Kansoo. .1 have worked it there at the rate of 3000 tons a day and know it is good anthracite coal. In the mountains of Honan there is iron to be found in good quantities and woolfram in the North. Huge quantities of copper abound, as well as a small quantity of gold. Silver is also to be mined in that area. “If there is one thing chat will unite the Chinese it is the Japanese threat. The Japanese may be able to buy some of the weaker war lords, but not the best of them. With.these bands roaming in the interior any army operating in defence against the Japanese will be greatly assisted. There may be some looting, but that is always the case m war. Marshal Cliiang Kai-shek lias the respect of the foreigners and has already proved himself an able organiser. He has won much support, a fact which distinguishes him from any war lord in the past. His hand will be considerably strengthened with the ‘Christian’ General, Marshal Feng Yu-lisi-ang, behind him.”

British in Disfavour

In reference to Marshal Feng Yuhsiang it was stated that he once gave an indication of his attitude to the foreigner when he addressed a large body of his followers. With clenched fist upraised Feng Yu-hsiang declared he was anti-foreign. More than that he detested the Japanese. He regarded the British with special dislavour, however, and he considered the Japanese would never have presented in 1915 their famous 21 demands, but for the support he believed they received from Britain .This same war lord, who was intensely devoted to his own country, bore the reputation of being supported by the Russians from the time he broke away from the other war lord, Wu Pei-fu.

Present indications were that, except for foreign intervention, the Japanese, would win out in the present conflict. It was highly improbable that Amer.ca would allow herself to be involved. The' Japanese were better organised t an the Chinese, had superior arms and were better fighters. On the other hand the Chinese were better armed than it was generally tlcmght and their roads would prove their best defence. If the Japanese got a regiment into the firing line west of Honan they would need two army corps to guard the lines of communication.

General Sutton's Influence

One who had done much for the modernisation of the Chinese army was General F. A. Sutton. He was military adviser to Marshal Chang Tso-lin at Mukden and was in charge of his

munitions ' and arms factory. Rising from poverty in China to a position of affluence in China in Manchuria. General Sutton had a chequered career. He. was educated at Eton and was a major in the British Army. He lost an arm at Gallipoli. Tn the event of a Japanese victory, which seemed probable, the Japanese would take a hard and fast control o r the country. There would he none of that co-operation with the Chinese which the Japanese declared they de sired, but rather a military dictatorship with the army and navy ruling. The Japanese would he masters. On the other hand there was something indefinable with which the Japanes* would have to contend. Tn spite of a multitude of reverses of various kinds from time immemorial the Chinese had always managed to come hack.