MOVE BY MOSCOW

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 105, 28 January 1938, Page 11

MOVE BY MOSCOW

Postal Relations With Japan Broken TEMPORARY MEASURE By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 27, 7.25 p.m.) Moscow, January 27. The Government has decided temporarily to break off all postal relations with Japan from to-da.v. The decision affects mail in transit between Japan and other countries, as well as direct mail between Russia and Japan. The reasons for the break are, first tlie protracted unlawful detention by the Japanese and Manchukunn authorities of a large quantity of mail belonging to Soviet citizens; secondly, the detention of a mail plane and crew which, after losing its way, made a forced landing in Manehukuo territory on December 19. The Soviet complain there has been no satisfactory Japanese answer to repeated Soviet addresses on the subject. JAPANESE ANXIETY Continued Hold-up Of Advance (Received January 27, 7.25 p.m.) London, January 26. A report from Shanghai states that there are the best reasons to believe that Tokio is worried by. the continued hold-up of the Japanese advance. The weather and an insufficiency of troops is hampering the Japanese, but they are encountering unexpected and very powerful opposition. The Com-mander-in-Chief, General Matsui, is reported to have appealed for four more divisions. , t The correspondent of “The Tinies’ at Shanghai says the Japanese declare that a plane brought down at Nanking contained the body of a European, thought to be a Russian, affording the first proof that foreigners are participating in the hostilities. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” states that as a measure of support for Japanese exchange, Mr. Shozo Murata, chairman of the second largest Japanese shipping line and president of the shipowners’ Association, has submitted to Cabinet a plan for carrying all Japanese commodities in Japanese ships. Foreigners taking Japanese cargoes would require an official permit. He says that the scheme would increase the earnings of Japanese shipping by 160,000,000 yen yearly. The Diet has voted au increase to the relief fund for soldiers’ families, making the total £2,350,000 since the outbreak of hostilities. SUGGESTED BOYCOTT Rejection By American Federation Of Labour New York, January 26. Not favouring a step which possibly would involve the United States in war, the American Federation of Labour rejected a suggestion by the International Federation of Trade Unions for a financial and economic embargo against Japan. The president, Mr. William Green, cabled Sir Walter Citrine, secretary of the British Trade Union Congress, that though it deplores the aggressive, indefensible, and uncivilised warfare against China, the council of his federation is not prepared at present to go as far as is suggested. BRITISH SHIP FINED AT TOKIO Tokio, January 26. The steamer Marion Moller was fined £BB for infringing rights in the fortified zone in Tokio Bay. The authorities decided not to confiscate the ship. A magistrate at Nagoya fined the two arrested members of the crew of the Severnleigh, Mackenzie and Kangarius, £l2 each for destroying Japanese property. The Severnleigh sails to-night. The British cargo vessel Marion Moller was detained by the Japanese, who forced her to anchor in a storm in a bay until it was ascertained whether any of the crew could be charged with espionage They were cleared of suspicion. Seven members of the crew of the British steamer Severnleigh, under charter to a Japanese firm, were arrested on January 22, but five of them were released. It was stated that the two who were still held landed at Tokio during a religious festival, had a few drinks, snatched flags from a hojise, and ran away. They did not trample the flags, which the police were unable to find. The captain apologised. CHINESE CONSUL’S , REPORT The following cablegram was received by the Chinese Consul in Wellington from Hankow yesterday morning . n “There is no important change on the Tsinpu front. Fighting is still proceeding between the Chinese and Japanese troops on the northern sector of this front near Tsouhsien and Tsning. which have changed hands more than once. On the southern sector we still hold Linhwaikwan. “Our troops and planes continue to attack Wuhu and Chwanchen. Severe fighting is taking place on the outskirts of Wuhu. Chinese planes made several raids on Chwanchen and bombed the enemy’s lines. “The claim that Chinese planes scored direct hits on 10 boats in which more than 300 Japanese soldiers were crossing the Yangtse River at Chwanchen and that all were killed has been confirmed. “A large number of Japanese troops have left Shanghai. They were evidently bound for Nanking to reinforce their troops on the Wuhu sector.”