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THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 22, 1989
SOVIET - JAPAN WAR FEARED ON
GRAVE VIEW TAKEN BY OBSERVERS
Peiping, February 14.
With Sino-Japanese hostilities stalemated ob- servers have to-day turned grave eyes toward the Soviet-Manchukuo border region where it is con- sidered the possibility of hostilities between Japan and Russia "admittedly are greater than at any time since the Changkufeng incident."
Observers take this grave view of the situation despite an absolute lack of reliable reports that either side is massing more troops along the fron- tier.
The observers discount the recent rash border incidents in the vicinity of Manchouli holding that they mean no more than the more than 700 frontier fights during the past few years any one of which could have been expanded into war if either side desired.
What gives the observers pause for thought at this time is the fact that Japanese to-day appears in better position than ever before to strike in an attempt to settle long standing scores with the Soviets.
PART OF JAPAN STRATEGY
expansion
The recent occupation of Hainan taland, opposite French Indo-China, is believed to have completed Ja- pan's southwestern strategy a strong hold on Hong Kong-Hanoi communications, a base from which to cut the French Indo toe China route to Yunnan, and hold on the back door of the Philip- pines.
NAZI- MEETING IN NEW YORK
New York, To-day. Sentence of ten days on a charge of disorderly conduct has been passed on Isadore Green-- baum, the youthful Jewish hotel' worker who interrupted the meet-. ing of the American Bund, the Nazi organisation in the United States.
Greenbaum clambered on the platform while Frita Kuhn, America's No. 1 Nazi, was in the midst of an anti-Jewish, tirade.- Reuter.
W
are alleged to have demoralised the Russian Siberian forces.
BORDER
"Olympe Bradna, the vivacious French star, who plays opposite Ray Milland in "Say It In French," coming to the Queen's and Alham- bra to-morrow."
has built up her fighting and
-to a war time
in Manchukuo to
ANSWER TO DICTATORS IN OWN LANGUAGE
Washington, To-day.
Asserting that "the United States now finds it necessary to answer the Dictators in their own lan- guage," Senator Carl Vinson, chair- man of the naval affairs commit- tec, yesterday urged the House to approve the Naval Air Bate Bill of nearly $54,000,000.
| Senator Vinson declared during a heated debate on the proposal to establish a seaplane base at Guam;
"The world might just as well know that America is not going to submit to being destroyed with the other unprepared Democracies.”
WORLD BEING OVERRUN Senator Vinson continued: "Let no-one think that with the world being overrun by the Dictator FEAR OF WAR SHOWN. powers it is not of the utmost importance that we be for ever Chinese reports say some Japan-vigilant in looking to our de- ese. businessmen in Mukden are
fences."
quietly pulling stakes and return- Senator, Hamilton Fish, one of ing to Japan leaving their busi- nesses in the hands of Chinese. This is believed to indicate a wide- spread fear of war among these
classes
the isolationists, vigorously op- posed the fortification of Guam, describing the plan as a "dag- ger at the throat of Japan.”
BRITAIN DENOUNCED Certain Japanese, quart
Meanwhile, the Senate heard cently warned foreign news cor- Senator Reynolds during the de- respondents in Peiping to be pre-bate on foreign affairs denounce pared for "big news in Manchukuo Britain as the "bloodiest aggressor before too long.”
re:
In spite of these belligerent signs the observers here still are asking the same old question Will Japan It is widely believed here that tackle Russia while she is so deeply while there have been no definite involved in China?" Best informed *The observers consider as Japan's reports of heavy troop movements quarters here indicate that the an- most important long-range move toward Manchukuo, Japan never-swer to that elusive question may since the war began her occupa-theless during the past few months be available within two months. tion of Hainan."
They believe this will enable the Japanese navy to assume more res- ponsibility in that sector and thus relieve pressure demands on the Nippon army which now may be concentrated to the north..
The observers point out that with «the náyy holding down the southern
flank Japan's army may now
take
Britain Looks To Safeguard Netherlands
London, February 14. Britain will not remain passive-if the opportunity to cross bayonets an attack is made against Holland with Russia since Japan would be or the Netherlands Indies, the For able to withdraw most of her forces from central or south China and
concentrate on developing hogn Secretary, Lord Halifax, to--
asserted this evening.
Holland were understood been discussed.
have
the world has ever known.”
Senator. Reynolds added that "Britain nevertheless had the au- dacity to censure Mussolini and Italy for the conquest of Ethio-
Reuter. pia."
"ORDEAL
BY FIRE' Alleged Nazi Methods
An “ordeal by fire, for the purpose of enrolling - German- speaking South-West African boys, and girls into the service of the The British Cabinet recently re- Nazi party is described in "Hitler affirmed the principle that any Over Africa," by Benjamin Ben- threat against-Belgian or· Netlier- fands indepɩnu nce would affect nett.
vita British interests, it was re- The author claims to have been day assured the visiting Nether called. To-day Lord Halifax gave the hidden witness of a ceremony China which was believed to have lands Foreign Minister, Dr. J. A. these assurances- ir Dr. Patij› in the bush near Swakopmund, at been her original intention without. N. Patijn, well-informed quarters
The question of the security of which several hundred young people losing face by the withdrawal.
the Netherlands Indies was raised of both sexes jumped through the hrer 'The two statesmen also envisag- in view of the close solidarity of flames of a bonfire before swearing
the transformation of their re- British and Netherlands interests an oath of fealty to
Mr, Bennett-describes the net- It is believed that failure of spective legations into embassies, in the Far East, observers.com and Fatherland"""
work of espionage, and terrorism France to make any definite move it was further declared.. after the Hainan occupation - to-
which has been flung over the entire gother with what Japan Bellove to
colony, controlled in Borlin ---- by
·ENCOURAGEMENT TO JAPAN
Dr. Patijn came to London for the Inauguration of a monument to the famous Dutch jurist, Grotius,
mented.
ANGLO-TRENCH ACTION
As to the establishment of em-
be a weakness, though the purging
bassies instead of the present lega Gauleiter Ernst Wilhelm Bohle, One of the Far Eastern Red Army Kar" in the Netherlands Church heretions, they stated this move would of its features is an implicit boy Japanese army to take the initia- his trip to exchange political views bee's the maintenance of an indepen- favour of secret Nazi tribunale. risoning Siberia, may encourage the He took the opportunity offered by significant of Britain's concern cott of the courts of the land in
tive against Russia from her Mon- chuknoan bases."
with Lord Halifax.
Mr. Bennett also claims to have. dent Holland.
been a witness of attempts made to GERMAN INTENTIONS Unconfirmed Japanese reports
Anglo-French exchanges of views convert the native, population to said the Soviet Siborian Army re- To-day's conversation was pre- will now take place with a view to Nazlem with offers of free liquor, The Luden- cently was split into two separato ceded by an exchange of vlows he simultaneous London and Paris and higher wages. corps following the reported liqui- tween, the British and "Netherlands decisions upon the two capitals' dorff "religion" of Wotan worship dation on disappearance of General Governments through diplomatic diplomatic, representation in The is, ha declares, practised at some Vasily Bleucher from the scene. channels, when rumours of aggres- Hague, the game observers, gonclud- of the youth hostels at Swakop
mund Ensuing weaknesses and confusion -sive. German Intentions towards ed-Havas,
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