Evening star., 1938-06-23

rent Chinese conflict, but on Mdy )
II Of its 80 articles, requiring
registration OF all adults ,pith po-
lice. were invoked. Cabinet Das
reorgdnixed May rs to 0tpe n,tliteTy
stronger hold upon government.
Ry the Associated Press.
TOXIC, June 23.-Rehecting the
stringency Of Japan's economic posi-
tion. the government announced today
. drastic new retrenchment program
expected to begin functioning July Is.
The order, to be implemented by
application Of those portions Of the
"Nazi-model' national mobilization
law applying to economic activities,
was titled mobilization of materials"
It affects production, distribution
and consumption inside Japan and
gives priority to materials to supply
arms. ammunition and export ma
terials, the government announcement
said.
End Of Incident Distant.
''The ultimate end of the current
incident still is very distant" the gov
ernment communique announced, in
an obvious reference to the undeclared
war in China, now almost a year long.
The inewtability Of protracted war
fare necessitates further control over
economic functions, it added, and con-
sequently the cabinet approved the
plan formulated in five-minister con-
ference.
The conference included Premier
Prince Fumimaro Konoye, Finance
Minister Seihin Ikeda, Foreign Minister
Kazushige Ugaki, War Minister Sci
shire Itagaki and Navy Minister Nit
sumasa Yonai.
Eight Parts in Plan.
The plan contains eight planks:
l. Restricted use of metals, chem
lcals, oil. gasoline. rubber, wool, linen,
leather and lumber.
2. Promotion of thrift among the
people whereby it is estimated $780,
100000 could be saved during 1898.
3. Reconstruction Of export trade,
The import control law will be relaxed
10 allow entrance of raw materials in
tended to become exportable manu-.
factures.
4. Control Of commodity prices to
halt the current upward trend.
5. More intensive use of synthetic
materials.
6. Further curtailment of imports
except war materials and raw ma
terials for exportable manufactures.
Z. Distribution control.
g. Increased promotion of mining
and home industries
Canton Raids Defended.
Admiral Yonai defended Japan's air
raids on Canton as a military neces-
sity, but said Japan would consider
with sympathy" any valid attempt to
humanize the warfare through estab-
Ishment Of neutral zones.
Actually" the minister said in an
interview. Il cannot understand why
the world makes such a fuss over
small, inevitable contingencies of war;
fare.
THE Chinese tell tho world thou
sands and thousands are dead" he
said. But 1t is interesting to cite
the official report Of Canton police
27o."
Chinese officials reported June 20
that 4,595 civilians had been killed in
Japanese air attacks on Canton, i'm
portant South China metropolis, and
upwards Of 1900 in ii days from
May % to June in the period when
Japanese aerial bombers made forays
on successive days OF almost three
weeks.
Admiral Yonai emphatically denied
that Japanese attacked Lingnan Uni
versity at Canton and declared Chi
nese anti-aircraft shells were respon-
sible for the damage.
I'VE have information that the
Chinese. purposely placed anti-air-
craft batteries around the establish
ment in an attempt to involve Japan
in new trouble with America" he said.
Il want to assure you that COM
plications with friendly nations are
the last thing we want. We are being
supremely careful to avoid places
marked by foreign flags
Our sole aim is the destruction of
war goods and military establish
ments. Munitions are piling noun
tain high in Canton. We intend to
destroy them before they cause casual
ties to japanese"
Cannot Discontinue Bombing.
Admiral Yonai paused momentarily
and then said slowly and emphat-
ically:
las a matter Of fundamental policy,
we cannot discontinue the bombing
Of routes and depots OF war goods
which are destined for Chinese
armies"
He declared Japan, nevertheless,
was ready to examine plans for the
creation of q neutral zone and would
consider with sympathy any such
proposal provided the zones are free
from any military establishments or
objectives."
Returns Book Borrowed in '08.
BOSTON, June 23 OP.-There was
good reason for surprise on the faces
OF clerks in the Roslindale branch of
the Public Library when Adolph