Evening star., 1932-03-09
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
The Japanese government has called
to the colors the second-class reserv-
lists. The object of this move Is re-
ported to be that the Toxic govern
ment looks far ahead and realizes that
before the Chinese adventure is over,
japan will need many more troops than
1t has at present in China. As the
japanese military policy requires that
for every man who goes overseas there
should be Immediately another one to
take his place in the barracks, and as
IL seems likely that the first-class re-
servists who have joined already may
have to be sent over to China, the
general staff has ordered men who
have left the army Ave years ago TO
join again for training purposes,
At present there are between $1,000
and 10 200 japanese troops in CHINA.
In spite of the so-called armistice,
which had at one time been accepted
by the japanese government, more
troops are being landed in China every
day What the japanese intend dong
with a formidable force in China. no.
body seems TO know; all the same, all
the news which has reacheo Wasnlng-
ton indicates that the troop movements
have only lust begun and there Is every
likelihood that before long the entire
Japanese active army-l8 divisions
will be In China.
Seek Ore Mines Control.
According TO reports received from
the YanPtze River area 1t appears that
the ,Japanese want to establish a strong
military Gordon around the Yapeh iron
ore mines
The Yapeh mines are situated some
80 miles southeast of Hangkow and be-
long to q Japanese mining concern
They are considered to be by far the
most important iron mines in China
yielding an average of $4,000 tons
a year The production could be in
creased in case of need to over 900, 600
tons. They are at present more i'm
portant than ever to the Japanese gov
ernment, and in order to avoid the pos
sibility of a sabotage on the part OF
the Chinese the Japanese general staff
is reported to contemplate sending the
necessary troops to guarantee the safety
of that important concession.
The situation at Shanghai has nat
urally improved since the withdrawal
of the Chinese 10Th Route Army. That
Is to say. that the safety of the Inter
national Settlement causes no longer
any anxiety. Politically. however, the
situation continues to remain trouble
some as far, at least, as the American
Government Is concerned.
The State Department has repeatedly
- a
proposition pertaining to the eXran-
sion of the international zone or of the
Japanese or any other nation obtain
ing another slice of the Chinese terri
tory for their exclusive use.
Inquiries About Chapel.
Yesterday the Chinese mayor oi
Greater Shanghai sent a note to the
| Japanese commander in chief announc-
ing his intention Of sending Chinese
officials to take over the administra-
| ton of the Chapel district. That dis
| trict, which has been the scene of the
| most violent fight between the Japa-
nese and the Chinese armies, is at pres
ent under strict japanese military con-
troll 1t Is believed in Shanghai thai
the japanese intend to keep that dis
| trict for themselves and will not toll
crate the re-establishment of Chi
nese civil administration.
For the time beng, no answer has
been given to the note of the mayor Of
| Shanghai, but 1t is feared that the
| japanese military authorities will reply
I that the military situation in that dis
trict does not warrant yet the return
of Chinese officials, and that this will be
the first step toward the establishment
of a japanese concession in that i'm
portant Chinese port.
The situation is further complicated
by the attitude of the foreign residents
| including Americans, In the Interna
| tional Settlement. In state in State
as the International Settlement is in re-
gard to greater Shanghai. there are
necessarily a number of questions aris-
| ing from divergences of opinion between
| the two administrations-the European
In the Settlement and the Chinese out
side There have been frictions going
| on for many years,
Now the merchants who have livec
| in the International Settlement for q
| long time would like to disregard tht
attitude of the American Government
toward the entire Shanghai problem
They wish to take advantage of tn,
| abnormal state of affairs prevailing
| there at present to press for certain
issues, the solution of which could no.
have been obtained without the pres
ence of the japanese troops in that city
Sympathetic Position.
| The European governments are re
ported to give a sympathetic considera
ton to the claims of their nationals ir
Shanghai, although many of their re.
quests are in opposition with the poll
cies heretofore adopted toward China
| The American Government is, how.
ever, in more difflcult position, sine.
it intends to follow strict policy Of
| fairness toward China: consequently
many Of the requests Of the American
citizens which have begun to pour into
Washington through all kinds Of power.
full channels cannot be considered by
the administration because it woulc
mean the reversal of the present Amer.
ican policy regarding China.