King Country Chronicle. Monday, May 16, 1938. JAPAN STRIKES IN SOUTH CHINA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4640, 16 May 1938, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Monday, May 16, 1938. JAPAN STRIKES IN SOUTH CHINA.

Though the British Government has stated that there is no reason for alarm, the attack of the Japanese upon Amoy, near Hong Kong, is likely to be watched very carefully. The apprehension in British circles may be understood when Amoy is only 300 miles from the British possession of Hong Kong and from it a drive could be made to the southwest to attack Canton, and thereby paralyse the British owned island. Though the Japanese at the present time are not likely willingly to provoke the enmity of Britain, they might be prepared to risk much to stop the supply of munitions to China through Hong Kong and along the new Canton-Hankow railroad. A Tokyo correspondent says that three possible motives are suggested for the attack upon Amoy—strategic, economic and psychological. If the motive be strategic then the Japanese are likely to attempt to cut off the flow of munitions to the Kwangtung armies. This is likely to increase Anglo-Japanese tension to a great degree. If the principal motive be economic, it is the large Customs revenue that attracts the Japanese, and the occupation of the Swatow and Foochow may be expected shortly: If the motive be psychological, then the Japanese will endeavour to encourage the Japanese public by a spectacular victory in the south of China. The stakes are great, but so is the cost. The main concern is for the security of Canton, though a Hong Kong message states that preparations to meet a Japanese attack have long been completed there—attack has longbeen threatened. Thus it appears that only a large expedition is likely to be able to close the supply of munitions, and to send one would necssarily involve depleting the strength of the Japanese armies in

the north; while, as mentioned above, effective operations in this area are likely to increase Anglo-Japanese friction. Yet Japan, though probably she would very much like to withdraw from her Chinese campaign, cahnot do so; she must go on, however barren the fruits of her action. And Canton is one of the principal sources of the resistance to her armies. *t<rarj ~a" a 2 l2 ‘ -8*