Evening star., 1932-02-22
TOXIC CIVILIANS
GROWING ANXIOUS
War Office Optimistic, How.
ever-Seiyukai Party Has
Election Majority.
Sy the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
TOXIC. February 22-Considerable
anxiety was expressed in authoritative
civilian circles in Toxic tonight over
press dispatches from Shanghai indi-
eating that Lieut.. Gen. Kenkichi
Uyeda's offensive was being resisted
stubbornly by the Chinese and that the
Japanese were meeting some reverses.
The war ofice remained outwardly
calm, however. 1t insisted confirma-
tion Of the reported reverses was lack
ing, and that besides, the japanese
advance must be expected to be slow
because the grounds over which it was
being fought is cut with many canals,
making progress difficult.
More Time Held Necessary.
It also quoted report from the
Japanese Minister to China, Mamoru
Shigemitsu, saying that the conquest
of the 18th Army would probably re-
quire week or 10 days from the be-
ginning of the drive on February 20.
Ofdcials said, however, that there was
no present intention of sending REIN
forcements to Shanghai.
Gen. Uyeda, the war Office said. has
reported his confidence that he will be
able to finish the job with the force
now at his disposal and there is no
present intention to send another eXpe-
dictionary force
In other quarters 1t was said it would
be impossible to get reinforcements from
Japan to Shanghai in time to affect
the outcome Of the present battle.
After the Chinese are driven out,
they said the Japanese Army would oc-
cupy the zone line defensively until the
situation warranted their withdrawal
or temporary neutral zone was agreed
upon.
They interpreted news from Shang-
hal as indicating that Gen. Uyeda's
offensive was proceeding according to
schedule"
Premier Inukai's seiyukai party won
an overwhelming majority in Saturdays
general election, final returns showed
tonight.
At the end of the count the govern
ment party had 30l seats in the House
of Representatives, the Minseito (oppo-
sition) had 149, the Proletarians and
other parties II. This gives the gov
eminent majority of 1876.
Chinese Held Isolated.
At the war Office it was said Gen.
Chang Kai-Shek's army was not as
sisting the 10Th Route Army in the
defense of Shanghai and that the 18th,
q Cantonese force, was practically iso-
lated The war Office also said in ef-
feet that it heard Of a new breach be-
tween the central Chinese headquarters
at Marking and the southern govern
ment's center at Canton.
T1@is breach urhjch ho of6ca IN
dicated was imminent, would come
about, 1t said, as result Of Markings
alleged failure to support Gen. Tsai
Tng-Kai's 10th Army.
Won't Quit League.
Kenkichi Yoshizawa, foreign minister,
issued a statement for the Associated
Press declaring that the suggestion that
Japan might withdraw from the League
OF Nations was "a silly idea"
THE generous enthusiasm of Western
observers might. in Japan's absence
from the League" he said, have carried
them into premature action based on
natural but mistaken assumptions. 1t
would be the height of folly to abandon
so favorable position. Much less Is it
possible that this country should re-
pudiate the Briand-Kellogg treaty for
the outlawry of war. Had this treaty
been duly observed, there would have
been no attack on the South Man.
churian Railway or at japanese patrols
at Shanghai
1T would be equally impossible and
undesirable to repudiate the Washing
ton nine-power treaty. which is a great
beacon standing alone in the midst of
Chinese international relations"
Not only sentiment. he said, but ne
cessity would lead Japan to maintain
the friendliest relations and co-opera-
tion with United States and Great Brit
ain.