The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-16
"Beat China First"

mandy have occupied so much recent thought
that the campaign of the Japanese to cut off
eastern China and starve the country out Of
the war while closing an invaluable area for
an indefinite period against Allied occupation
for the final thrust on Tokyo is receiving
little attention. Yet this campaign in China
is one OF the most crucial tests of Chinese
and Allied resistance in the Pacific war;
II the Japanese are successful in Selling
the Peiping- Hankow-Canto railway the defeat
Of Japan could be long postponed. And that
the Japanese mean to do this is indicated by
the fact that since last March / they have
moved 100000 seasoned, well armed troops
from Manchuria into China, many of whom
are now taking part in the action which has
centered chiefly around Changsha.
Just as Roosevelt and Churchill have shaped
their war policy around the slogan BEAT
Hitler first so the Japanese apparently seem
to have made Beat China first their rallying
cry. If they are successful, and it is far
from doubtful that they might be, the conse-
quences could be seriously damaging to the
Allies. Roscoe Drummond, war analyst whose
views are especially sound, lists five Of these
consequences, the import of which is inescap-
able. They are:
1 I. It will take vital segments of now I'M
occupied China in the south out of the hands
OF the Chungking Government, and will drive
the Chinese forces 700 10 800 miles further in
land.
2. General Chenhault WIN foge present and
potential airfie1ds which would ultimately -
when the air power is avaflable-be within
long-range bombing distance Of Japan itself
New airfields would have to be built hundreds
Of miles further inland
3. Japan would come into full and effective
possession of the etire southern coast Of China
.where its present hold is only tenuous and
maintained primarily by its ability to control
the coastal seas.
4. An Allied landing on the coast Of China
would be rendered doubly difficult perhaps
as hazardous as the landings in France last
week. Aniral Ninaitz himself has publicly stat.
ed that the Allies intend to bring the war to
the Chinese coast, and we must, therefore,
have major port from which to operate. II
the Japanese succeed in establishing the
Peiping- Hankow-Canton wall in the early fl.
ture they will deny to the Allies the oppor.
tunity OF making a coastal landing in the
midst Of friendly Chinese population and to
which supporting Chinese troops could soon
effect junction.
49, General Chennault was quoted by the
Associated Press this week as declaring that
the creation by the Japanese Of this pro.
jected 'West WALL" dividing and Gripping
China, would 2rolong the Asiatic war by
years. The prospect may not be quite as
orainous as that, but there is no easy assur
ance that the new Japanese offensive will not
succeed and the most conservative Judgment
among the military here is that it would not
fail to put off the defeat Of Japan at least a
year longer than it otherwise would be and
cost the lives of many Chinese and Ameri.
can and British men,
While it seems that Japan is willing
to gamble that Russia will not join her Allies
in the Pacific war and so withdraws large
military forces from Manchuria which, in event
OF attack from the north would be greatly
needed, it is true that the transport of armed
forces into eastern China from Manchuria is
a land operation. The terrific losses japan
has been subjected to in shipping does not
effect Tokyo's ability to put troops into China
in any number she wishes.
V-
Normandy Rattle FIrid