THE MANCHURIAN OFFENSIVE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 7, 6 December 1932, Page 6

THE MANCHURIAN OFFENSIVE.

After a period of indecision, the Japanese have lauuched an offensive against the Chinese General, Su Ping-wen, in Western Manchuria. Early in October it was reported that this war lord, who in the previous month had rebelled against the authority of Manchukuo, was holding the area in North-West-ern Manchuria beyond the Ivhingan Mountains, and had developed a situation entirely characteristic of the Chinese civil war. He then held 200 Japanese hostages at Manchuli, at the extreme west of the Chinese Eastern Railway, and threatened their death if an expedition were sent against him. Su Ping-wen charged the Government of Heilung-kiang with treating his troops badly, but while notifying the Japanese authorities that he was prepared to enter into negotiations lie had secretly informed the Chinese Government of his determined opposition to Manchukuo. At the time the Japanese were in a difficult situation, as an offensive would risk the lives of the hostages. It would appear, however, that the war lord’s renewed activity against Manchukuo which means Japanese interests — has led to a determined offensive. The Chinese are stated to be retiring, but the further west they retreat the more difficult becomes the task of the attackers, for the operations must be carried out in difficult mountainous country, served only by the Chinese Eastern Railway. Manchuli is 400 miles distant from Tsitsihar, the last big Japanese post, and on this stretch of line are several towns in which their nationals are suffering from Su Ping-wen’s troops, a number having been killed at Hailar. To what extent these operations will complicate the general situation between China and Japan does not seem clear, but it is obvious that, if the latter is determined to maintain order in Manchukuo, she is confronted with a difficult and lengthy job from the bandit armies that are constantly gathering under a leader whose reign may be brief, but very destructive to their harassed enemies.