Pacific Japanese Celebrate

"Victories" in China

IT will be of interest to British people in Pacific Territories to know that the capture of the Chinese cities of Canton and Hankow by the Japanese armies was very joyfully celebrated by Japanese citizens right in the centre of the Pacific.

There were gay doings throughout the Japanese Mandated islands on Oc tober 28. when the fall of the two an cient Chinese cities was announced. The “Rising Sun” flag of Japan fluttered gaily in the breeze from every flag pole in the town of Jaluit in the Marshall Islands. After sunset, practically the whole ponulation. young and old. Jap anese and natives, marched around the town of Jaluit. carrying paper lanterns suspended at the end of short rods.

They sang patriotic songs and. at inter

vals, they gave a united and lusty shout of “Banzai”.

To British people the rape of China by Japan is a horrible thing, serving mostly to give us a warning, here in the Pacific, of the danger which we our selves may have to face at not too dis tant a date. But to the Japanese col onists in the Marshall Islands it is a matter for great rejoicing when the well equipped and well-trained armies of Japan over-run the ill-equipped and un trained troops of poor old China.

Rev. C. W. Whonsbon Aston, of the Anglican New Guinea Mission at Mukawa, Papua, who is at present on sick leave in Australia, has been doing temporary duty at All Saints’, East St.

Kilda, Victoria. During December he was instructed by the doctor to cease work entirely for some time.