WAR WITH RUSSIA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 48, Issue 2886, 29 March 1939, Page 3

WAR WITH RUSSIA

EXPECTATION IN JAPAN BRITISH ENMITY DISCUSSED ADEQUATE ARMAMENT NEEDED Japan’s armaments must henceforth be on a scale sufficient for a war on two fronts, against China and against Russia simultaneously, LieutGeneral Eiki Tojo, Vice-Minister of War, has told Japan’s assembled munition makers, telegraphs Hugh Byas from Tokio to the New Work Times. He explained that Japan’s land armaments had hitherto been aimed at keeping pace with the .Soviet while China was regarded as secondary.

“.From now one,” he said, “whether we like it or not, we are faced with the necessity of preparing armaments adequate to defend the nation on two fronts at the same time. We must devote every resource available to the construction of armaments sufficient for simultaneous warfare against the Soviet and against China. ‘‘The army must be prepared to settle the present incident and also face a combination of the Chinese and Soviets on two fronts. Only by such preparation can a fundamental settlement of the present issue of reached.”

The address was made to the owners and managers of munition factories who were summoned to meet War Minister Seishiro Itagaki and General Tojo at the Military club. General Itagaki opened the proceedings with a formal written address on conventional lines. General Tojo followed with a full review of the situation as the army sees it. Resistance To Continue The Chinese, he said, have still about 1,000,0010 men in the field, though their morale is extremely low. Behind the fronts, 400,000 to 500,000 guerillas are harassing the Japanese. Even if the Chinese National Government should surrender those antiJapanese and Communist forces will still infest China and the essential features of the present situation will be unchanged. Foreign support, moral and material, from Britain, France and Russia will continue to reach China, said General Tojo. He gave his reasons for believing that Britain will continue to be fundamentally opposed to Japan’s policy in China.

‘‘ißritain realises that the success of Japan’s Continental policy will shake the foundations of her rights’ and interests in China and menace Singapore and Australia,” he said. “The British policy of supporting China must therefore be regarded l as

deeply rooted, and such gestures of friendship as Britain may make can nevei- be interpreted as due to a proper appreciation of the new situation in the Far East.”

The general discussed France as a mere satellite of Britain and then declared that the Soviets were assisting Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in order to prolong the fighting until Japan’s strength was exhausted, intending at the proper time to ally with China in a major conflict with Japan.

General Tojo tacitly admitted that the United States was in a different category from the Powers with major interests that are menaced by Japan’s advance.

“At present, the United 'States observes neutrality,” he declared, “but as it is insisting on the observance of various past treaties in disregard of the actual situation and shows no sign of recognising the new situation in East Asia, we must keep careful watch on the American moves apart from the motives that actuate them. iGeneral Tojo, in conclusion, told the assembled munition makers that the army expects Japan to continue its efforts to become a fully-equipped “nation in arms.”