Evening star., 1945-06-14
-Jops Seen PIonnine
To Quit South Chino
Pressure on Nipponese Forces
Is Increasing, Says Observer
By David Laurence

-
Is Increasing, Says Observer
By David Laurence
Tokyo broadcasts, together with dis.
patches telling OF operations in China
indicate that the Japanese are planning
general withdrawal from South China
For several days the news from China
has been puzzling. It has not been
possible to be sure whether the Chinese
were carrying on q new offensive OF
the japanese were executing . strategic
Withdrawal. The fact is, however, that
pressure from the rebuilt Chinese Army
is affecting the japanese movement Of
troops northward.
The broadcasts from Tokyo speak Of
70 divisions Of Chinese troops being
mechanized by the United States and
add that america is relying on the Chi
nese to furnish abundant manpower.
Doubtless the Japanese would like to
kpow Americas plans with respect to
waging war in and around China and
whether 1t Is true that the United States
has mechanized any Chinese divisions.
No ofhcial comment is forthcoming.
What the laps Fear. -. -
But it is apparent that the Japanese
fear that America may help mechanic
the Chinese Army and they fear also
that, as the Chinese troops begin oper-
ating close to the coast line, the Amer
lean armed services may open a port or
find new supply line to, China from
the Pacific Ocean side. Reports have
come through the press of Notifications
and defenses erected by the Japanese
at coastal points where they think land
ings may occur.
The Japanese also must be wary of
possible complications in Manchuria.
where friction between Russian and
Japanese armies near each other in
that area could occur. Whether Russia
does or does not enter the war, Japan
cannot afford to move her troops from
Manchuria to the south and she must
shift her available forces in China to
the north to. set up her main defense
lines there.
1t will be recalled that Gen. Joseph
Stilwell, military expert extraordinary
on Chinese matters, recently has been
conferring with Gen. Macarthur and
was quoted as saying decisive battles
would be fought on the mainland of
Asia. He predicted that the war against
Japan might go two years more.
The Stilwen view is not new. He
has said before that the Japanese would
make their primary defense in China
and that enough manpower must be
made available by the Allies to carry
on an extensive military operation on
the mainland. If the Tokyo broad
casts should prove to be correct and
Chinese divisions are being trained
with new mechanized equipment, this
may save much time for us. For the
American armies being withdrawn from
Europe cannot move right away to the
Pacific because, under the point sys-
| tenn, there must be q certain number
OF discharges and read justments Of ex-
istins military units.
Pattern in Europe.
If manpower should become available
on the spot In large quantities, the war
against Japan can be stepped up. The
sea and air blockade will interfere with
shipments Of munitions from Japan to
her armies In China and conceivably
the bombing from the air will destroy
the major part Of Japans factories asd
war plants before the big invasion move
ments or large-scale military operations
begin.
This, to be sure, was the pattera in
Europe. Bombing from the air went on
intensively during 1s43 and then the
invasion Of the European continent was
launched. Certainly the next few
months will see increased air bombing
of Japan and on an unprecedented
scale 50 far as destruction is coli
cerned. Later on, when airfields and
japanese airplane plants and fuel ee-
pots and stocks have been destroyed,
invasion and occupation of Japan and
her territories on the mainland Of
Asia will bring the war to q climax
and victorious ending. But this is j
big job and two years is not too long
. time for the achievement OF such
. task -. =
Japanese industrialists could influence
| the political leaders to surrender
| sooner, but that's 4 break on which
our own military folks are not counting
rs they prepare for at least two years
more Of war.