Evening star., 1937-08-01
ARMY OF CHINESE
HELD INADEQUATE
Japanese War Machine Still
Too Powerful, Experts
Believe.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The undeclared war between Japan
and China is just one more active
phase OF a conflict that has lasted
more than a generation.
They fought declared war in
ls945, and since then they have
fought at intervals of few years
without the formality of a declaration.
That has been avoided because from
1895 until now Japan has managed to
''localize" the conflict, to choose for
an opponent only one section or fac
ton of the huge, disjointed Chinese
nation.
1t is a conflict such as the world has
often seen through the ages, when an
inert, unwarlike people happened to
stand in the path of a strong race on
the march of empire.
Chinese at Disadvantage.
Hitherto the 450,0OO0O0 Chinese.
hating war, despising the soldier, torn
by their own factlonal fights, lacking
skilled leadership have been no match
for the japanese race, homogeneous,
disciplined. almost fanatically pa
triotlc, clarifying the soldier and the
martial spirit, counting death for the
Emperor the greatest glory
Since the two nations fought in
1894 the following territories formerly
under Chinese rule have passed to the
possession or domination of Japan:
FormoSa and the Pescadores, Korea,
the three provinces Of Manchuria, Je-
hol and now most Of the provinces OF
Hopeh and Chahar.
Great Empire Built.
Japan has built one OF the greatest
empires OF modern times largely at
the expense Of China.
At each of their successive con-
flicts China contends she has pur-
chased peace for little while longer
by yielding more land or other con-
cession.
Chinese have declared this must
stop. but although there have been
many crises in which it appeared the
Chinese would turn and fight, that
time has not yet come.
Perhaps it is at hand. China's
-
united than at any time in decades
The new generation is patriotic, hates
Japan, demands defense Of China's
territories. There is strong. skilled
leadership in Marking In the person
OF Chang Kai-shek. But although
great progress has been made in
modenization of the Chinese Army,
military experts believe it is still in
adequate to stand against the power
ful war machine of Japan.
Position Of Japanese.
The japanese do not admit it is a
simple question of imperialistic ag-
Eression, They deny territorial am
bltions in North China They have
assumed the task of "stabilizing" and
maintaining the peace" of the Far
East.
They assert that China, under its
present rulers, makes troublesome
neighbor, especially for their protec-
torate of Manchukuo, which used to
be China's Manchurian provinces. So
they demand that all around Man.
chukuo's Chinese frontiers special
regime be set up to make those from
tiers safe and peaceful.
This regime would cover the Prov
1nces OF Hopeh and Chahar. Therein
Japan and Manchukuo would have
special economic and political priv
lleges amounting to control OF the
two provinces economic life and de-
relopment and the right to reject
any administration that refused to
follow Japan's bidding.
Such an administration would be
Tor Ill practical purposes independent
OF the Central Chinese government
The Chinese say it would be as thor
ouehly torn apart from the Chinese
nation as Manchukuo has been.
Demand End Of Agitation.
Japan also has demanded that
China stamp out the anti-Japanese
agitation rampant throughout the
country and 'co-operate" with Japan
In preventing the advance of COM
munism in Eastern Asia.
These purposes Japan has been try
Ing to accomplish by alternate periods
of military threat and diplomacy.
In recent months Chinese tactics of
obstruction and delay have halted
the Japanese advance. That brought
matters to head. When small Chi
nese and Japanese detachments
clashed at Marco Polo Bridge July I
the stage was set for an ever extend
Ing conflict
China's point of view is that the
cause of this conflict is very simple.
She only wants to hold what she con-
siders her own.