Re: OT - is there an attack coming? - NM

Hi,

If you read W. E. B. Griffin's novels of real events (hows that for an oxymoron?), the 1899 Boxer Rebellion in China started the events that lead to European Occupation of China (Yangtsee River Patrol) and into WWII. Much of his preface to The Corp Series has been verified by a little Wikapedia research.

I liked one comment that was made (I think it was the BBC "The World at War") that said that in 1946, the French were in such bad shape from Germany, that they allowed Japanese troops in Indochina to keep their weapons for use as a police force until they could rebuild France.

IF this is so, continuous hostilities could be claimed to have run from 1899-1972 when the US pulled out of Vietnam in shame. Both starting in the Far East and ending there.

Eurocentric WWII history is Sept 1, 1939 as the beginning of the WWII but the Japanese invaded Manchuria on September 19, 1931. So argument for WWII being a Far East War starting and ending with Japan could be made.

The American view of December 7, 1941 is still very important but may be considered a smaller item in terms of the wider picture.

Thanks to the Greatest Generation. Also to those who fought in Korea (no peace treaty yet - just a cease fire), Vietnam, Granada, middle east and all other military who have and do serve.

NARROW GAUGE:

Now then, how many narrow gauge locos in the Sandwich Islands served against Japan?

Doug vV