JAPAN’S INTENTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 October 1941, Page 4

JAPAN’S INTENTIONS

AMERICAN JOURNALIST’S COMMENT AWAITING EVENTS IN It! SSI A Auckland, O'l., 1G After a month’s travel by air << r Australia, the Dutch East Indies the Philippines, Mr Ilallett E Ab* nd well-known American journalist and authority on Far Eastern a Hairs, is again in New Zealand. He finds the general situation much more hopeful and satisfactory than it was when he last visited the East Indies and Philippines toward the end of last December. “They have been arming consistently and continuously for the whole of the past nine month:.” Mr Abend said. “Previously the Philippines was the weak link in the chain but now it is m good ■ hape for defence " Asked about the current opinion as to Japanese intentions, Mr Abend said it was generally believed that they would move into Siberia first if serious disaster overtook Russia. At present they were merely marking time and watching the progress of events. Their force in Indo-China was not big enough for any marked expansion, and not big enough to overflow- anywhere. “There have been reports that the Japanese have 180.000 men there," he continued, "but that is not true. They have less than 40.000, which is even below the maximum of 45,000 that wag allowed by the agreement with the Vichy Government. MOVE TO TIMOR ISLAND “I think the Japanese move to Timor Island is very serious and important,” said Mr Abend, "Timor and specially the Portuguese end of it, is just about a.s barren as Central Australia and the running of a daily air service 1200 miles from the Western Carolines is absurd. There is nothing to justify it in the way of commerce or traffic but Timor is only 450 miles away from Darwin. It is a very adroit indirect move, instead of pushing down direct toward Singapore. I don't wonder the Australians are seriously concerned." Mr Abend has been inquiring into Australia's war effort and he thinks the country is doing a marvellous job for the size of its population. It it becoming a very important source of supplies. He did not think the change of Government w'ould cause any serious delay a.s the policy of the new Government was one of whole-hearted co-operation in winning the war. Mr Abend expects to spend a week in New Zealand before leaving by air for Honolulu and will visit Wellington. After spending a week in Honolulu he will return to Washington. On hit present tour he is engaged primarily by the “Readers’ Digest” for a series of articles on the Far Eastern situation. He has also been sending occasional “spot news" to the "New York Times,” which he has represented so long in China. “Unfortunately, the most amazing and startling things I iearnt cannot be told," concluded Mr Abend.—P.A.