NORTH CHINA BATTLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 138, 13 May 1941, Page 5

NORTH CHINA BATTLE

LONDON, May 11. The Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that heavy fighting has broken out in northern China. Ten thousand Japanese troops have begun an offensive on the border of the Honan and Hupeh provinces west of the PokingHankow railway, and brisk battles aie progressing along an irregular lino ol 90 miles. The Chinese, the correspondent says, retook one town after street fighting in. which half of the Japanese garrison was wiped out. The Chinese admit that the Japanese have captured several towns on the border of Shansi and Honan.

CONFLICT OVER POLICY. NEW YORK. May 12. According to Mr Joseph Newman, Tokio correspondent of the HeraldTribune. there is further evidence that the Japanese Army and Government have reached the parting of the ways and that the outcome may he a complete reorientation of policy toward either the Axis or China.

Mr Newman believes Japan / has made two important decisions: firstly to hold in abeyance her southward expansion drive against Tailand, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies: and secondly to press on the Foreign Office her desire for an early solution of the war with China. War with America must he avoided at all costs, lie says. A Canberra message says the Minister of External Affairs (Sir Frederick Stewart), referring to the New York message, said the Australian Minister to Japan would be asked to report on the correctness or otherwise of the story about Japan’s reported moves.

AMERICA AND WAR (Ree. 12 noon.) TOKIO, May 12. Japanese stock market quotations have dropped sharply as the result of persistent rumours that the United States is about to participate in the war. Shipping issues particularly suffered. The Nielli Niclii, Hoehi and other newspapers reiterated the sentiment expressed by the Japan Times that pence in China is impossible unless the United Staten approves. The Domei News Agency said Japanese planes from Indo-Cbijia heavily bombed the Burma Road.