Evening star., 1932-02-25
JAPANESE FACE
SERIOUS DEFEAT
Success of Gen. Tsai Likely
to Have Grave Effect on
Far Eastern Affairs.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


SHANGHAI, China, February as
Though they show no intention Of quit
ting, the Japanese, after four weeks Of
bombardment Of the Chinese positions
around Shanghai extending along an
almost 18-mile front, find themselves
in q serious situation, which Is likely
to react most gravely upon the future
status Of the Far East.
From a military point of view the
campaign, which began four weeks ago
tonight to end the Chinese trade boy
colt, finds Japan worse off than ever
before in its affairs with China Even
a repercusSion Of the Shanghai events
in Manchuria Is likely to prove most
costly before the controversy Is AMIGA
bly, adjusted.
The campaign has been costliest as
to finances and worse still as regards
Japanese prestige with the Asiatic
countries. For every foot of Chinese
trenches the japanese occupy f1gura-
lively costs Japan $4,000 and China 80
cents.
Japan In Ugly Mess.
Japan, in the opinion of Chinese and
Americans and other foreigners includ-
ing some Japanese themselves, today
finds itself in an ugly mess. YuSake
Matsuoka. member Of the Toxic diet
and personal representative Of the
japanese foreign Office, told this corre-
spondent that Japan was willing, ana
even hoped when the stage Is set for
negotiations, that the United States ano
Great Britain and other powers with
China interests would come IorWaro 10
help adjust matters.
He gave the impression that Japan at
this moment would like the powers 10
helm it out OF the situation which II
alone was instrumental in creating.
Bv definitely setting 20-kilometer
12i5-mile) limit to their own army
activity the Japanese are now far from
victory and are virtually compelled TO
nush forward in a desire to re-estab-
jish the Japanese Army's prestige, which
is daily suffering terrific blow.
Assurance Sweeping China.
The loss OF Japans prestige In the
eyes of the so-called weaker Asiatlc
nations SO far has not affected the
prestige of the Americans, British ana
other foreigners, but should the present
wave of Chinese assurance, which
slowly sweeping the nation, continue,
opinion is that it will eventually turn
into an anti-foreign movement which
will engulf the nationals OF even the
friendliest powers.
Japan thought that with 800 naval
electives 1t could accomplish its pur-
pose of pushing the Chinese Army from
Chapel within 48 hours at the most, and
eyery DAYS delay In accomplishing this
purpose is making the task harder.
Given time, the present movement
NAV do more toward the uniflcation OF
China than any other movement OF the
last few generations. Already the Chi
nese are resharpening their swords and
reloading their rifles for resistance to
the japanese in Manchur1a, move
ment which may spread from mere
| harrying of the conquerors into some
thing like an organized armed resist
| ance.
Japan's Shanghai venture Is coming
so close to failure that it may lose to
! the japanese their carefully fostered
independence movement in Manchuria.
Chang on Band Wagon.
Nor Is the 18th Route Army's stand
| without effect in Chinese internal poll
| tics. Gen. Chang Kai-Shek and other
members of the Marking clique at pres
ent are on the band wagon, finding 1t
politically expedient to recognize this
| Cantonese army'S great stand against
overwhelming odds in all save man
power.
Sharghai's wealthiest merchants,
with whom any Chinese government
must curry favor for financial support,
being Cantonese, with the Chinamans
natural loyalty to his native city rather
than the nation as whole, quickly re-
sented the governments nonsupport OF
Gen. Tsai- -TingKai's Cantonese army.
Just how long Marking will find 1t
expedient to remain on the band wagon
| Is matter Of conjecture. Had Gen.
Tsai any political ambitions undoubt-
edly today he could rise high In the
government, but lacking this as he does,
it is only natural that Gen. Chang or
some other politician will try to reap
this prestige.
May Lose Top Position.
While it Is agreed by both Chinese
and japanese that Gen. Chang has re-
moved his present personal troops from
the front lines, the full political signih-
canoe of this fact well bears watching
Withdrawal of political support from
Gen. Tsai's army may lead the 10Th
Army toward defeat, which at present
the Japanese forces are unable to ac-
complish.
If the present conflict terminates
without Japan's regaining its army
prestige, its position as leader of the
Far Eastern world, will be virtually lost.
If, on the other hand, Japan goes
through another week without any sig
nal success, China may be said to have
won a victory over Japan which will
affect Sino-Japanese relations for the
next decade.
Cement for a new national China is
being poured and mixed and it rests
with Japan whether or not the cement
IS given q chance to set properly.
Copyright, 1s32)