POWERS EVOLVE APPROACH TO JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22244, 8 November 1937, Page 11

POWERS EVOLVE APPROACH TO JAPAN

Text of Note Approved By Brussels Conference

HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED IN NORTH CHINA

Japanese Prepare Great Offensive In Shanghai Area

The Nine Power Conference has agreed on the text of a Note to be sent to Tokyo. The Note will uphold the right of intervention under the Nine Power Treaty.

In the meantime no mention is made of the proposed Mediation Committee through the fear of causing an indefinite adjournment of the conference.

Heavy fighting is reported in North China, where the Japanese claim success on several fronts. Taiyuan, which was reported to have been captured by the Japanese, is now said to be in Chinese hands, as the result of an offensive by the Chinese Eighth Route Army, formerly the Red Army.

The Japanese, however, have entered Honan Province, and another detachment is. reported to be only 30 miles north of Tsi-nan, the capital of Shantung Province.

At Shanghai, the Japanese have commenced a pincer movement designed to drive the Chinese from the city area. Large Japanese forces are converging on the Soochow creek region from the north-east and southeast. The Chinese have made plans for a stubborn resistance, and a battle of vital importance is said to be imminent.

It is reported from Nanking that China places little hope in the efforts of the Nine Power Conference, and still less in the prospects of aid from Britain and America. Her own dogged resistance is stated to be her only salvation.

TAIYUAN TAKEN v| AND BETAKEN

Chinese Red Army Now in City

JAPANESE FORCE HEAVILY DEFEATED

(VUrTMD PRESS 48S0CUTI01f-T-COPYBrOHT.) (Received November 7, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, November 7. It is reported from Nanking that the Chinese Eighth Route Army, formerly the Red Army, of which so much is expected, severely defeated the Japanese 20th Division near Pingting, on the Sharisi-Hopei border, behind the main Japanese lines, and is now investing Taiyuan

The Reds smashed their way in wholeheartedly. They inflicted thousands of casualties and captured 500 horses and a quantity of arms and supplies. An earlier message from Peiping said the Japanese had entered Taiyuan and surrounded the arsenal and aerodrome.

Japanese, swooping down on Taiyuan, entered Tsinglunochen, 10 miles north of the capital. Another force occupied Yutze, an important railway junction 17 miles south, cutting off the Chinese retreat to the south.

The Japanese entered Honan Province and occupied Changteh, one of

the largest of the walled cities. The Chinese left more than 500 dead in the field. Heavy Chinese reinforcements were rushed to Shansi, Jbut it is feared that they are too late to stem the Japanese advance. The Japanese Navy is pressing its demand for a formal declaration of War, but the Army is opposing this, fearing trade restrictions and international complications. The Tokyo "Asahi Shimbun" says a War Cabinet will probably be formed on November 10, lessening What authority Parliament still retains.

The Japanese are only 30 miles north of Tsi-nan, the capital of the shantung Province. The Tokyo correspondent of "The times" states that Japanese troops » Manchukuo, Chahar, and Suiyuan n °w total 250,000. .The Tokyo correspondent of the Uaiiy Telegraph" reports conflicts Between the Navy, which seeks an ""mediate declaration of war J£ am st. China, because this would !? a f Ie it to prevent the running of wntraband cargoes to China, and Be Army, which hopes to control the government before such a step is

■that TnT* 386 from Nankin g states that +2 *»*iyersity professors state call k "* a P anese have systemati- *»& bombed and shelled university in the last three SH ' destroying 23, the policy be- ?"* to cripple Chinese education.

THE FIGHTING AT SHANGHAI

PINCER MOVEMENT BEGUN BY JAPANESE

CHINESE POSITION SAID TO BE SERIOUS

(POTTED PEES 3 ASSOCIATIOH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received November 7, 10.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, November 6. A gigantic pincer movement to dislodge the Chinese from the Shanghai area has been undertaken by the Japanese. According to foreign military observers, the Japanese troops are moving up from the north-east, across the Soochow creek, which, they claim, is bridged. Others are moving up from the south-east.

This is believed to be the reason for the landing of heavy reinforcements at Chapoo. The Chinese are feverishly fortifying, but the position is serious. The Japanese announced that full agreement had been reached for the internationalisation of the northern section of Nantao. This will be effective as soon as the international committee informs the Japanese that the area is free from Chinese troops.

The agreement will end when the Japanese occupy the remainder of Nantao.

At Shanghai the Japanese advance force which crossed Soochow creek is making headway, in spite of very powerful resistance. Covered by a heavy aerial and marine barrage, Japanese troops landed north of Chapoo, on Hangchow Bay, south of Shanghai, in an effort to attack the Chinese rear. Bitter fighting in heavy rain marked the subsequent Chinese effort to dislodge them. Japanese warships attacked Yuhwan Island, in South China, driving out the Chinese defenders.

FURTHER BbMBING NEAR CANTON

TRAIN PASSENGERS ATTACKED BY AEROPLANES LONDON, November 5. . A Hong Kong message states that Japanese aeroplanes attacked the Canton-Hankow railway and hit the Canton express, which halted to enable passengers to take refuge in the countryside. A third-class carriage was struck by a bomb and passengers were machine-gunned. Twenty-five were killed and 30 wounded.

SUGGESTED BOYCOTT ON JAPANESE GOODS

PUBLIC MEETING HELD IN LONDON (Received November 7, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 7. An anti-Japanese meeting in the Queen's Hall carried a motion, moved by Mr P. J. Noel Baker, M.P.. urging the Nine-Power Conference to maintain the integrity of China, advocating a boycott of Japanese goods, an embrago on the export of vil, which, he said, would make the Japanese Air Force and the mechanised units and ships helpless within nine months.