IN DEFENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 236, 5 October 1937, Page 7

IN DEFENCE

JAPANESE ACTIONS.

Chinese Accused of "Wilful Fabrications." "MISLEADING THE WORLD." I I "I earnestly hope that the Australian I «nd New Zealand public will, by their ; reason and common sense, understand the true situation and refrain from any rash actions which will jeopardise the existing happy relations between our countriee," saye the Japanese ConsulGeneral at Sydney, Mr. T. Wakamatsu, in a statement issued last week. "In view of the prevailing unwarranted

charges against the Japanese army and navy, especially in regard to the bombing of Chinese citiee by Japanese aeroplanes, I feel compelled to place eoine laets before the Australian and New i Zealand public in defence of the ! Japanese actions." The direct causes of the present conflict between Japan and China were the illegal attack on the Japanese troops by the Chinese 2»th Army at Lou-kou-chiao, near Peiping, on July 7, and the murder

of Sub-Lieutenant Oyania and Seaman

Saito of the Japanese navy on August 9 at Shanghai by the Chineee Peace Preservation Corps (an armed police force),

followed by the unjustifiable attacks from land and air on the Japanese naval landing party in Shanghai on August 13, which caused heavy casualties, Japanese civilians being among the victims. However, the fundamental cauee of the conflict liee in the Nanking Government's anti-Japanese policy of long standing, which has constantly endangered the

lives and property of Japanese residents in China, and has made between the Japanese and Chinese Government* most difficult. Massacre at Tungchow. Th© general indignation against the anti-Japanese policy of the Nanking Government which had been aroused in

Japan by many cases of. wilful murder

of Japanese residents in China by Chinese over a period of several years.

reached it* limit when, on July 29, 2000

men of the Chinese Peace Preservation Corps and some Chinese troops, instigated by anti-Japanese agitation, massacred the Japanese residents at Tung-

chow in the Hopei Province, North Chine. At that time there were 380 Japanese civilian* in that city, of whom I only 120 survived, most of the survivors I being wounded. ' This massacre of Japanese by Chinese

seems to have been carefully planned, and all available evidence tends to indicete that they had ascertained beforehand the home* of Japanese residents. As soon as the attack started small groups of Chinese broke into every Japanese residence, butchering the occupant* with rifles and swords, and making a thorough search, even tearing up the floors and destroying the ceilings. Panic-stricken children were seized and brutally killed by having their heads twisted off or being beaten or hurled to the ground. Most of the Japanese women massacred were first kidnapped

by Chinese and subjected by them to unmentionable dishonour for fully 24 hours before being butchered. The maidservants of the Kinsuiro, a Japanese

hotel, were strung together by wire pierced through their noses or throats, and taken away to be shot. Some of these women victims were also found murdered after they had been subjected to shocking atrocities, such as the smearing of acid over their feces. Not only were the Japanese homes looted, but the bodies of the massacred Japanese were totally stripped by the Chinese. This wholesale slaughter of Japanese residents is one of the main reasons ' which compelled the Japanese Government to take a resolute attitude towards the anti-Japanese policv of the Nanking Government, to compel them to mend their ways.

"Wildly Exaggerated." Reports concerning the bombing of Chinese cities by Japanese 'pianos are

wildly exaggerated, and most of them ' are 'absolutely false. The reported ruthless bombing of non-combat si nts is nothing but false propaganda of the I Nanking Government and the wilful j fabrication of Chinese correspondent* employed by a certain European news I egenoy in Nanking and Canton, pubi li"shed" in order to mislead the public ' opinion of the world. '! The Consul-General gives a list of the " establishments which were bombed between September 19 and 25 in Nanking, Canton and Hankow. All, he ~ eaye, were used for military purposes. ;! Chinese Junks. '' The charge that a Japanese submarine attacked a fleet of Chinese fishing junke is also absolutely groundless. Japanese submarines are employed to attack , fleets of battleships, and certainly not ! for shelling tiny craft like fishing junks. I This story obviously rings false. 11 Thi* charge may have some connec--1 tion with the Chinese allegations that I the Japanese navy captured and detained innocent Chinese fishing boats, and ehips and junka engaged in coastal voyages. These allegations are absolutely untrue, although, ae eome of these vessels carry arms and ammunition, or soldiers, who sometimes take hostile action against . the patrol boats of the Japanese navy, ■ several Japanese sailore having been ! killed by them on September 4, the i Japanese navy, as a precautionary . measure, finds" it neceeeary to board . i and inspect these boats. I Speedy Settlement Desired. I It is hardly neceesary to mention that I the Government and people of Japan most earnestly desire that? through the renunciation by the Nanking Government of their anti-Japanese policy, which I has proved most harmful to the friendship between the two countries, a speedy ' settlement of the conflict may be brought about, in order that the stabi- ! lisation of East Asia, through concilin- ' I tion and co-operation between Japan •! and China, may be achieved at the i earliest possible "moment, for the mutual • prosperity and well-being of both conni tries. ' Japan has no other objective than to '■ see a happy and tranquil China, freed 1 from the danger of a recurrence of such • calamitous hostilities as are taking i place at the present time. Japan harI boiirs no territorial designs on China I neither does she entertain any enmity ' towards innocent Chinese people.