The Waikato Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1939 MISTAKES IN STRATEGY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20719, 1 February 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1939 MISTAKES IN STRATEGY

bethei' it is due to a checkmate or to a reorganisation of the Japanese strength, the long pause in the Japanese operations in China lends particular interest to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s declaration that the Japanese strategy has failed. Since Japan has reached most of its major objectives it is now faced with the dreary prospect of fighting the Chinese at their own tactics in more difficuft terrain and with no definite and spectacular objective. Therefore it is not surprising that Japan should again attempt to make peace. Settlement by “negotiation” on Japan’s terms would now be eminently desirable to Japan by comparison with a long and costly campaign of extermination. Chiang Kai-shek’s five reasons why the Japanese strategy has failed may not all be well founded, but it is clear that if the Chinese hold together, Japan is still a long way from victory. According to the Chinese generalissimo, Japan made the first mistake by attempting to invade all China before consolidating its gains in China. It made the premature attempt, apparently, because it overestimated is own strength and underestimated the Chinese powers of resistance. It expected a “quick war and a quick decision.” In that objective Japan certainly has failed. In China’s opinion the Japanese have penetrated too far, have unduly long lines of communication to maintain and have “fallen into a morass from which they cannot extricate themselves.” Political failure of the Japanese is also alleged by the Chinese leader, who says that Japan by setting up puppet administrations in China hopes to exclude all foreign interests. Thus Japan’s foreign policy has become self-contradictory, and such duplicity has led to the isolation and peril of the country. Chiang Kai-shek draws comfort from the long history of China, which shows that the country has never been conquered. It must be remembered, however, that this is the first occasion that China has had to meet a large-scale invasion by a great Power organised on Western lines. Ko doubt Chiang Kai-shek is endeavouring to revive the spirit of his people by declaring the invincibility of China and showing the flaws in the Japanese technique, but to the outside world there is still much logic in his reasoning. The task Japan has undertaken is vast. Where will she strike next? And to what purpose? She hopes desperately that China will submit, while Chiang Kia-shek knows that by holding out, China is playing havoc with the Japanese nation. Even a condition of stalemate is enormously costly to the invaders, and if they weaken their grip the Chinese hordes will pour back again and repossess the country. Is Japan relying upon assistance from her “axis” associates in Europe ? If she is, she may hope in vain, for the axis was forged in Europe for another purpose. Japan’s greatest chance of success lies in dividing the Chinese people and concluding a peace giving Japan some sort of economic and military control in China. China’s only hope is in unity.