Evening star., 1941-07-14
Japan S Port Of Kobe
Reported Closed 10
Aliens for 10 DAYS
Toxic Seen Engaging in
Nerve War or Russia
With Propaganda
D: the Associated Press.

D: the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, July 14.-The Japa-
nese port Of Kobe has been closed
to foreigners for a Today period
starting tomorrow, it was reported
here today amid an apparently
Japansese-sponsored propaganda
campaign to create the impression
that Japanese attack against Rus
sian Siberia is imminent.
Most foreign military quarters
were inclined to believe the Japa-
nese were indulging in a war of
nerves so far as Russia was con-
cerned and said they still were con-
vincd that the next Japanese move
would be against French Indo-
China, current object of a Japa-
nese press TRADE.
Tension was apparent at Saigon
French Indo-China, on this Bastille
Day, said dispatch from there. 1t
reported the widespread comment:
"A new Japanese move is pending"
The do-Chinese government and
the Japanese 1t was said, were silent
while the japanese press made
charges of French persecution Of
pro-Japanese Annamites in the
French colony.
Reservists Reported Called.
Kobe is likely point of embarka-
ton from Japan for any movement
of troops to the south, that is,
toward Indo-China, South China or
anywhere else in the southern Pa
clf1c which Japan regards as in her
vital sphere. Nevertheless Kobe
could conceivably be used for en-
barkations against Siberia although
Tsuruga, on the Sea of Japan, would
seem more obvious choice.
Word has filtered out OF Japan
that an unspecified number OF re-
serves have been called to active
military duty.
The Kobe Maru, sailing tomorrow
from Shanghai, is accepting passen-
gers only as far as Nagasaki,
although the vessel is going to Kobe.
The same ship is booking passengers
for Kobe on the July "a sailing from
Shanghai. Apparently whatever is
to happen at Kobe which Japan
wants to keep from foreigners will
have occurred by the time the ship
arrives on her second trip.
Rumors of isolated clashes along
the Manchukuo frontier with ST.
IBERIA have begun to circulate. but
they remain unconf1rmed and are
generally discounted here. One such
report was from Chinese sources in
Indo-China.
Japanese military and naval quar-
ters in Shanghai apparently are de-
noerately letting the word spread
that Japan intends an assault upon
Russia. Tips to this effect have been
given by japanese to numerous per-
sons in Shanghai, including White
Russian agents in japanese employ.
Some of these reports said the at
tack would be launched the day
Moscow falls. Others fixed the date
as August Is.
80 Divisions in Siberia.
Persons arriving from Japan said
the same stories were current in
Kobe and Osaka.
Although the rumors have been
discounted in foreign military quar-
tiers here, the observers were not
so positive as they we're last week
that Japan intended to start no
shooting war with Russia.
If European Russia collapses
under German blows, they said,
Japan might risk tackling the pow
erful Red Army in Siberia, esti-
mated here at about 80 divisions.
Foreign quarters in North China
said the japanese had withdrawn
two divisions of troops from that
area to Tsingtao, where they were
embarked, presumably for Man
chukuo.
Heavy activity also was reported
along the railway from Mukden in
the direction of the Manchukuo
border.