JAPAN’S STRATEGY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 197, 22 July 1941, Page 5

JAPAN’S STRATEGY

DIVIDE U.S. FORCES.

SIGNIFICANT TRENDS

fUnited Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 a.m.) TOKIO, July 21. A Japanese spokesman to-day said that uncertainty abroad over the future movements of the Japanese is preventing the United States giving maximum aid to Britain by moving her Pacific fleet to the Atlantic, thus showing Japan’s importance in the complicated world situation.

The Hoclii Shinibun, in a heavilycensored editorial, said Japan should lace the impending difficulties by relying oil her own power regardless of agreements with tlie Axis and Russia. “Japanese diplomacy has been based on those agreements, but it is an undeniable fact that, because of tlie outbreak of the German-Russian war, there has been a marked change in Japan’s relations to major conditions in East Asia diplomacy.” The paper then said the next seven j lines had been censored. ! The Nielli Niclii Siiimbun lias warned Judo-China to reconsider her Anti-1 Japanese action and reject British and j

American manoeuvres aimed at blocking Japan's peaceful expansion southward. It said LSO pro-Japanese had been recently executed in Indc-China. The New York Times Sunday magazine section for June 8 was banned throughout Japan to-day. presumably because of a group of Chinese woodcuts as examples of war art. Due bore the caption: “Homeless after Japanese raid.” Another, depicting dead Chinese, said: “Gift of the Imperial Army.”

Evacuation of the Japanese colony from Johannesburg and orders to Japanese ships which have been unable to pass through the Panama Canal to proceed home immediately via Cape Horn are the latest developments in tlie Far East situation. Tlie Johannesburg correspondent of the Domei News Agency is the authority for a statement that the Japanese colony is preparing to evacuate on July 26.

According to Japanese shipping circles at least ten Japanese steamers en route to Japan from American Atlantic ports have been ordoreo to abandon their efforts to obtain permission to pass through the Panama Canal and proceed to Japan by Capo Horn. Tho canal authorities refused a passage for the Japanese ships on the ground that the canal was undergoing repairs. American vessels, however, were allowed to make the passage, leading to the belief that military works are under way.

Tlie China Daily News, Chungking, simultaneously says it is very clear that from now on the Japanese Government is in a stage of preparing for war. The Lyons radio, quoting, a Bangkok source,' says Britain lias reached an agreement with China to extend the Burma Road. There is a general opinion in Saigon that Japan intends to attack Vladivostock, invade the A unau Province of China and cut off the Burma Road.

The Japanese at Sliangai have detained the British ship Hilda Mollcr to examine a cargo intended for Rangoon.

JAPANESE JIBE.

AT BRITISH FORCES. (Ree. 12 1/5 p.m.) TOKH). July 21. The Domei Agency’s Bangkok correspondent said to-day that Britain has fewer troops in the Far East than is generally supposed. Its correspondent asserted that, although Britain claims that 260.000 troops are in Malay and 100.000 in Burma, a reliable survey exposes the actual forces to be not more than a fifth of these figu res. Moreover, they are nothing but a rabble, composed of mixed racial troops, with Britishers extremely limited.

’I ho agency says Priivc Konoyo will outline Japan’s diplomatic aims to the Press to-morrow.

The Japanese Cabinet to-day conferred with the army and navy High Commands ; the purpose was to establish a fuller' liaison and attain unity between the Government and the High Commands. Doniei po'nts out that the army and navv have taken an active nart in the Government’s reorganisation.