Mr, Richard Halliburton, American traveller and writer, today radioed here that the junk Sea Dragon, aboard, which he left on a projected trans Poelfle journey on Sunday, would be returning to Hongkong at once, Bad weather and illness among the crew of ten was given by Mr. Halllburton as the reason for the cancellation of the trip—Domei, to be by no means out of the wood. And it would be very unwise to bulld any, great hopes on this event.
What is much more interesting is the question, why the Japanese are so desperately anxious to get Marshal] Wu on their side. For, that they: are anxious, there cane no doubt, Two theories hold the field. There have been very considerable -movements of Japanese troops back from China to. Manchoukuo in recent months and many people _believe that the Japanese are preparing. to attack Russia in the spring and that in order to safeguard their rear, they want some powerful and reliable Chinese in control of North China 'The whole thing sounds. incredible; the idea of an attack on Russia when the Japanese are already so deeply involved in China, as also the belie that any Chinese' could or would keep North China in subjugation for them, if they were also involved with Russia! Stil, in these days "incredibility" Is of course no argument that} 8 certain political move will not be The other theory bases itself on the internal situation in Japan and the recent debates in the Diet, where the government has been severely criticized for its failure to show any] Tangible results for eighteen "months of sacrifice. Wu Pei-fu is a well-Known name in Japan, and if the Japanese military' can produce him out-of their pockets at' the present moment, even if only as a "Paelfleafor" it would be better than nothing! at all and might "appease the disappointed public of Japan, for the time being at any rate.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.