Evening star., 1937-09-28
Russia 1Wades In.

IL mas long seemed only a question of
time before Soviet Russia, in one way
or another, would be involved or in
volve herself in the Sino-Japanese con-
troversy." Equally clear is the virtual
certainty that nothing but large-scale
Soviet intervention on her behalf can
save China from subjugation. Various
"lnf1ammables' make another Russo
japanese war for supremacy in Asia ap-
pear almost inevitable. There is the
enduring conflict inherent in the border
Ing of Manchukuo by Siberia. Out of
1t springs the chronic succession of pro-
vocative frontier incidents" Finally.
the existence of large Communist
Chinese armies is persistently regarded
IN Japan as the spearhead of the plot
for "Sovietization of the Far East"
These are the joint and several
reasons why Moscows stern protest to
Toxic against 'lawless" bombardment of
Nanking is of enormously graver import
than Anglo-American remonstrances
against air savagery at the seat of
Chang Kai-Shek's government. Geo.
graphicalmilitary circumstances are
such that neither the lions roar nor the
eagles scream commands the respect in
Japan that is inspired by the bears
growl. Some 100000 or 100000 well
equipped Soviet troops are within strik-
Ing distance Of japanese territory.
Formidable Soviet air forces based in
the Vladivostok region are in menacing
proximity to Japan, including Toxic
itself and all the empires vital indus
trial centers. Since Moscow crawled
during the Amur Islands affair and par
ticularly since the ruthless blood purge
OF Stains generals revealed demoraliza-
ton within the Red armys high COM
mand. the Toxic war lords have affected
to hold the U. S. S. R. in contempt as
Tar as its capacity to thwart Japan's
purposes is concerned. Meantime, Japan
not only finds herself locked with an un-
expectedly tenacious China in grapple
likely to absorb the empires energies
indefinitely, but faced by Russia
plainly determined to take fullest ad-
vantage of her rivals vicissitudes. That
these twin conditions conspire to hasten
the danger of the long-awaited collision
between the Asiatic giants is obvious.
To borrow Mr.. Roosevelt's favorite
metaphor, the world is so absorbed in
looking at the Far Eastern trees that it
overlooks the forest. The truth is that
Japan Is waging two campaigns, of
which the present undeclared war is
only an intermediate phase. Her i'm
mediate objective is the conquest of
China. That accomplished, she would
embark upon her ultimate and greater
goal, the expulsion of Russia from East
ern Asia. To bring that about, the
japanese must either drive the Soviet
from Outer Mongolia or cut that one
time Chinese province completely off
from China. Then they must contrive
to smash their way straight across
Siberia with the dual object of detach-
ing Asiatic Russia from European
Russia and separating the Soviet Union
from China.
1t is tall order-this so-called must"
strategy OF the helmeted and spurred
architects of Nippon's imperial destiny"
but it is what lends paramount signifi-
canoe to Russian defiance" at Nanking.
Whether it is the U. S. S. RS primary
purpose to bring the dubious blessings of
Communism to the Far East, as the
Japanese claim, or whether Moscow is
bent upon beating Japan to the gun in
the duel for the mastery of Asia, Russia
conveys the impression that she does
not shrink from the grim challenge.