LULL IN BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 7

LULL IN BATTLE.

JAPANESE PLANS. Reorganise and Give China Time To Consider. ARMY GREATLY FATIGUED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 19. General Matsui, Japanese com-mander-in-chief, in a statement, said: "As it is becoming colder and because the end of the year is fast approach--1 n o< I am inclined to give time to both sides. This will allow the Chinese troops and people to reconsider their attitude while enabling the Imperial forces to reorganise and perfect their powers." He admitted that his army, after four months of ceaseless warfare, was greatly fatigued. Future operations would depend on Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. "I am rather sympathetic over the enormous losses of the Chinese troops and people," said General Matsui, "but 1 hope the day will come when the National Government will reconsider its attitude. It would be a matter of regret it" the Japanese forces were obliged to continue their advance until the Chinese < iovernment surrendered." WAR REFERENDUM. President Roosevelt's Emphatic Answer. EVACUATE AMERICANS? (Received 1.30 p.m.) W ASHING TON, December 19. Much interest continues to be concen-] trated on the Ludlow amendment to the Constitution regarding a referendum before declaration of war. President Roosevelt, at a Press conference, when asked whether he thought a national referendum on war was consistent with a representative form of (iovernment, uttered an emphatic "No," but declined further comment. Mr. Allen, in the House of Representatives, introduced a resolution to appropriate 600.000 dollars to evacuate Americans from China. He said *>000 nationals still remain and are unable to leave for financial reasons. UNDER THE RED CROSS. JAPANESE ARMED SOLDIERS. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, December 19. "The Times" Shanghai correspondent reveals that Rear-admiral Holt on Friday, after rescuing the men from the Panay in pitch dark spent a day inducing tiie Japanese .to withdraw launches tilled with armed soldiers and flying Red Cross flags, which were exchanging shots with Chinese.