CHINA STANDING HER GROUND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 39, 15 February 1941, Page 5

CHINA STANDING HER GROUND

I COUNTRY’S UNITED FRONT EFFECT OF JAPANESE AGGRESSION 1 (By Telegraph—Preee Association—Copyright) CHUNGKING, Feb. 14. A special representative of the I Associated Press had a talk with ■ members of the Chinese Government and formed the conclusion Unit China is rapidly emerging j from feudalism. Furthermore, Japanese aggression lias resulted in the unification of the nation which years of patriotic endeavour might not have achieved. China is witnessing one of the greatest, events of her history —the mass migration of her people, industries, universities, and schools westward from the occupied coastal areas. Chungking authorities are planning to educate the people and build nevi 1 industries. I The Economic Minister, Mr. Wong ; Wen-Hao, told the correspondent that many new blast furnaces were already : producing and the Government was also treating native pig-iron and i lerro-sil-ieon. China is almost selfsufficient in pig-iron but not yet in I steel. She is producing good electrolytic copper and is exporting wolfram. I fin, and mercury. Chungking controls almost all the I mercury, antimony, tin, wool, bristles, j and wood-oil produced in China. The i Japanese control important cities and 'railways but they have no control j over production which does not come I from those few cities. ■ Mr. Wong said it was very easy i for the Japanese to start a war ' but impossible for them to finish I I The Minister of Education, Mr. |Chen Li-fu, told the correspondent, of a five-year plan for adult and child education, which will begin this (spring, 80 per cent, of the population | benefiting. This will be coupled with technical education and a plan by which schools will be used on Sundays as centres for ethical instruction. Mr. Chen Li-fu intends to conscript every intelligent man in China to help. The Communications Minister, Mr. Chiang Kai-ngau, assu: ! the corespondent that friction .. tween the Central Government and Communists had been composed, resulting in China presenting a united front. The Foreign Minister, Dr. Wang Chang-hui, emphasised that all reports of friction between China amt Russia were mere propaganda. Relations were perfectly friendly. The Burma Road. The Japanese military mission in French Indo-China claims I hat a new fierce offensive has been started against the Burma Road, which carries supplies to China. It says that continual bombing by naval aircraft has almost cut the road and that bridges have been broken. On the other hand, Moscow radio says that traffic on the Burma Road is almost, normal.