The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-10
Observations
Russian Clash
With Japanese
Believed Near
BY Charles p. Stewart

Is Japan on the verge OF attack.
ing Russia?
British statesmanship evidently
had not thought OF that possibili-
~.
The theory hitherto has been
that 1t would be perfectly heaven
ly II Russia would attack the laps.
This country naturally has thought
40. Being at war with Nippon, it
Is argued that its activities against
the islanders would be immensely
facilitated II the later could be
provided WITH a formidable enemy
from their opposite point OF the
compass. incidentally, Russian ST.
IBERIA would be a nightly CON
venient taking of place for our
own planes, bombing the Mikado's
archipelago.
The Chinese, being more hercely
pressed than ourselves, have yearn-
ed even more ardently for Russian
aid than we have.
England, Tor obvious reasons, has
inclined TO concentrate more in
tensiyely upon the European Axis
folk, as more Immediately threat
ening neighbors. The Australian
Britons and the western costal
Canadians look Japan-ward with
considerable anxiety but the home
land tends to take its time about
the situation
II Japan, though, were to hop
the warpath against the Soviets in
short order, the whole United Ma
tons OUTFIT would be hustled into
Anti-Japanese vigor
Why the Russians have been
hesitant TO hop the Japs. TO the
formers eastward, Is understand
able enough. The Soyiets doubt
less are TOO sufficiently occupied
with the NaEls TO volunteer for an
additional campaign unless abso-
lutely compelled TO do so.
II has been equally applicable
why the Japs have been slow to
aggravate their own fight by taking
the initiative against Comrade
Stain.
Just now, though. they may esti-
mate that the situation has changed
with them.
Temporarily they are having fair
" good luck with their hostilities.
The United States is at such long
range that we are not pressing
them seriously. They doubtless
are confident that, in the long run,
they can lick the Chinese, If unas.
sisted
Assume, then, that in compare
lively jig time, they conquer the
bulk OF China.
The western European powers
won't care greatly. They won't
like it, but, tuckered out. they
wont want to start a fresh war in
the Orient. But Russia will be an
exception. The Soyiets are nearly
as Asiatic as they are European.
Their game will be 10 keep it up
indefinitely.
And they can make a long fight,
independently against the Jsps
And will the western democra-
eies (regarding them as outlaw
Communists) help them?
The conclusion would seem 20
be that the Japs don't care how
the rest OF the fight comes out-if
they gobble he Chinese, IL they
have licked the Russians and IL the
democracies quit the conflict, as
no longer material TO them for a
generation.
OF the Russians alone they prob
ably are not greatly afraid.
They have fought them before
and beaten them. II wasn't clean.
cut but II was adequate.
Scarcely needful TO say, Japan
cant want Russia to deal with just
now II IT Is avoidable. Still, she
may be able to consolidate herself
as she may not be able to later.
II is guessed that she will direct
some aviatorial jabs as Pacific
coastal America, but she won't
count on a foothold on this side
OF the ocean.
All the same, Jap-Russo war
is assessed as ahead speedily
II won't be OF Russian initiation,
but it will be Of general interest.
Guesses are that so days will
see a start on II.
It won't suit the Axis strategy.
II will be 10 the democracies' policy
70 begin it, 1t will yank Russia
into the war in a fashion she is
disinclined for. This isn't includ-
ing Russia as an Allied power
Still, ultimately. II may he 10 its
advantage Possibly II will trans
form it into a real democracy final
ly.