Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-08
u. s., Britain Watch
Japan S ReshuffIing
OF Her Armies
Heavy Pressure on Chino
Relieved, Other Areas
Rise in Speculation
BY A. T. STEELE,

/
Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 8.-American
and British military observers are
watching with lively interest but
some mystification the large-scale
reshuffling of the Japanese armies
which has been a feature of the
Far Eastern scene for the last two
weeks.
Piecing together fragmentary re-
ports from various parts of the
country, it would seem that 10000
| or more Japanese troops have been
withdrawn from China, or are on
their way out. According to reli-
/ able information most of this force
is being transferred to Formosa and
Hainan-twin bases for Japan's
southwark advance.
| The Withdrawals have relieved
pressure on China. but on the other
hand, have obviously increased
Japan's striking power at such
detectives as the Netherland Indies,
British Malaga and the Philippines.
What observers would like to know
Is whether these moves are merely
defensive and precautionary, or
whether they are a prelude to ag-
erosion.
japanese Getting Ready.
In any case, it is pretty evident
that the Japanese armed forces are
putting themselves in full readiness
for any possible development in
the South Pacific.
The Japanese moves take on
special interest in the light of
rumors of impending Anglo-Ameri-
can defensive arrangements in the
Pacific arena. They also put weight
behind Japan's big-stick diplomacy
with the Netherland Indies.
The Toxic Nichi Nichi, with the
largest circulation of any newspaper
in Japan, today was permitted to
publish the most violent blast of
criticism yet vented against the East
Indies government. Nichi Nichi
castigates the Dutch for their "ar-
rogant attitude" and for allowing
Anglo-American pressure to slow up
negotiations for the sale of oil to
Japan.
Angry Burst of Warning.
outspoken newspaper declares the
days of Dutch control in the Indies
are numbered and that Japan's ulti-
mate aim is the liberation of "op-
pressed races n East Asia from pres
sure and force of the white race"
Neutral experts believe the with
drawal of Jspaneses forces from
Kwangsi Province in Southeastern
China will free two and one half
divisions, or about $4,000 men, for
duty elsewhere. The Japanese deny
any Withdrawals elsewhere, but in
dependent reports indicate that
at least two divisions are being
pulled out of the Yangtze Valley
and another division from North
China.
No Major Withdrawals.
The Japanese so far have aban-
doned no cities of outstanding i'm
portance in Central and North
China, but there have been with
drawals from a number of smaller
places. indicating a thinning out of
their forces in country districts. The
troops redisposition shows the ex-
tent that the world crisis is forcing
the Japanese to slow up their war
against the Chinese.
An important japanese admitted
to me today that the purpose of the
Japanese is to shorten their lines,
concentrate troops in those areas
which are strategically and eco
nomically vital and abandon those
points where occupation has no par
ticular meaning. 1t is an indication
that the Japanese have little hope
for early peace and that they are
trying to reduce the wide gap at
present existing between the cost of
the war and its returns.
(copyrisht. 1910, BY the Chicago
Daily News, Inc)