JAPAN BEGINS OFFENSIVE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20790, 25 February 1933, Page 15

JAPAN BEGINS OFFENSIVE.

# massing of troops, quick action after ULTIMATUM. STURDY CHINESE DEFENCE ANTICIPATED. iCWTI'D I'REM 43' OCIATIOIT —BT ELSCTRIO WLBCISAI'H—COPTBIGHT.) (Received February 24, 7.20 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 23. Peking reports state that the Japanm offensive actually began yesterday, fa spite of the fact that the ultimatum was not delivered at Nanking until last aiglit, when it was promptly rejected. The Japanese, using 40,000 troops, including 10,000 from Manchukuo, are striking from tho Ohlnchow area. The Chinese have established a strung line on the hills fronting Chaoyang, overlooking a valley along which the Japanese must pass to the city, which is their immediate objective, under artillery and machino gun Are, It is believed the Chinese can bold up the advance for a vory considerable time. The' Japanese sixth division of the Fourth Independent Cavalry Brigade left Tungliao to-day in a blinding snowstorm, and with tho temperature 10 degrees below freezing point. They advanced into Jehol, encountering Chinese irregulars, whom they dispersed 20 miles south-west of Tungliao. It is believed Kailu is their immediate objective. Heavy Losses to Both "ides. Tho Japanese attack opened in the fttriy hours of tho morning, following a tltfM days- bombardment. Genoral Tang Yu-lin, Governor of Jeholj has ordered the withdrawal of Chinese force® from Peipiao and Nanling, which have b»ea subjected to a severe aerial bombardment. A number of terrific onslaagbts by tho Japanese and Manehubo infantry resulted in heavy casualties to both' sides. The Chinese used machine-guns to terrible advantage against the advancing troops, but eventually retired when the aerial and artiDery bombardment caused heavy low«# to thfl defenders. imports of Chinese officials anticipate another attack near Kilu, where a large force of Manchuko tioops is concentrated* Military aerodromes have been established at Kailu, Ohifeng, Chao-va-ng, and Chengteh, and the Chinese pQSIKBit} a fair number of bombing and scouting aeroplanes, witji Americantrained pilots. They also possess a number of Skilled foreign military man, including General Button, formerly the BritfsH right-hand man of the former Makden way load, Chang Tso-lin, under whose direction the Mukden arsenal was originally established. '

ECONOMIC BOYCOTT PROPOSED^ i ■■ ■ _____ 1 BRITISH LABOUR SUGGESTIONIX>NDON, February 2«J. Ttw I labour party executive and th% Trada Union Congress Council hu,ye jointly resolved that if Japan rejects tllff Committee of Nineteen's proposals «>| sections of the British industrial political ijivudur movement sliouiv mule in calling lor an economic uoyeotl of Japan, in accordance wu* Article 16 of tne Covenant, it «rap also decided to recomisenu Government to place an embargo an thd export of arms to both China wild Jfapaji, ~~7 * . - ■ 4«*<4a IB of Uie League gfc Nations Gfircsant states: iljftmiild auy member of the league fdaort to war in disregard of its covettflfAttt wndw Article \lJf, 13 op 10, diaJJ ipso faqto bqt. deerastj to have eniteniltted an act- of wur ugamst an tflliei" members of the league, which " mkijr undertake immediately to Mft it to tho severance of all trade of financial relations, the prohibition «f all intercourse between their isstbnalg and the nations of the 'cove-Wat-fcreakiog fitate, and the prevention of all financial, commercial, or ymondl intercourse between th« . nationals of the covenant-breaking Mi&to and the nationals of any other ttato, whether a member of the.'eag" 6 Wjjt, It shall be the dutv of thq council i* s«oh cast) to recommend to the Mwral Governments concerned What military, naval, or air iorcs We mambcrs of the league shall wtorally contribute to the armed forces tn ins used to protect-the covenants of %l(WgU#. The members of the League agree, kitriber, that they will' mutually suppa* one another in the financial ano. tQtnomio measures which are taken • touler this Article, in order to mimWw the loss and inconvenience resultfrom the abova measures, and that w|y will mutually support one another resisting any special measures Sipist} it one of their number by WW state, and that they Tilt Uko the necessary steps to afford feMWfja through their territory to the Wee* of any of the members of the fe#RUe which are co-operating to prothe covenants of tho Any member of the league wMoh j*« violated any covtnnnt of tl»« ■telfio rnay he declared to be no a member of the league by ft f>F the council corcciirred in l>y W representatives of all ofchor Jflhriwrn of the league representee MtoTton. 4SWSPAPER OPINION ; ; "ij '■ IN JAPAN. \ Racing economic ordeal. (B«tciv«d February 25, 1 a.m.) KOBE, February 24. 1 _ Japanese press discusses the ppsof an economic blockade, denying that it feels any appre"flMlun. Washio, a well-known follows Mr Hanzawa, the f~' l | lr l of the "Piplomatic Review," in . W'Wlmpiiag that in tho event of an m r?i ic boycott Japan will blockade ' '?h < eso J )orts ' monopolising trade. . i "Ashai" demands the early forrn- ' °' 8,5 ®®o"omic bloc, in Manchukuo :1 * ®*f2gaard. The "phugai Shogyo," newspaper, declare# that Mgans withdrawal from the League (joes not; mean hostility to

the League, but a "return to Asia" instead of subservience to AngloSaxonlam. "The "Hochi," quoting Admiral Osumi's call to the Navy to be ready, declares: "All Janah must answer the same call, and be prepared to face hardships as a result of an economic blockade." The paper denounces "sugary optimism and luxurious indulgence." The "Nichinichi" denounces foreign attempts to discriminate between military and public opinion. The nation, it says, is unanimous. CHINA'S PLIGHT. APPEAL TO THE LEAGUE. MEN PRACTICALLY UNARMED AND UNCLOTHED. SHANGHAI, February 2a. Nanking dispatches state that China will appeal to the League on Friday to exert internatignal force to prevent the: wholesale slaughter of men who are practically unarmed and unclothed. Lo Wen-kan (Foreign Minister) is reported to have stated that he is not begging the League to help China, but to give it a chance, and prevent whole sale and indefinite- slaughter being continued in the cruel and bloody war for which preparations are being made ill North China. • < He will ask In the name of humanity that it be stopped, somehow. If help does not coma, Cliina is prepared to make «ncri(ices. She has np illusions about the situation. Her man aro practically unarmed and unequipped.

DANGER TO PEKING AND TIENTSIN. , JAPANESE • CIVILIANS LEAVIN&. KOBE, February -3. The Japanese Agency telegraphs that Japanese .civilians have orders to evacuate Peking and Tientsin, whence the women and children will prepare to depart f° r home- ■ Tokyo is advising the leading Powers that the allied forces of Japan ana Manchukuo are ready ■to commence operations, and a drive is expected dally. The srniy authorities have confidence in their success, and ' ,ave issued a warning of the danger to Tientsin and Peking owing to disorderly Chinese soldiery when driven beyond the Great Wall. CHANGING SIDES, TEN THOUSAND CHINESE JOIN MANCHUKUO FORCES. (Xicceived February 24, 9.15 p.m.) A TOKYO, February 24. At Tungliao on Thursday 10,000 of Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang's volunteers at liupei, under General Chang Kw*nlin, pledged tlioif allegiance to Manchukijo. General Chang Kwei-lin has now been appointed a sub-commander under General Qhang Hai-Peng, commanding the Manchukuo forces at Tungliao. ARMS FOR JAPAN. MANUFACTURE DENIED BY BRITISH FIRM. (Received February 24, 7.20. p.m.) LONDON, February 24. The heads of Vickers, Armstrong, Ltd.. deny making tanks for Japan, or that! their works are fully occupied making munitions for the I?ar East. SALE OF OLD SHIPS QUESTION IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, February 33. In the.House Commons, J)r. E, U Burgin (Parliamentary Secretary of Trade), in answer to a qijeption, said there w»a nothing unusual in the sale of the White Star liners Megantic and Baltic to Japan, for breaking up, and no action was called for. t