BRITISH SEAMEN ACCUSED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 90, 26 January 1938, Page 5

BRITISH SEAMEN ACCUSED.

JAPANESE FLAG INCIDENT.

ALLEGEDLY TRAMPLED UPON

(United Press Association—Copyright..) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) TOKIO, January 25.

It is reported that seven of (he crew of the British steamer Severnleigh, under charter to a Japanese firm have been arrested for hauling down and trampling on two Japanese flags. Five were later released and returned to the ship.

FLAGS SNATCHED FROM HOUSE.

NOT TRAMPLED UPON

(Received This Day, 1.30 p.m.) TOKIO, January 25

The newspaper, “Nagoya Shimbun, 7 * understands that the sailors from the Severnleigh landed in the course of a religious festival and had a few drinks. They snatched flags from a house and ran away, but did net trample on the flags, which the police cannot find. Five sailors were released and two detained, but are expected to be released shortly, the captain having apologised,

HEAVY BOMBARDMENT. JUST OUTSIDE BRITISH WATERS. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) HONG KONG, January 25. A heavy bombardment at Nantau was heard in the forenoon, just outside British waters, near Castlepeak. • A later message states that the vessel bombarding Nantau is believed to have been a Japanese cruiser. A landing wa3 not attempted. It is believed the object was to alarm the defenders of the Chinese fortifications.

GUERILLA TACTICS. CHINESE SUCCESS REPORTED. HANKOW, January 24. Chinese troops operating on the Japanese flanks in Shantung Province are reported to have delivered a raid between Tsinging and Yingchow, recapturing Sunchihtien, in order to impede the Japanese advance on the Lunghai railway. Close fighting is in progress near Lake Nanyang. The Japanes find difficulty in closing the 150-mile gap between their troops along the railway because of the harassing tactics of the Chinese guerilla forces.

Parties of the Chinese Eighth Route Army defeated the, Japanese in the mountains bordering the Shansi and Hopei provinces. They lured the Japanese along mountain trails and split them into isolated groups.

The Chinese then charged with swords and bayonets and killed 300. They also captured Tsangchuang.

GERMAN MOVE FOR PEACE.

AGAINST RENEWAL OF OFFENSIVE.

LONDON, January 24

The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” states that in spite of recent hints of no further intervention, it is asserted that the German Government is still in close contact with Tokio and is advising against the renewal of a strong anti-Chinese offensive. It is alleged that Japan’s hands are already full, and further hostilities may create chaos defying Japanese attempts at reconstruction for many years, and nullifying opportunities for German trade.