JAPANESE IN CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 6

JAPANESE IN CHINA.

TENSION IN SHANGHAI

A TRAVELLER'S EXPERIENCES.

(By D. L, DONALDSON.) (No. II.) A French military officer in Tientsin who liaVl for some time performed certain duties at the railway station save me his views in no uncertain terms. His *dignity had been upset by an armed Japanese soldier who challenged him on his own station and barred the way. He ignored the challenge and walked into the pointed bayonet. He took the rifle from the nonpluesed sentry, threw it on the platform, and walked on to carry out hirt routine duties. The Japanese leaped on his back, and he had a job to thkow him off. An inquiry was held and every effort was made to obtain satisfaction from the French. Finally the Japanese said that the matter would be overlooked if an apology was forthcoming. The'officer refused, and the matter ended. My acquaintance eaid that all would be well if the powers that be would call the bluff instead of diplomatically side-stepping the issue. He aleo mentioned the annoying fact that on this particular railway station only the Japanese are allowed to defy regulations and use the entrance barrier as an exit. All other nationalities, including Europeans, are forced to go on a detour to the correct exit.

In Peiping I saw the Japanese holding a "field day" within the town. A piece of land on the corner of two main streets was nsed for military training of the "open advance" type. It needed little imagination on the part of a Chinese to picture himself as one of the potential victims of the efficiency which the manoeuvres were designed to secure.

In Shanghai the tension seemed to me terrific, although many citizens have got so used to the situation that they no longer worry over the possibilities, but wait until something happene which directly affects them. The trial of the Chinese suspects concerned with the murder of a Japanese bluejacket was on. This murder was one of a series of "incidents" which were liable to be the cause (eome say "excuse") of war.

"Incidents in Shanghai.

The situation was extraordinary. Here was Shanghai, one of the most important ports in the world, the aptly described "Park of the East." Yet within three minutes' walk of the famous Bund, which is the commercial centre of Shanghai, lay a portion of the city to all intents and purposes under martial law, patrolled by the military of a foreign nation. I found this Honjrkew section very interesting. Along the major roads Japanese troops were posted, in fighting kit. Every few yards a soldier wae posted on the alert." It wae the disconcerting practice nf these soldiers occasionally to train a rifle on a passer-by until he had got past the next guard. This was said to be for "self-protection." but one felt that it would be more likely for a rifle to go off accidentally and wound an innocent pedestrian. An apology in such circumstances would be email recompense.

At corners it was frequently the custom to post a man with a revolver tucked in hie belt. This weapon had to be held with finger on trigger ready for immediate action. The nervous strain for ■ the troops must have been considerable. They were the toughest Japanese troops I encountered. They were of "bigger build than usual, and I have never seen more • scowling countenance*. Aggreseivenees was written all over them.

Display of Strength.

The display of armed strength was inescapable. Powerful motor-cycle , combinations patrolled the streets, each with the sidecar equipped with a machine gun. Open trucks with similar and larger mounted weapons* were numerous. Troops would ride about in these trucks, and on one occasion a jolt or similar mishap caused a rifle to be discharged. . The bullet broke a window and hit a Chinese woman in the thigh. She was given hospital treatment for the slight wound, and the Japanese' authorities were profuse with their apologies. Neat, modern armoured cars also patrolled the streets, ae did companies of troops and naval men. Everything was obv'ously demonstrative of Japanese power. A huge barracks wa.< seething with Japanese troops. The building was cleverly designed. and numerous steel-shuttered "garages" fronted the main road. In these were housed splendid little tank*, together with armoured cars, wireless cars and other items of a highly-mechanised fighting force. Shutters were freqnently left up while engines were turned. Few Chinese spectators were attracted by these sights, and one can appreciate the reasons for their absence.

Thingfi quietened- down the last day I was in Shanghai. Patrols were withdrawn overnight. The crisis had been averted by the calm acceptance by the Chinese of the death sentence of those aroused of the Japanese bluejacket murder. However, half an hour before my ship sailed my tramear was stopped in Hongkew and we were all searched for weapons. The officer in former! me that the patrols selected vehicles at random for searching in case they should find an armed man, who would thereupon l»e taken as a prospective assassin of Japanese.

The English "Tommies" told me that they had instructions to avoid the area. To avoid possible street clashes open to misunderstanding they even had instructions not to argue with their rickshaw boys, but to pay the fare demanded. This in a land where acceptance is usually a third of the asking price!

Japanese warships were alongside without apparent reason near an American warship. An American sailor told me that, his captain secretly arranged for guns to be trained on the Japanese ship, and a force was held aboard in case anything in the nature of a surprise had been planned. Xot that they really thought anything was likely to happen.

The Japanese troop* usually kept clear of the main part of the town. One day a powerful black American car was rushed to a standstill outside the leading newspaper office. Two revolver-armed Japanese entered tbe office, while two armed men remained in the car. Within a few minute* the car and its full complement of passengers dashed away iif a flurry. The sight attracted a crowd, but inquiries showed that the army had merely paid a 2/ advertising bill!