Evening star., 1938-02-24
Man Bites Dog.

There is real news out of the em-
battled East. China has attacked Japa-
nese territory A fleet of Chang Kai-
shek's RusSian-built aircraft, manned by
crews of undisclosed nationality, has
bombed the island Of Formosa, approxi-
mately one hundred and twenty miles
east of the southeast coast of China.
Considerable damage in civilian life and
property was wrought, and, according to
Chinese claims, the Formosan air base
at Taihoku was heavily strafed, with loss
of forty japanese planes, two hangers
and gasoline storage tank.
Whether the casualties in life and
military equipment are large or light is
unimportant. What is significant
nothing more significant has happened
during the whole Far Eastern campaign
-issthat man has bitten a dog; an
almost unheard of event has taken
place, unheard of not only in two cycles
OF Sino-Japanese war history, but ut
terly without parallel in Nippon's an
nails for three quarters of a century.
The soil of the island empire has again
been violated by an enemy attack. OF
immediate and paramount import is the
revelation that Japan, supposedly su-
preme in the air, as well as on land and
sea, does not command the skyways in
the war zone and is herself vulnerable.
1t is no surprise to learn that the in
stant effect of the raid over Formosa
was the institution of air defense maneu-
vers in the Toxic Yokohama area, with
its population of close to ten million
souls. Terror spread through the En-
peror'S capital, for the japanese public
had been led to believe that the i'm
perial forces are in as complete control
aloft as they are ashore and afloat Not
since 1864, when combined British
French-Dutch fleet bombarded Shimo-
noseki, has Nipponese territory felt the
impact Of hostile foreign shells. To at
tack from the air, Japan'S fimsily con-
structed buildings, with the exception
OF the comparatively few substantial
places that dot the island, particularly
those erected since the 1923 earthquake,
are especially susceptible. 1t is realized
by the naval and military authorities
that, structurally,. the island is virtually
at the mercy Of an enemy in command
Of the air or able to attack in force.
The peril of Russian bombing plane
assault from Vladivostock only a few
hours flight from Japan's industrial
centers, has long been a nightmare.
That their demonstrated ability to
strike at Japan-to turn the tables on
the enemy-will vastly bolster Chinese
morale goes without saying. The For
mosan air affair follows notable defen-
slve successes recently won by Chiang's
armies in Central China, on the far
flung fronts along the Yellow River.
now the scene of fierce encounters with
the japanese. General Matsui's recall
in the midst of these crucial engage
ments is undeniable evidence that things
are not going to Tokio's liking. 1t sub
stantiates circumstahtial reports reach
ing military observers at Washington
that the long expected is steadily COM
ing to pass, namely, that the stubborn re-
sistance which the invader now faces,
not only at the hands of well-drilled,
well-equipped Chinese divisions, but in
the even deadlier form of guerrilla war
fare Waged effectively and suddenly at
vital points, is seriously slowing up the
Japanese drive. The islanders are not
defeated, but they are sinking into the
morass that is China, and may sink be-
yond recall unless they soon pull them
selves up.