JAPANESE IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 184, 7 May 1928, Page 9

JAPANESE IN CHINA

CRITICAL SITUATION AT TSINAN-FU ADDITIONAL CASUALTIES IN STREET FIGHTING PREPARATION FOR REGULAR WAR [ NAVAL AND MILITARY FORCES BEING SENT FROM JAPAN

The situation at Tsinan-fu has become increasingly dangerous, further fighting between Chinese and Japanese having occurred, and the Chinese are reported to be making every preparation for regular war. The movements of Japanese troops are being watched by United States Government officials, but America will continue neutral unless American lives and property are endangered.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—

Copyright.)

(Australian Press Association.) Shanghai. May 4.

The situation at Tsinan-fu is hourly becoming more dangerous and more critical. The tentative agreement between the Chinese and Japanese regarding the area controlled by the Japanese has been broken. There has been further street fighting and additional casualties have occurred on both sides. The position of the Japanese is extremely critical. Communications with Tsingtao have been severed.

The Japanese are outnumbered nine to one. Though real warfare has not commenced .vet, reinforcements reached Tsinan-fu after a long forced march owing to the cutting of the railway lines in ten places between Tsingtao and Tsinan-fu. The Chinese are making every preparation Cor regular war. Telephonic and other communications of the Japanese units fighting in the city have been severed; also wireless stations and other centres have been demolished, the efforts of the Japanese to send in armoured train from Tsingtao to Tsinan-fu were prevented owing to the demolition of the railway by the Nationalists. Dispatches state that the Japanese arc surrounded by the Nationalists, who are using artillery and shrapnel, indicating definite warfare. The cutting of the Yellow Biver bridge has been planned to prevent Japanese reinforcements reaching the scene from Tientsin. Chinese captives were found to possess pamphlets containing instructions and exhortations against the Japanese campaign, and ordering the extermination of all Japanese in Shantung and the removal of their influence from China.

Local Nationalists reports that the newly-appointed Commissioner of Foreign Affairs at Tsinan-fu and his entire staff were killed by the Japanese during street fighting are not contirm-

ed. Additional forces, naval and’ military, have been ordered to proceed from Japan to Tsingtao. The British aircraft-carrier Hermes has been ordered from Hong Kong to phefoo. (British Official Wireless.)

Rugby, May 4.

Telegrams from China report that following the occupation of Tslnan-fu, the Shantung capital, by Southern troops, the Japanese garrison had a serious encounter with Chinese soldiers, who looted Japanese property. It is reported that several Japanese civilians were killed and that there were thirty casualties among the Japanese troops, while the Chinese casualties numbered some hundreds. The disorders were still proceeding to-day, (although the firing had decreased. APPROVAL OF JAPANESE ACTION (United Service.) • Tokio, May 4. The Peking representative of the Japan Telegraph Agency wires that the American, British, and French Ministers have expressed approval of Japanese action at Tsinan. UNITED STATtS INTERESTED BUT WILL CONTINUE NEUTRAL IJNLESS AMERICAN LIVES ENDANGERED (Australian Press Association.) Washington, May 4. Government officials are .watching [with particular interest the movement of 5000 Japanese troops into the heart of the Chinese war area. The United States will continue neutral both regarding the Chinese civil warfare and the movement of Japanese soldiers, unless American lives and property are endangered, but some fear is expressed over the possible consequences of a clash between Japanese and Nationalist forces. ' JAPANESE SENDING REINFORCEMENTS (United Service.) f Shanghai. May 4. In addition to a mixed, brigade of {Japanese troops from Dairen, an air

unit from Korea and a railway unit from Japan, totalling three hundred, have been ordered to Tsingtao.

Further reports fom Tsinan-fu state that Southern soldiers hidden upstairs in houses and shops sniped Japanese residents and troops passing in the streets. Their suppression was difficult. Japanese residents are arming themsedves with rifles taken from disarmed Southerners. Chiang Kai-shek has proclaimed martial law at Tsinan-fu. The Tsing-toa-Tsinan railway has again been cut. Japanese reinforcements are proceeding by forced marches. Tokio, May 4.. Manchurian troops, including 2300 infantry and artillery, are reaching Darien and Port Arthur, and sail on Saturday, bringing the Japanese forces, exclusive of the navy, to 8800. ' Japanese residents in Nanking, , including some of the Consular staff, are taking refuge on a Japanese steamer. Four destroyers from Maizuru left for Tsingtao to-day.

PEKING GOVERNMENT'S PROTEST

(Australian Press Association.)

(Rec. May 6, 5.5 p.m.) Shanghai, May 5.

The Peking Government has lodged a protest with the Japanese Legation blaming Japan for the Tsinan-fu incident Chiang Kai-shek, the Southern commander, wirelessed to Shanghai the official Nationalist version, declaring that Japanese troops raided the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, following a minor accident in which a Southern soldier was killed. They looted the bureau, he added, seized Commissioner Tsaikungsze, bound him with a rope, cut off his ears, and gouged out his eyes, before murdering him, then burned the bureau and embarked on an orgy, killing Southern soldiers. The latter replied in self-defence. • The vernacular Press attributes the Japanese conduct to disappointment at failing to arrive at Tsinan-fu before the Southerners and prevent the capture. It declares that Japanese are assisting the Shantungites, and deliberately precipitated the Tsinan-fu incident in order to check the Nationalist advance. OPINION OF JAPANESE WAR OFFICE (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. May 6, 5.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 5. Anxiety exists regarding 3000 Japanese troops in Tsinan. Communications are interrupted, and wireless is unresponsive. No dispatches were received to-day. A War Office statement says the attack on protective troops was an intentional prepared plan, suggested at the instigation of Southern leaders antagonistic to Chiang Kai-shek, whose friendliness is unquestioned. Kai-shek had hitherto freely co-operated with the Japanese commander in securing the safety of residents. Reinforcements are being rushed to Dairen and Tsingtao.

ANTI-JAPANESE FEELING GROWING (Australian Press Association.) (Received May 6, 4.5 p.m.) Shanghai, May 5. Information relating to the situation at Tsinan Fu is scarce, communications being totally severed, including wireless. The last news received states that the Japanese troops were exhausted, but completed the defence, while civilians had concentrated ammunition and provisions, which, although diminishing,, are sufficient for a few days., No information as to casualties among foreigners, other than Japanese, has been received. All are depending on the Japanese for safety. Reports from numerous Shantung cities show that anti-Japanese Reeling is growing. Official declarations by the Nationalist Government are not improving • the situation, but rather tending to aggravate it. In view of the possibility of Manchuria and Mongolia being turned into thentres of war, it is reported that the Japanese Government is considering the blocking of the entrance of Chinese troops to the South Manchuria railway zone. Japanese warships are hastening to important ports where Japanese residents are residing in expectation of anti-Japan-ese outbreaks. SOUTHERNERS BLAMED (United Service.) (Received May 6, 6.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 5. A spokesman of the War Office, answering a question in the Uic-’ stated that the office had only mentary, indefinite information, witn no knowledge of events outside the Japanese guarded zone last night, jherg jzferg tea Japanese clead gad

thirty wounded. The spokesman declared that military reports from the scene stated that the Southerners opened fire according to pre-arranged plan, but it is not clear whether the Nationalist headquarters were responsible for the plan or not. Japanese are singularly apathetic regarding the fate of their countrymen in Shantung, discussing chiefly the local political effect of the fighting and the massacre. There is no demand for retribution. SITUATION EASIER (Australian Press Association.) ( (Received May 6. 11 p.m.) Tokio, May 6. Advices received from Tientsin state that the situation at Tsinan is easier, though the danger has not passed. Relief forces hindered the destruction by Southerners oi the railway, telegrams and telephones, which was part of the scheme for the isolation of the town. Unofficial estimates state that 300 were slaughtered outside the protected zone.