Japs Probing Chinese Strength on Whole Front

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 59, 11 March 1943, Page 5

Japs Probing Chinese Strength on Whole Front

Burma Road Campaign May be Postp®ned (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Wednesday, 9.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Mar. 9. A Chungking communique says that the Japanese operating from five poim.s westward of Shasi on the north bank of the Yangtse in Hupeh province have thrown three columns across a river and captured four towns on the southern side. Heavy lighting continues. Ono Japanese column was thrown back with severe losses. The New York Times’ Chungking correspondent says the activities on the China fronts indicate that the Japanese attacks in all sectors are designed to explore the strength of various points in the line and in the case of Yunnan to prevent effective Chinese concentration lor an attack on Burma. Meanwhile the press points out that the • Japanese greater concentrations provide increased efficiency in exploiting the occupied areas, including Burma. It also notes that the approacn of the monsoon season abolishes the hope of a campaign to reopen the Burma Road for at least four months. The immediate strengthening of tho American air force with additional planes is suggested in order to keep on striking by air while the land operations axe suspended. None of the newspapers regard the present Japanese actions as the prelude to a major campaign in the near future. Commenting on the proposed amendment to the Lend-Lease Bill requiring at least 10 per cent, of Lend-Lease aid for China, the New York Times in an editorial points out that China’s problem is entirely military depending for its solution on bringing enough land, sea and air power to the Bay of Bengal to re-open the Burma Road. Congress is in no position to decide where, when and how armed strength can be used to the best advantage. The Times suggests that a second amendment demanding the permanent acquisition of British islands in the South Atlantic for American bases is apparently founded on the theory that America ought to get more out of the British than just having them fight and die beside Americans in defending their common liberty. The paper expresses the hope that all the amendments will be defeated and the bill re-affirmed in its present form.