JAPS. ASSAULT AGED WOKAN MISSIONARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 192, 16 August 1939, Page 9

JAPS. ASSAULT AGED WOKAN MISSIONARY.

AMERICAN SUBJECT.

Incident Fully Reported

To Washington.

APOLOGIES FOLLOW,

United Tress Association.—Copyright,

(Received J_>.3o p.m.)

LONDON, August 15.

A (ill-yen r-old American subject, Mrs. Frances Mary Richards, a missionary. while entering the French concession at Tientsin, was assaulted by a .Japanese sentry, who crumbled up her .Japanese and American passes and slapped her face because she refused to place her baskets on the same mat as a stripped Chinese. She was detained for an hour. The American Consul has protested.

I lie I imc* Simngliai correspondent says tlie luce slapping of Mrs. Richards has 1 icell fully reported to Washington. Mrs. KichnnU is a widow, who is uu"liicntiii'.' a slender income by selling cniiiinndit ies. When she produced a personal card from the Japanese VieeI'oiimil, Mr. Ni.-hida, rei|uesting every courtesy, the sentry crumpled it up, swung her round and struck her on the side ul the head, badly shaking her.

Mr. NUliitlu Inter apologised to her anil to tlie American Consul-! Jcncral.

Tlide is no restriction on the entry of tooilstuffs to the concession.

HEAVY LOSSES.

Enemy Troopship Sunk By Mine Near Chinese Coast.

GUERILLAS TAKE TOLL.

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

HONGKONG, August 13,

At least 300 Japanese soldiers are believed to have been drowned or killed when a .3400-ton transport en route from Formosa to Canton struck a mine near Wanginoon.

The vessel, which was carrying troops for u new offensive on the CantonHimkow railway, went down before all the lifeboats were launched, but Chinese guerilla forces caused the heaviest casual ties after the survivors had reached the shore.

The remainder were saved from annihilation by the arrival of a Japanese destroyer. TROOPS POURING IN. Defences Of Singapore Being

Rapidly Strengthened.

SWIFTNESS AND SECRECY.

SINGAPORE, August 12,

Not only are troops pouring into Singapore from India, but the air defences are being rapidly strengthened with new squadrons.

The swiftness and secrecy with which nir reinforcements arrived, apparently from nowhere, are regarded as a high tribute tt> the efficacy of the system by which air reinforcements can be rushed to any part of the Empire.

One flight was made through thick monsoon weather by pilots and crews new to the route.

The arrival of further troop reinforcements from India brings the total of those who have landed in the past 48 hours to 4000.

The latest are" a battalion of Punjab troops from Poona and one of Hyderabad troops from Secunderabad, iilno a field company of sappers and 111 intra from Madras.

Two more shiploads, comprising 3000 gunners and sappers and medical and other ancillary units, arrived on Friday from India.

They brought complete equipment, including artillery, stores, ammunition and ambulances.

VISIT TO SINGAPORE.

FRENCH GOVERNOR-GENERAL. (Received 1.30 p.m.) SINGAPORE, August 15. The Governor-General of French IndoChina, M. Jules Brevie, is to arrive at Singapore on August 23 by the cruiser Huffren. Ho will meet the heads of the defence forces and will inspect the defences. He will sail for Europe by the President Doumer on August 24.

ACTION DEMANDED.

PREVENT JAP. LAWLESSNESS

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, August 15.

The executive of the Transport Workers' Union passed a resolution demanding energetic Government action to prevent continued violation of international law by Japanese in China.