Monday, Mar. 13, 1939

Hi, Joe

Some bowling enthusiasts are known to have nightmares wherein they roll small balls which can knock down only one pin at a time, and no sooner are successive single pins knocked down than they bounce up again. Somewhat similar nightmares are said to be troubling Japanese generals, who bowl over Chinese towns one by one, only to have the Chinese seep in behind their advance and set them up again. Last week Japanese announced they had captured coastal Haichow (pronounced Hi, Joe) and Lungkow (Loong-Go), last Chinese-held ports north of Shanghai, and two inland Shantung towns.

Meanwhile, Far Eastern Magazine reported a Chinese Government survey of nine "Japanese-held" provinces* which found that, out of a total of 796 counties, 489 are devoid of Japanese troops and another 248 are, for practical purposes and with the exception of big cities, in Chinese hands. Altogether 92% of these counties are scarcely more occupied than a prairie across which a herd of buffalo has tramped; the Chinese, like prairie gophers, almost always pop up in charge again.

* Kiangsu, Chekiang, Anhwei, Kiangsi, Shantung, Hopeh, Shansi, Honan, Hupeh. Others supposed to be under partial Japanese military occupation: Kwangtung, Suiyuan.

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