OVER THE WALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 7

OVER THE WALL.

JAPANESE FORCES. Chinese Dislodged from Strong Positions. ANXIETY FOR PEACE GROWS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SHANGHAI, March 21. By crossing the Great Wall nine miles south-west bf Hsi-fengkow and launching severe attacks in two directions the Japanese succeeded in dislodging the Chinese, whose prolonged resistance in this important pass had nterfered with the complete and ffective occupation of Jehol. Mr. Wang Ching-wei, President of the Executive, in an address to Central Government officials, at a memorial meeting, indicated the possibility of negotiations with Japan. However, he emphasised the necessity for continued resistance until, the proper time arrived for negotiating. However, the Nanking Government realises that such efforts are futile and now is devoting considerable thought to the advisability of terminating the hostilities speedily, so as to enable the central authorities to consolidate their newly-acquired power in North China as the result of the downfall of Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang. FOREIGN FEARS. Extra-Territorial Rights in Manciiukuo. . JAPANESE CONTROL. (Received 12 noon.) KOBE, March 21. Japan is preparing to abolish extraterritorial rights in Manchukuo, and 45 Japanese judges and lawyers have been dispatched to Harbin to fill local vacancies since no Manchu lawyers are available. This arrangement foreshadows grave trouble for foreigners. RIVAL WAR LORDS. CONFER BUT SPEAK NOT. PEKING, March 15. The rival war-lords of China and Manchuria, Chiang Kai-shek and Chang Hsueh-liang, had a conference, yet they did not speak to each other. They sat in their own trains, which were drawn up on either side of a railway platform at Paoting, with Mr. T. V. Soong, the acting-Premier, conveying their respective proposals. The whole proceedings occupied not more than 20 minutes, after which the trains departed in opposite directions. Tired of accepting the full force of the Japanese attack without national backing, being at the same time constantly vilified at home, Chang Hsuehliang stated that he had bluntly informed Chiang Kai-shek that he was no longer able to act on his behalf; hence his offer to proceed to the front or to resign. Chiang Kai-shek considered the first course impracticable owing to the scattered disposition of Chang's troops, and accepted Chang's resignation. Chang went his- way home, and Chiang went forward to the front.