London, July 27.
One of the greatest threats to the success of Japanese military operations in China was not armed opposition, but the "phantom army of workers" behind the Japanese lines, declared Colonel Chu Hsueh-fan, of the Chinese army, in a speech which he gave to Trade Union officials here yesterday.
This army of peasants and workers, by passive resistance, by their ability to keep out of sight when wanted for work by the Japanese, and by their readiness to assist the Chinese guerilla troops, was costing Japan nearly as much as her actual fighting in the front line, Colonel Chu declared.
Colonel Chu appealed to the Trade Unionists to strengthen their boycott weapon against Japan, and urge greater credit assistance to China.—
Reuter
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.