Evening star., 1943-11-04
BY RUSSELL BRINES.

PORT ELIZABETH. Union OF
South Africa, Nov. 4-Japanese mil
itaristS are making every effort to
mobilize totally all East Asia IN an
ticlpation of Allied attacks which
they warn the people will be crucial
/ There is ample evidence that the
/ Japanese mllitarists are attempting
feverishly to utilize to the fullest all
/ resources Of the manpCWer reservoir
of their newly conquered territories;
meanwhile they are reported to be
/ constructing a series of defense
lines for vaunted last man. bat
tie for the japanese empire.
Through censorship and intern
ment walls these things are dis
cermble:
l. The Japanese are anticipat-
ing a big Allied land smash against
Burma.
2. japanese militarists still are
holding sizable and presumably
crack forces in Manchuria to pro-
tect the rear against Russia, and are
probably maintaining other key
units in the Netherlands East Indies
and Malaya
Materials Exploited.
3. They are exploiting to the linn
1t of their abilities raw materials
which are all being diverted to war
production and in which consider
able forced labor is being used.
4 The controlled press is prepar-
ing the people Of Asia for long, de-
fcnSive battles ahead
Morale in Japan appears to be un-
shaken. although some unrest is re-
ported in other parts Of the empire.
The milltariStS and gendarmerle are
enforcing compliance with vigorous
measures, while an extensive prop
aganda campaign is attempting to
sell the idea Of protecting a 81
against British-AmeriCan ''lmperl-
aliSm.'
General indications are that the
japanese plan to use Burmese, In
dian and Thai troops as much as
possible in the defense Of Burma.
Chinese peace preservation corps
are being trained to take over pa
troll duty in thlnly garriSOned areas
in China Ny impression is that
japanese land forces will fight most
desperately for the Netherlands
East Indies and Malaga. whose raw
ma erials are vital. and the strategic
areas of Central and North China
and ManchWia, from where the
Allies could threaten Japans vital
industrial areas from the air.
Burma Drive Stressed.
The controlled press is now direct
ing attention to the prospective
Burma campaign under the 2ulse Of
thunderous anti-India propaganda
Meanwhile travellers say that
French Indo-Chlna- the sole section
of East Asia that Is not completely
Japanese dominated is becoming
one of Japan'S major military bases
Movements Of troops and supplies
are continuous. Travellers believe
that Camranh Bay. naval base on
the east coast, Is fortified but is
not extensively used because It's mar
IoN tiILi dilNt IItlSllJ dIIoN 1IllCt Stf
power to trap fleet units inside the
harbOr.
The travellers believe the Japa-
nese can take over Indo-China any
time they wish, but are presently
allowing the French considerable
local autonomy due to clever French
diplomacy and because French ad-
miniStratlon methods are so con-
fusing that the japanese are afraid
they would be unable to continue
them, thus causing unrest among
the "unconVinced" natives. Such
trouble obviously would be undeSir-
able if the japanese use Indo-China
as a supply base for the Burma
campaign.
Shanghai's controlled newspapers
which probably have the most
complete coverage of any Asiatic
journals t0day-are devoting COL