IN DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 41, 27 November 1937, Page 7

IN DEFENCE

CHINA’S STRONG ENDEAVOUR.

SOUTHERN FORCES ACTIVE.

A MILLION CONSCRIPTS IN TRAINING.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) SHANGHAI, November 26. General Pai Chungshi, regarded as successor to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, has a million conscripts training in Kwangsi, and southern feeling will certainly prevent surrender to Japan, howeyer accommodating the north may be. General Chan Chaitong, the former southern war-lord, is donating 7,000,000 dollars to the war chest from his wealth accumulated while ruler of Canton. ADDING TO NAVAL PER^ONNEL. JAPANESE COMBINED FLEETS. (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) TOKIO, November 26. The Japanese combined fleet in Chinese waters has been ordered to return to their home ports. The Navy Office stated this was necessary to meet the spectacular developments of land operations in the Shanghai area and take on fresh supplies to reinforce the man-power. CITY REPORTED FALLEN. (Received This Dya, 9.50 a.m.) TOKIO, November 26. Changshing is reported to have fallen. ANTI-BRITISH FEELING. CONDITIONS IN TOKIO.

(Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) TOKIO, November 26

British .residents here are becoming increasingly uncomfortable by the popular wave of anti-English feeling. They are complaining strongly that nothing .is being done to counteract the campaign nor enlighten the Japanese of the truth of England’s position in regard to the public who know only what they learn from newspapers and radio.' •

ACTIVITY IN HONG-KQNG.

RUSH OF RECRUITS TO COLOURS

(Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) ' LONDON, November 26. The Hong-Kong correspondent of “The Times’’• says: “No X-ray quality of vision is required to .detect certain liveliness in the defence preparations in Hong-Kong. The Government, at last, has decided to permit the Chinese to join the Hong-Kong volunteers. There was an immediate rush of recruits. BOYCOTT URGED IN AMERICA. ADVOCACY BY LEGAL COMMITTEE NEW YORK, November 25. The report of the Special Committee on International Law of the New York Chapter of the National ’ Lawyers’ Guild recommends the United States to impose an economic boycott of Italy; Japan and Germany, and to remove trade .restrictions against Spain and China. The report states that the measures are neither punitive nor forceful, but are merely “intended to' prevent the use of the financial, economic, and industrial resources of the United States by aggressors. against countries with whom we are at peace.” WARNING TO CHIANG. “MAKE PEACE OR BE DRIVEN FROM POWER.” “RESISTANCE TO LAST MAN.” SHANGHAI, Nov. 25. “Make peace or you will soon he driven from power,” is reported to he the warning Japanese Army and Navy leaders delivered to Marshal Cldang-Kai-Shek, after which the Chinese Premier retorted: “It is our £xed policy to resisi to the last inch and man.” The Japanese message, it is reported, added that if Marshal Chiang-Kai-Shek accepted the truce he would be permitted to remain as head of the Central Government at Nanking. In return tho Japanese pledged not to annex an inch of Chinese soil. General Hoyingching and others of the peace group are reported to be in favour of acceptance. MURDER OF NINE PRIESTS. MANCHUKUAN ACT OF REVENGE 'SHANGHAI, November 25. The report of the murder of nine Roman Catholic priests at the capture of Chengtingfu is confirmed. Mancluikuo auxiliaries in tho Japanese armies

demanded money from the priests, for which some were conrtmartialled and shot by Japanese. The Manchukuoites later revenged those executed by murdering the priests. RAILWAY TRACK DESTROYED. r HONGKONG, November 25. Six Japanese ’planes twice bombed the Kowloon railway in an attempt to destroy four bridges. They destroyed the track in several places.