JAPANESE MOVE TO STOP AID FOR CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 11

JAPANESE MOVE TO STOP AID FOR CHINA.

KOWLOON LANDING.

Britain Accused Of Arms Supply To Interior.

TROOPS RUSHED TO BORDER.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON", August 16.

A company of the Middlesex Regiment and a company of the Rajputana Rifles have been rushed to the border of the British territory on Kowloon Peninsula, Hongkong, after a landing by 1000 Japanese troops during the night at Namtau, on the Pearl River Delta.

It is officially stated in Tokyo that the Kowloon operation is designed to clean up irregulars and prevent Chinese co-operation with Britain in establishing an arms supply route from Hongkong to the hinterland of Kwantung.

The Japanese advanced along the border between the British and Chinese territory. Four aeroplanes preceded the troops and bombed the railway centre at Shumchun, which was occupied early this morning.

The British received 48 hows' notice of the Japanese move, which has had the result that Japanese troops are now strung out all along the border.

At least 5000 Chinese fled in panic into Hongkong, where the food shortage is already serious.

It is feared the Japanese landing is a preliminary to a blockade similar to that at Tientsin. British and Japanese troops are now facing one another across the border bridge at Shumchun.

QUALIFIED APOLOGY.

Face-Slapping Of 60-Year-Old

U.S. Woman.

PUNISHMENT DEMANDED.

(Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 16.

The United States Consul at Tientsin has strongly protested against the illtreatment of the 60-year-old American woman missionary, Mrs. Richards, who had her face slapped by a Japanese sentry.

The Japanese Embassy at Peking has offered the United States a qualified apology, declaring that the sentries are simple men, and interpreted orders sometimes rashly, says a Tokyo message.

"The Times" Shanghai correspondent says the United States protest demands punishment of the sentry and assurances of no repetition of such incidents.

QUAINT PROPAGANDA.

Mixture Of Abuse, Threats

And Flattery. JAPS. ENTER NERVE WAR. Independent Cable Service. LONDON, August 12. "Japan is entering the 'nerve war,'" says the diplomatic correspondent of "The Times." "She is sending propaganda by post all over Britain. "It is as quaintly ineffective as the German propaganda, and consists of a mixture of abuse, threats and flattery.

"It attacks the British Ambassador to Tokyo, Sir Robert Craigie, for forwarding diplomatic protests made by London instead of intercepting and retaining them until an understanding between Britain and Japan had been achieved."

Many Japanese traders in North China are dismayed at the anti-British campaign.

This is stated in a letter from the British Chamber of Commerce at Tsingtao to the London Chamber of Commerce.

"Many large Japanese business houses in Tsingtao are revolting against the campaign engineered by their Army in North China," the letter says.

It adds that these Japanese 'firms refuse to allow the Japanese soldiers to plaster their walls with abusive posters.