Kwangtung's Chance US. Observer on At Retaliation China War London, Oct. 15.
'The Chinese defence isnot likely negligible, says an editorial in "The Times" today on the Japanese invasion of South' China. The Can. tonese make good Mghters, the Journal points out, and the province, which has suffered worse than any other from Japanese air raids, now has its {Best chance at retaliation.
view of Japan's command of the air, i cannot be assumed that the defender will hold up the invader indefinitely; but, unless the unforeseen Cecurs, the two Japanese divisions, which have so far landed In South China, are not fikely to make much headway towards the railway unless they are heavily reinforced.
Questioning whether the Japanese! have underestimated the dimensions. of the task before them "The Times" concedes that If they have it does not mean that, in the end, they will not perform the task, but It may mean—og it did round Shanghai and Hsuchow temporary deadlock, fairly heavy losses and the transfer' of reinforcements from other theatres of war.
Perhaps a Time Lag "Above all," "The Time" asserts, "it may mean a' further accumulation of that "unexpected time lag, - which, from both a psychological and economic viewpoint, Japan finds' so "The Times" considers that there 4s, In fact, nothing in the situation to warrant undue anxiety aver the security of Hongkong. The creation of a Japanese occupied zone cutting off Hongkong from the rest of China can hardly be favourable to the prosperity of the Colony, the news-Duper admits.
Tt does not yet appear, however, that the emergence of such @ zone Is Inevitable result" of present "The Times" then examines the position in the other theatres of war the Far East, the North alone, it says, it would {ake several divisions altogether from four to, she of National resistance, which are at ent growing In strength, and than ing peace to the ruined, bandit-concludes that "in th only a swift Spectacular yeault is likely to justify, in the long run, the creation, Japan, of an entirely new theatre of Tokyo, Oct. 15.
"To capture Hankow is to capture Hankow. But if the capture of Hankow coincides with the taking of other cities in South China, com= pletely cutting off Gen. Chiang Kalshek''s armies from the coast, his further resistance will become' vit" tually impossible."
This was the editorial comment made by the Japan Advertiser," American-owned and maneyed Tokyo The "Advertiser" said the fact that the Japanese attack took place ina part of China where French and. British interests predominate! 4s. proof of the diplomatic risks with one eye on Munich and the other on the entire course of present hostilities and reached the conclusion that they are not very great.
The paper pointed cub that Japan fcsued "the plainest instructions. to Foreign powers. in Wednesday's communication to their representatives how to avoid trouble.
"Nothing could be clearer," the "Advertiser" concluded. "Not oily has! Gen. Chiang Kal-shek been" shown clearly that the Japanese are able 10 strike in the south but also that they are doing It with precision. the whole, it seems not unlikely that this now effort will achieve its alm."—Domel.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.