The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-24
SOVIET FEARS
GIGANTIC CRAB
(. BY JAPANESE
Russia Sees Grim Specter
of War on Two Fronts
Facing Her.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
soripps-Howard Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-Back Of
Commissar V%oroshilov's warning tt
Russia's army Of 5,O00,0 900 men to bt
ready to fight is the growing fear II
that country that it shortly may be
at war on two fronts.
The japanese general staff is be-
lieved to include the maritime prov
ince of Siberia, the northern hall
of the Island Of Sakhalin, and per-
haps even the province of Amur ir
its scheme Of empire. The great
question, therefore, is whether the
general staff believes this is the
time to strike.
Similarly, Moscow officials frank
ly charge that the leading capitalist
powers of Europe await only the
opportune moment to attempt de-
struction Of the Soviet state. And
what better opportunity could they
ask than when Russia was fighting
a war 5000 miles away, in Asia?
Attitude Is Mystery
Mystery surrounds the attitude of
the three great European. powers
most interested in the far east
namely, Great Britain, France and
Russia. Britain and France have
been strangely timid in their han
ding of Japan's violations of Chi
nese territory. And Russia has
maintained almost complete silence.
What is behind the French and
British attitude continues to be a
matter for speculation. Rumors of
an understanding with Japan have
been denied officially. But Russia's
motives are regarded here as more
easily understood. She is mortally
afraid of attack.
Russia Is seen as wishing to avoid
war at this time at any cost. In
another two or three years she will
be ready. Her hve-year plan will
be completed. She can feed her
self and supply her armies in the
field with munitions. Financially
she expects to be Sounder.
Army Being Prepared
Meanwhile, reliable information
pictures Soviet officials as privately
furious over Japan's war on China.
while publicly processing unconcern
Even the controlled press is playing
down Sino-Japanese news as if it
we're Of no great moment to Rus
slams.
Under this cloak Of indifference,
however, it is reported, the red
army is being made ready for
hostilities and munitions and equip
ment plants are working night and
day.
Russians have not forgotten that
in their war with the Japanese in
1905, Japan struck first and de-
clared war afterwards. The Russian
fleet was sunk off Port Arthur two
days before Toxic proclaimed war.
They likewise remember that
Japan sent an army of $4,000 into
Manchuria in 1918 on the preteXt
of relieving a few Czech soldiers
cut off there by the revolution, and
that it took five long years to get
them out again.
Must Get Coal, Iron
Russians are of the opinion that
Japan would have retained control
over eastern Siberia at that time
had 1t not been for the unexpected
strength shown by the Siberians,
plus an unfavorable domestic and
international situation.
Students of the Far Eastern line
up admit Japan must be satisfied
eventually to become a third rate
power unless she a gain control
over an area producing sufficient
food, coal, and iron. This she must
be able to hold on to, in time of
war as we'll as peace.
The Manchurian, Monaghan, and
Ciber4an territory just across the
Japanese sea from the island en-
pire contains all these and more.
There are gold, oil, copper, lead,
magnesite, and numerous other
metallic and non-metallic minerals
ample for her needs.