FOREIGN TROOPS TO FIGHT FOR JAPAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 126, 31 May 1939, Page 11

FOREIGN TROOPS TO FIGHT FOR JAPAN.

PLAN DISCUSSED?

Spaniards And Italians From Civil War.

SHANGHAI REPORT

L'uited I'rcss Association.—Copyright

(Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. May 30. The Italian and Japanese Kmbassies, says a Shanghai report, con-j ferred regarding a plan to bring one division of Spaniards and .'50.000 j Italian veterans of the Spanish war! to China to aid the Japanese, due tol a shortage of man-power. Japan lias protested to the British and K elicit authorities at Shanghai' against alleged Chinese misuse of British] and French flags, and is also protesting I to the United States and Holland. Military authorities in Chungking! estimate the .Japanese casualties from the beginning of hostilities at 570.000. and state that the Japanese estimates of Chinese casualties are grosslv exaggerated. The Japanese were forced to retreat 200 miles on the North. Hupeli front, where they suffered 21,000 casualties. '"The Times"' Hongkong correspondent reports that the Japanese bombed Kwantung, killing 40 civilians. They used a new type of bomb, exploding laterally and killing even cats and chickens. Divert Attention. The Japanese Cabinet discussed reports of fighting on the Outer Mon-golian-Manchukuo border. The War Minister, (Jeneral Itagaki. reported that the situation is at present <piiet. It is believed the report that Japanese airmen shot down 42 out of 100 aeroplanes from Outer Mongolia is unacceptable, even by the Japanese, savs the Hongkong correspondent of _tlie Independent. Cable Service. It is officially stated that it was intended to divert attention from the China situation, which is the more serious because of the mistakes due to the boarding of British and French ships. Also, it is understood. Tokyo is concerned about the Chinese guerillas' activities, which are creating difficulties behind the lines, and the Kulangsu situation. According to reports from Hsinking. Soviet gunboats attacked two Maneliukuo gunboats on the Ussuri, during which Manchukuo gunboats were severely damaged. A vigorous protest has been sent to Moscow.