UGLY SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 89, 10 January 1938, Page 9

UGLY SITUATION

Russians Face Japanese With Machine-Guns ARMOURED CARS OUT Half-Hour Parley Ends In Agreement (Received January 9, 0.30 p.m.) Shanghai, January 8. An ugly situation developed in (lie International Settlement when a Russian volunteer policeman prevented a Japanese soldier on the edge of tiio French Concession from heating a Chinese woman who. against the regulations, had gone on (lie French side of the road to draw water. The Japanese knocked down the Russian and tried to wrest Ins rille from him. The Russian retained his rifle and drew a revolver against Hie Japanese. Fifteen Japanese soldiers began to drag the Russian to the adjoining sector. Another Russian blew a police whistle. Two French armoured cars and a van load with Russians took up positions facing 100 Japanese with machine-guns. A heated half-hour’s parley ended in an undisclosed agreement, French and Japanese officers shaking hands. The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press reports that the Municipal Council is protesting to the Japanese regarding Ihe violation of foreign defence sectors. The British Consulate’s representations hitherto have concerned only attacks on the British police. The council now supports these representations. JAPANESE ADVANCE Half A Million Chinese Flee In Shantung (Received January 9, 7.30 p.m.) Tokio, January 8. It is claimed that half a million Chinese are fleeing before Japanese advancing by three routes in Shantung, which the Chinese are evacuating. The Chinese have destroyed , all bridges east of Suciiow. Chinese troops lack artillery, indeed China’s total artillery is reported to be barely sufficient for two divisions, but Japan is amply supplied for all 17 divisions in China. The Japaiie.se claim that in yesterday’s raid on Nanehang they destroyed ten Chinese planes and shot down eight Russian planes. According to an earlier message from London the Tokio correspondent of “The Times” says that the Japanese, advancing southward across .Shantung, occupied Psowhsien. Another force reached a point eighty miles to the east of Tsinan. SHANGHAI COUNCIL Japan’s Demands Being Considered London, January 7. Tlie Foreign Oflice denies that there is any foundation for the report from Shanghai alleging a vague legal basis for the authority of the Municipal Council. The Foreign Oflice is considering the report detailing the Japanese proposals concerning the council. Diplomatic discussions with Washington and Paris will follow. A message from Hong-Kong states that foreigners at Hongkew will be required to furnish particulars and photographs of themselves and their servants to the Japanese authorities and must make a "gentle bow.’* in pass-

ing Japanese sentries, as representing the Emperor. Foreigners will be invited to drink, free of charge, the toast of the Emperor. A Shanghai message states that a Welshman, Jerry Morgan, complained to the British Consul-General that the Japanese arrested him on December 25 and held him for four days and a half during which they maltreated him until •his plight was disclosed. It was alleged that he attempted to acquire three Japanese oil barges. A cablegram received from Shanghai on December 30, stated: The Japanese have handed over to the Settlement police a man, understood to be Welsh, who was arrested by the Japanese consular police on charges of complicity in attempting to take illegal possession of three Japaneseowned oil barges. FOREIGN HELP German Guns And Russian Planes For China (Received January 9, 8.30 p.m.) Hankow, January 8. Tlie Chinese Communist Party has convened a congress with the object of strengthening co-operation with . the Kuomintang, including the mobilisation of labour and a more active participation in the war. Foreign sources at Canton report the arrival at Changsha of a large shipment of German anti-aircraft guns, with two German instructors to train the Chinese. One hundred Russian aeroplanes have arrived at Hankow, where 200 Soviet pilots are training Chinese to fly. Three hundred stu'dent soldiers from Kwangsi arrived, half being women. The first unit of Amazons trained for fighting and equipped with rifles, light machine-guns, and automatic rifles, is shortly going to Suehow, BRITISH SHIP HELD Japanese Search For Spies (Received January 9, 8.30 p.m.) Tokio, January 8. The Japanese have detained the British cargo vessel Marion Moller, forcing her fo anchor in a storm at Kaneda Bay until it is ascertained whether any of the crew can be charged with espionage. COST ~OF WAR Heavy Taxation In Japan Tokio, January 7. The "Asahi Shinibun” understands that a sum higher than tlie whole of the ordinary Budget for Japan will be allocated for war expenditure in China. Tlie figliting forces require over £233,000.000.

Reports that taxation is to be increased have depressed the stock markets.

EMPEROR REVIEWS HIS TROOPS (Received January 9, 8.30 p.m.) Tokio, January 8. Wearing his Coinmander-in-Cbief’s uniform, the Emperor held a New Year review of the army. Fifty tanks for the first time in history participated, GERMANY TRYING TO STOP ARMS TRADE Berlin, January <. In reply to a question whether Germany was exporting munitions to China through Hong-Kong the Foreign Office spokesman said that Germany was trying to check the exportation of arms -to China. WAR NOT TO INTERFERE WITH GAMES Tokio, January 7. The Olympic Committee has sent a cable to the American Amateur Ath-

letie Association expressing appreciation of the association’s support. The message adds that the "China incident” will not interfere with the preparations for the 1940 Games, and conveys the hope that America will send a large delegation. COUPLE DISAPPEAR Possible Diplomatic Issue Tokio, January 7. The Dome! news agency reports that the mysterious disappearance of ■ the popular actress Yoshido Okada mid her lover, Ryokiehi Sugimoto Acot. a producer, near the Soviet border of South Saglmlien. is likely to become n diplomatic issue.

The couple appear to have crossed tlie frontier illegally, but why they did so is not known. The Foreign Office is instructing the Japanese Consul-Gen-eral tit Alexnndrovsk to ask the Soviet authorities to trace them and hand them over. LABOUR DIVIDED Problem Of War In Far East London. January 7. The “Daily Telegraph" says that n serious conflict of opinion on the attitude of 'ritisli Labour on the Far Eastern question was revealed at separate and joint meetings of the General Council of tlie Trades Union Congress, the executive of the Socialist Party, and the executive of the Parliamentary Socialist Party.

The problem, after long consideration all day long, was referred to the National Council of Labour, which will meet on January 10. This will certainly again pass the question to meetings of the Labour and Socialist International and the International Federation of Trade Unions in Paris on January 12 and 13 Sympathy was expressed with the Chinese protest recorded against the Japanese invasion. It was decided lo demand that Britain should prohibit citizens selling arms to Japan.