CONDITIONS IN MANCHUKUO

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 226, 25 September 1935, Page 16

CONDITIONS IN MANCHUKUO

Policing St

General Senjuro Hayashi, War Minister, who recently strengthened moderate elements in the army' by dismissing General Jinzaburo Mazaki from one ot the three most powerful posts of higher command, believes there will bo no early termination of the Japanese military effort in policing Manehukuo. .This was his main impression brought back from a three-weeks trip of in spection in Manehukuo, in the course of which he visited all the main towns and troop units in that country. Declaring that there are still 30,000 bandits in Manehukuo, General Hay rashi, in statements to the Press, pointed to the difficult task of the Japanese forces, which are often strung out along very long lines and obliged to maintain order over vast regions. Between 20 and 30 Japanese officers and soldiers arc killed in action every month, according to the War Minister. Ilis statement was emphasised soon after his return by news that 400 bandits had raided the Tayunchang gold mine, in eastern Kirin (one of ike most disturbed portions of Manehukuo; killed several company guards, carried off; 10 Japanese and Manehukuo natives and made off with gold to the value of 20,000 Manehukuo dollars, besides destroying the mine equipment. General Hayashi could hold out little hope of reducing the annual Japanese military expenditure in Manehukuo below the present figure of 150,000,000 yen, about £8,700,000. lie asserted there could bo no slackening of effort and that, because of its heavy obligations in other fields, the Manehukuo Government could not increase its contribution to the defence of the country above the present negligible figure of

.11 Required

9,000,000 Manehukuo dollars, less than £600,000.

General Hayashi called the attention of the Japanese public to the large Soviet forces, which he estimated at 240,000 men, concentrated on tho SiberianManchukuan frontier. Eussia is erecting very strong defensive works, while the Japanese Army in Manehukuo is comparatively small. While General Hayashi saw no cause for war between the two countries, he expressed the opinion that tho Soviet military preparations required constant vigilance on the part of Japan.

Tho War Minister discussed matters of general administration and policy', as well as purely military affairs. He advocated large-scalo Japanese emigration into Manehukuo, "because of Japan’s population problem and the need for industrial development,” and suggested that in tho beginning small colonics of emigrants should bo established at some of tho main stations along the line of tho South Manchuria Eailroad. Ho said that within a few years extra-territoriality would most probably bo abolished in Manehukuo, while Japan’s administrative rights in the South Manchuria Kailway zone would be ceded to tho Manehukuo authorities.

A new complication is developing along tho Yalu river, which for a considerable distance constitutes tho boundary between Manehukuo and Korea. Bandits who are being pressed in Eastern Manehukuo are endeavouring to tako refuge in Korea; and General Hayashi intimated that special measures of co-operation between the Japanese authorities in Manehukuo and in Korea would bo necessary in order to cope with this situation.