COSTLY REVERSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24285, 28 May 1942, Page 3

COSTLY REVERSE

JAPANESE IN CHINA

FURTHER GRAVE THREAT

ENEMY CONCENTRATIONS (Reed. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 20 Another 1000 Japanese were killed or wounded northward of Lanchi, 45 miles north of Kinhwa, when a speedy Chinese column attacked from the rear, says a report from Chungking. The Chinese field artillery played an important part in the defence of Kinhwa, preventing the Japanese artillery from going into action. Although the Japanese storming Kinhwa have been forced to retreat with heavy losses, tho Chinese military position is still very grave because of new threats developing in other areas, says a military spokesman. The enemy is concentrating a large number of troop transports, warships and air-craft-carriers in Formosa Island across the Taiwan Strait from Foochow. The Japanese are probably preparing for a large-scale invasion of Fukien Province in the near future. Chinese Need Aircraft The Japanese have also landed additional mechanised units in Indo-China, but there are no indications whether an invasion of Yunnan Province from the south is intended. The Chinese spokesman emphasised the need for planes from tho Allies in view of tho expected fierce battles in Chekiang and Fukien provinces.

Tho position for tlio Chinese is regarded as desperately serious, for the whole future strategy in tho Far Eastern war depends on the maintenance of contact between tho Allied Nations and China, fact which the Japanese undoubtedly appreciate. China may play the same role in Allied strategy in the Far East as Russia is playing in the west. Lieutenant - General Sir Douglas Brownrigg, commenting in the Evening News, says: "An all-out attack against China would be a very difficult operation for the United Nations to counter." General Brownrigg believes that China will resist to the end, and he also thinks Japan will now go all out against her from the west to Chungking and from the east by westerly advances from forward positions and from ports in Japanese hands, to which the recent landing at Foochow is a feeler. Key Points in Burma The opinion is held in London that the Japanese may launch a full-scale offensive against China, which at present is being attacked from Chekiang, and also 011 the Yunnan front via the Burma Road. If tho Japanese concentrate against the Chinese in tho coming weeka tho supply positiou will assume first-class* importance, for the Chinese will need first-line fighters and bombers. It is felt that the only completely satisfactory solution lies in the recapture of Lashio and Mandalay, key points in Burma. An expert on the Far Eastern situation, Colonel G. R. V. Stewart, says that tho new Japanese offensive is unlikely to be an attempt completely to conquer China. It is more probably an attempt to break up concentrations cf Chi nose troops now threatening the south-eastern coastal areas. He pointed out that this particular stretch of coastlino overlooks Japan's south-west sea communications through tha Formosa Channel to Malaya. BOMB OUTRAGES JOHANNESBURG EXHIBITION (Reed. 7.15 p.m.) CAPETOWN, May 20 Over 140 incendiary bombs have been found in various parts of Johannesburg Liberty Cavalcade Exhibition, opened by General Smuts last Saturday, to raise war funds. The Danish Hall was destroyed by a fire caused by an incendiary. Fire bombs have been removed from the United States, Soviet, Scottish, Netherlands and Palestine pavilions and from the cinema. The destruction of the Danish pavilion was the culmination of a serious recurrence of bomb outrages in the vicinity of Johannesburg last week. Other outrages at Johannesburg and Pretoria were limited to cutting the electric cable and destroying shop fronts. The attempt to dynamite the railway appears to havo been planned to irritate tho authorities while a magisterial inquiry was proceeding against Liebrandt and 17 others in the Pretoria gaol 011 charges of high treason. About 150 witnesses disclosed everyact done by Liebrandt since he was landed in a dinghy from a German submarine in South-West Africa. The saboteurs have now been localised, and tho police command the situation. Roboy Liebrandt, a former South African boxing champion, was arrested some months ago 011 a charge of being a German agent. A cablegram received 011 March 27 gave some details of his trial, in the course of which a witness stated that he had returned from a visit to Germany in a submarine. WHARF LABOURERS COVER TO AVOID SERVICE SYDNEY. May 27 About 1000 men, who were registered as wharf labourers in New South Wales,, were in fact not wharf labourers at all but had registered as such to avoid military service, said the deputy-Director of Manpower, Mr. C. J. Beliemoro. They included numbers of bookmakers and bookmakers' clerks. Tho manpower authorities could do nothing about these men because complete control over waterside labour had been vested in the Stevedoring Industry Commission. Ho had been assured, however, that the commission would inquire into the men's credentials. As a result of investigations made by the manpower authorities the number of tally clerks on wharves had been reduced by more than 25 per cent. EGYPTIAN CABINET CAIRO. May 26 Nahas Pasha, the Prime Minister of Egypt, has resigned because he is unable to collaborate with the Finance Minister, Makram Pasha. He has reformed the Cabinet without Makram Pasha, whose successor is Ibrahim | Abdel Hadi, Minister of Commerce and [.