Evening star., 1937-08-29
ATTACK ON ENVOY
UPSETS JAPANESE
Toxic Most Anxious to Avoid
Foreign Complications
at This Stage.
BY FRANK H. HEDGES.

b. Radio to The Star.
TOXIC, August 28 1.-The
attack on the British Ambassador to
China, Sir Hughe Montgomery
Knatchbull-H -Hugessen, has upset the
whole picture in the Far East from
Japan's viewpoint. This empire is
most anxious to avoid any foreign
complication in the present conflict,
which has distinctly entered the war
stage. whether the word is used or not
While the Japanese government has
not officially acknowledged that the
Ambassadors wound was caused by
Japanese alrplane, all Japanese cit
liens realize this is the truth. This
correspondent talked with numerous
Japanese and found universal regret,
amounting almost to CONSERVATION,
over this more recent development.
Enthusiasm Surprising.
Reports of victories in China have
been published in the Japanese press
and there is surprising enthusiasm for
war among the Japanese public. 1t is
generally felt that crisis has arisen
which neceSsitates Japan's fighting,
and all japanese are willing to sacri-
fee their lives and everything else for
their Emperor and the nation, but
they do not expect a substantial re-
ward to the empire as result Of
the conflict.
One reserve officer who was called
to service tersely expressed this atti-
tude. What price glory?" he said
Il was called out and naturally I am
willing to serve the colors. Whether
I will return I do not know, but that
doesn't matter"
Reports from China indicate jap
anese victories. but only at the high
est cost. Fighting is going on at three
major fronts at least-the Shanghai
Marking area, northwest Of Peiping
and southwest Of both Peiping and
Tientsin. The most important at
present is the first area. japanese
soldiers have been landing at an un-
disclosed point on the Yangtze and
are fighting their way slowly toward
Shanghai in order to join the jap
anese naval forces which have been
fighting there for the last fortnight.
Kalgan Capture Brilliant Feat.
The capture of Kalgan by the Japa
nese and the maintenance of a $50
mile line of communication with motor
cars and trucks is one of the most
brilliant feats in japanese military
annals. This move was made because
OF fear OF Soviet Russian intervention
through Outer Mongolia While japan
feels competent to deal with China
there Is universal, but unexpressed
fear OF intervention by Moscow. II
such Intervention occurs, which is
considered highly possible. it will not
be openly, but through the nominally
independent Outer Mongolian govern
ment at Ulanbator, thereby leaving
Moscow's hands diplomaticaly clean
but accomplishing Moscow's primary
objective.
The extraordinary session of the
Diet. convening next Friday, is expect
ed to pass an appropriation of at least
1000, 100000 yen for the army anc
navy to carry on the Chinese war unit
the regular session OF the Diet in Mid.
winter Pro-Fascists also hope to bt
able to reshape the government struc.
ture to their liking, but Premier Prince
Konoye and other liberals are attempt
ting to block such development
The premier's public statement
backed up by the Japanese maneuvers
IN China, shows plainly that this en-
pire feels that major warfare is here
although undesired, and that any for
eign attempt to interfere will be re-
5ected. Aside from the apprehension
OF Russian intervention, and conse-
quent world repercussions possibly SIM
liar to those of 1914, the Toxic govern
ment is willing reluctantly to risk the
financial and economic stability and
progress Of Japan which war with
China unquestionably involves.
Copyright, 1881 by the North AmericaL
Newspaper Alliance, 1ncJ