Evening star., 1940-11-02
Whittier japan?

Abandonment of the whole prov
ince of Kwangsi, in Southern China,
following the evacuation of its capi-
tai and principal communications
center, Manning, gives rise to lively
speculation as to what new move the
japanese Army may now be contem-
plating. Already, nearly seven thou
sand troops formerly in neighboring
Kwangsi have withdrawn into Indo-
China and embarked from it's port of
Haiphong for an undisclosed desti-
nation. Curiosity is further whetted
by reported concentration of Japa-
neSe on Hainan Island, across the
Gulf of Tonkin from Indo-China.
Chinese quarters buzz with reports
that Toxic is preparing for a venture
in some fresh direction. In the
Langson area, in addition to forces
which have left Haiphong, fifteen
thousand Japanese soldiers are
awaiting marching and sailing
orders.
Neutral observers in the Far East
are convinced that, in clearing out of
Kwangsi, after campaign estimated
to have cost Japan seventy-four thou
sand men through death, injury or
illness, the islanders have other
plans in view Where these will
manifest themselves is wholly con-
jectural. Probably much, if not
everything, depends on the course Of
war events in Europe and the Near
East. Should Russia become en-
broiled in the Balkans, as a conSe-
quence of Italo-Grecian hostilities
involving Turkey, Japan might con-
ceive the hour to be ripe for settling
long standing scores with the Soviet
Union in Eastern Siberia. The Dutch
East Indies remain a coveted objec-
tive Of Nippon. Thailand (Siam)
also is a morsel which stimulates
Japanese expansionist appetite.
Britain's fall would almost Ger
tainly spur Japan to extend the
tentacles of the new order in Asia"
to points which would impinge upon
vital British Empire interests. Hong
Kong, Singapore and Burma all
come within the scope of such pos
sibilities. At Shanghai, too, Japan
notoriously aspires to complete sway.
Any drastic or decisive turn of war
fortunes in Europe would almost in
evitably have repercussions at the
great international port, in which
United States Marines now represent
imperiled Western rights and inter
ests virtually by themselves.
Both the British and American
governments have taken recent occa-
sion to reaff1rm their determination
not to let the status quo in the Far
East be upset by the army-bossed
Konoye- -Matsuoka regime at Toxic.
The best safeguard against japanese
aggression remains embattled free
China, which ties the invaders
hands to the extent of over one mil
lion troops. The japanese decision
to leave Kwangsi province encourages
belief that the islanders will not
lightly undertake new enterprises,
for their military and economic ener-
gies continue to be heavily engaged
in the effort to bring "the China in
cident" under control. Yet the Toxic
war lords discontinue, resultant
from deferred victory on the main
land of Asia, may well induce them,
for domestic face-saving reasons, to
seek other fields of conquest some
where in the Pacific. Events in
Kwangsi may prove the signal for
surprise moves to that end. OF one
thing the world may be fairly sure
the axis partners on the other side Of
the globe will neglect no opportunity
to make hay If, when and wherever
they think the sun Of opportunity is
shining.