RESOURCES OF CHINA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19881, 7 March 1939, Page 5

RESOURCES OF CHINA

ARMS FOR LONG CAMPAIGN

end not in stout

LONDON, Feb. 24

The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Tokio, Mr. Frank Hedges, in a review of the China war, says that China will never make peace except through Marshal Chiang Kaishek, and will never accept Japan’s present terms. Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek is in an excellent position, Mr. Hedges says, to continue the present warfare indefinitely, and he plans to do so. The best information available is that he has enough munitions for another year of large-scale warfare, which, however, is unnecessary now. Substantial munition supplies can be expected, through Indo-China along the new Burma road, and through Central Asia.

Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek is believed to have several hundred planes, and to be buying more. He lacks trained pilots, but men are now in training. He is in a financially sound position, with a substantial silver reserve, some of which is abroad, and more British and American loans can be expected. Wealthy Chinese abroad are sending him at least £30,000,000 a year. Some foreign experts says the amount is £120,000,000. Much money, too, is sent by the Chinese in the occupied areas. For example, the Shanghai hotel boys levy a tithe of their pay and contribute 20 per cent of their tips. The war, says Mr. Hedges, is destined to continue for another year, or two years, but no one knows how long.