FEAR OF RUSSIA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 77, 1 April 1938, Page 7

FEAR OF RUSSIA.

JAPANESE HANDICAPPED FORCES KEPT IN RESERVE ARMIES IN CHINA ROBBED OF STRENGTH (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received March 31. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 30. The Daily Telegraph’s Shanghai j correspondent says that the fear | of Russian action is increasing t ! Japanese anxieties, necessitating | ! the concentration of a sufficient j I force to deal with emergencies, ; I thereby depriving the armies in I i China of adequate forces to deal ’ i with the increasingly difficult ; I situation. ' It is reported from Hsinking • ! that the Soviet are strengthening | I the defences of outer Mongolia, | j where already there are 50,000 in- ; I fantry supported by cavalry, • i motorised sections of artillery, • ; and aircraft. CRUSHING DEFEAT JAPANESE IN GENERAL RETREAT, HANKOW, March 30. The Chinese are reported to be inflicting a crushing defeat on the Tientsin-Pukow line. The Japanese have begun a general withdrawal in the Kingyi sector, hotly pursued after failure to rescue 5000 encircled troops. The Chinese are flanking Tsining to prevent other rescue troops approaching, and are also destroying the railways in the Japanese rear, cutting off reinforcements from the north.

SETBACKS CONFIRMED MORE MEN, MONEY AND ABMAMENTS NEEDED. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 30. The Australian Associated Press that messages from official quarters confirm the Japanese setbacks in China. Moreover, the Chinese are confident of further forcing back the Japanese. There is, however, considerabl apprehension as a result of the position arising from these setbacks. Evidently the Japanese have overreached themselves and realise that men, money, material and armaments are necessary to reinforce the campaign and constitute an enormous strain on the resources. The possibility cannot be overlooked that the Japanese may be driven to desperate measures elsewhere, especially in connection with foreign interests. This would create a very delicate situation in the Far East, even in the Pacific, especially if the Japanese considered it necessary to blockade against the Chinese. BRITAIN’S CLAIMS BILLS VOR JAPAN. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. [ British Official Wireleas.} RUGBY, March 30. According to an answer in the House of Commons claims have been presented to the Japanese Government for injury or loss of life to members of the British forces in China totalling f 2420, which sum has already been paid by the Japanese Government.

Instructions have also been sent to the British Ambassador to Japan for the presentation of claims for damage to merchant shipping during the Incidents on the Yangtse last December, the precise amount of which has not yet been determined, but is in the region of 1250,000. Other claims to the number of 34, and amounting to over 17000, also have been subject to preliminary notification to the Japanese authorities in China.