The Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1943. China Faces Crisis

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 49, 27 February 1943, Page 4

The Times SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1943. China Faces Crisis

China is the supreme hope of the United Nations for the defeat of Japan. Island-hopping has proved, as predicted in these columns, an altogether too costly method of approach to the heart of our enemy. Nor does it appear at all feasible to conquer Japan by any combination of naval and air power approaching across the vast distances of the Pacific Ocean whether from American shores or Australasia. China provides the one needful continental base upon which we can count. Siberia could be another but Russia is at peace with our enemy Japan to-day and may not see her way to later open hostilities. Without a continental base there is but a poor prospect of defeating Japan. To have available that base it will be necessary for the greater part of China to be freed from Japanese occupation. China alone cannot free herself without planes, tanks, artillery and supplies of the most modern types. Since the outbreak of the Pacific war, China has been given assurance that such supplies would be sent her. America has the supplies ill abundance but has been unable to deliver the goods. The enemy is blockading the w'holc of China’s immense coastline as for years past, and in his onrush of conquests a year ago, he severed China’s last great outlet to the world beyond, i.e. the Burma Road. Britain and America have been delivering fairly considerable quantities of arms and supplies to China since that severance by means of air transport. That, however, cannot provide the volumne required so China has continued to fight the enemy, ill-equipped. China has been at war with Japan since 1931—almost twelve long years. She has taken a terrible battering, lost her richest cities, her finest territories and her most developed regions. No other nation has shown a greater determination of spirit; not even Russia which, unlike China, did possess the equipment to hit back and had, furthermore, great quantities of tanks and planes poured into the country. Much of the credit for China’s epic resistance must go to a great national leader, General Chiang Kai-shek. Recent news from China is rather disquietening. There is more than a whisper of desperation. China may be growing tired and no wonder. Then just a week or so ago the Japanese launched what were described as seveil major attacks on widely separated fronts and considered by some observers to be an attempt to finish off Chinese resistance. Should that eventuate it would be a terrible blow for the United Nations. Is it realised that Japan has opposed to the American-Anzae power only about one-quarter of her army and air force strength and that threequarters of it is available for warring upon China? And as we have eorne to respect the strength of the enemy so should we know what China has to face. Therefore it is imperative that aid be rendered China at ail earliest possible moment. May an Allied re-occupation of Burma be not long deferred.

Kid Gloves For Deserters

What the report described as “a crop oii desertions from an overseas military camp,” occurred towards the end of last year. Arising from this, four servicemen were sentenced in the Wellington Court last week. These deserters had been absent for periods of from 2to months, and for such a grave military offence they received the “drastic” sentences of 5 months to 9 months in prison. Had these men committed such an offence in the Russian or German armies, they would almost certainly have faced the death penalty. In no other army in the world would these offenders have received such “kid glove” treatment. Surely this must be the result of political rather than army policy. It is, of course, in keeping with the “kid glove” treatment now meted out in this country to sexual perverts and violent gaol breakers and wrongdoers generally. Whatever may be the opinion of such policies as applied in peacetime, they surely do not appeal, when applied to military deserters, as in keeping with a “total war effort.” From the viewpoint of a man due to go overseas who lacks the courage or is too selfish to serve his country, the bargain is a pretty good one. By deserting for two or three months he can dodge the war for a year. All it costs him is nine months in gaol at hard labour, the hard labour being much easier than digging trenches and the living conditions more comfortable and certainly more safer, than serving in the firing line.