JAPANESE WAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 192, 16 July 1941, Page 7

JAPANESE WAR

A LOSING STRUGGLE. HUGE FORCES UTILISED. (United Press Association—Copyright) (11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, July 15. Reviewing- the four years of war with Japan, General Ho Yingchin said China began with 1,700,000 troops and she now had 5,000,000 regulars. 800,000 guerrillas, and 10.000,000 reserves

All units now had modern arms. Japan used 20 divisions in China in 1037, .'JO; iii 1935-.'s9. 35 in 1940 and 3C4 in 1941. but despite these increasing forces the Japanese gains had diminished progressively as China had be'onio stronger

There had been nine major battles, of which China had lost three—a* Nanchang. Ichang. and in tho Chuntiao Mountains.

EYES ON JAPAN T

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

DISTURBING TBENDS. WASHINGTON, July 15. | Swift developments pointing to an i imminent Japanese move southward I which took place in the Far East to- | day are causing apprehension in the | United States. According to the Domei i News Agency Japan's national structure is being geared to total war "in I execution of important national policies recently decided at the Imperial Conference."' Large-scale preparations for that purpose are now apparent from the intensified drive happening in all Govi eminent quarters. The Japanese Govj eminent has announced that it expects ! the people to put their daily lives on, I a complete war footing, says the Tokio | correspondent of the New York Times. 'Additional emergency measures affecting industry, agriculture, transportation, and consumption will be announced shortly. The correspondent adds that the newrestrictions on communications indicate the extent of Japanese preparations. Communication by telegraph and telephone internally has been restricted to the Japanese language and in the radio-phone and radio-telegraph services to Europe to Japanese and German. English may be used only on overseas cable services.

A Tokio message says Mr lichi Kishi. substituting for the Information Board spokesman, replying to a question, said the Russo-Japanese Non-aggression Pact still stood, but he was "unable to comment on the future." He added that the Moscow Embassy had advised the establishment of minefields in many zones on the Russian Pacific coast, presumably on the grounds of the possibility of" the appearance of German warcriift. However, the Japanese were unable to imagine German warcraft in these waters. In any case, the mine measures were not very pleasant to Japan.

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED.

NO DECLARATION OF POLICY

I (Rec. 11.55 a.m.) TOKIO, July 15. Criticising the Government's failure to disclose its foreign policy, which was decided at the Imperial Conference on July 2, the Kokumin Shimbuu says the public have been kept in the darkness at a time when the nation is passing through a crisis. The Government should clarify its policy. It is feared it may even retract the Greater East Asia co-prosperity scheme before an Anglo-American offensive. Japanese naval authorities in Shanghai have disclosed that they have issued an ultimatum to tho French in Hankow, demanding them to accept full responsibility for the gun fight in the French concession on July 12. They have asked for an indemnity for the family of the victim, an unreserved apology, and the promise of a nonrecurrence. So far the French have not replied, thus aggravating the strained relations.

FORCES IN" MALAYA.

(11.10 a.m.) SINGAPORE. July 15. A new Anzac Club, providing ail the amenities for the comfort of the Australian and New Zealand troops in Malaya, has l>een opened by the Governor (Sir Shenton Thomas).* The building was donated by a builder who asked the authorities to accept it as an Englishman's tribute to the colonial troops. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Governor said he wished to thank the men of Australia and New Zealand for the wav in which thev had fitted in with the life of Malaya. They had profoundly influenced the outlook of the country to the war. Wherever they had gone they had made friends anil when the time came for them to mow on Malaya would mi>s them.