Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1938-09-23

would be almost certain to inyad
the Ukraine IL the Soviet became en-
gage in major hostilities on its ia
Eastern frontier. AS result, tn
truce came as a welcome surpris'
to a war-frightened world.
Thus, on the face of it, the "inci
dent was Of little significance. AL
it involved was a territorial dispute
concerning whether Japan or Rus
STA was the rightful owner Of &
small area Of little populated anC
practically barren land The Rus.
SLAMS claimed the area, using as evil
denee old Tsarist maps Japan dis
puted the accuracy OF these maps
and hostilities followed. eliminating
military phase Of the mopth-lOng
engagement, which claimed about
five thousand lives according to I'M
official reports, was a Russian artil-
lery barrage of the Japanese posi-
lions which observers characterized
as the most severe seen in the world
since 1918.
If you go beyond the surface, how
ever, the incident takes on consid-
erably more importance. It demon
strated two things of great signifi-
canoe. First. the U. S. S. R. is ready
and willing to fight, when no other
solution seems present, and at the
same time is eager to conclude its
disputes peacefully if it can. Sec
ond, it demonstrated the great mill
tary and economic weaknesses of
the Son of Heavens little Empire.
AS one news commentator said,
the upshot of the incident" was a
sweeping military and diplomatic
defeat for Nippon 1t is reliably re-
ported that high Japanese officers
reported to their Emperor that they
lacked the supplies and men for
waging even a brief war in the Man
chuckuo-Siberian territory. The Chi
nese aggression-which is dragging
on month after month, has made a
mOckery of Japanese expectations
of a quick and easy victory-and his
drained the empire dry. AS a conse-
quence, the Japanese had the humil-
iating experience of submitting al
most in their entirety to Soviet For
eign Commissar Litvinoff's terms of
settlement. The Japanese govern
mentor the time being at least
has accepted the Russian view of
the dividing lines. Oficial japanese
statements attempt to
cover this up-but it is a fact, as
reference to your atlas will demon
strate.
What does all this mean, so far
as the possibilities Of peace and war
are concerned? 1t means that one OF
two allies, upon whom
Hitler must depend if his expansion
policies are to bear fruit, has her
hands so full of trouble now that she
is unwilling and unable to take on
any more. 1t means that Russia,
with her gigantic military machine
and her implacable hatred of the
Nazis and Fascists, still holds the
balance of power in Europe and
Western Asia. 1t means that at least
,ne of the great anti-Fascist powers
s prepared to meet force with more !
'orce.
Looking elsewhere, there are other
iigns to indicate that the designs OF
he Fascists are far from material
zing. A few months ago it seemed
hat the fall of the Spanish govern
nent was imminent. Franco. with
lis Italian troops and his German
,lanes and munitins, was advancing
lImost unchecked. Today the gov
rnment has rallied, has regained
ost territory, and is again on the
ffensive. In spite of incredible
Iorrors, the spirit of the population
n government territory seems to
ave gained rather than lost in Wig
r. Franco still has the upper hand
but the experts are saying that he
annot possibly win this year, and
hat if the recently signed pact
Mussolini pledged himself
D withdraw Italian troops from
pain is observed, his chances of ul-
mate victory will be immeasurably
,ssened.
Germany is rafting the saber
gain at Czechoslovakia- there
as been a notable stiffening of
pines in France, which leads to the
lew that actual German aggression
Czech territory is unlikely, and
ould be extremely foolhardy.
Summing up, the Fascists and the
axis are still making the most
1ise-but they aren't showing re-
Its. Big question mark remains :
the lottery Cham ,
,rlain government continues to $
ay both ends against the middle, I
ecent surveys indicate that Eng
nd has lost a colossal amount of 1
estige in this country. a
600
news is mostly good.
-oduction figures are indicating 5
at the sustained Improvement in 4
e stock market is justified by con- :
lions.
Consumers goods industries con- <
Tue to lead the field, but there are I
ms OF betterment in the long-dor- :
ant capital goods Industries. Even ii
e railroads, which are earning al G
ost nothing, are expected to soon v
crease their buying.
steel recently touched 40 per cent n
capacity. in a period when nor f
lily business would have declined. =
tomobile production is at higher
eel than anyone thought possible y
few months ago, with still better y
Derience in prospect.
BON YOYAGERs ?.
NJ