SUICIDE TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 11

SUICIDE TROOPS

Chinese Die Rather Than Surrender

VIVID INCIDENT

Effort To Stem Japanese Advance By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 23, 7.30 p.m.) Shanghai, March 23. A vivid incident in the TientsinPukow conflict arose from an encounter with the Japanese of 300 Chinese troops, part of the army of 200,000 attempting to stem the Japanese advance. These men swore they would die rather than surrender their positions. When their commander, Wang Mingchang blew out his brains with a revolver after receiving a fatal wound in the stomach, they blew themselves to pieces witli hand grenades. A Hankow report says the Chinese in the northern sector of tlie TientsinPukow railway counter-attacked against the Japanese who were advancing along the Lingchen line, and gained some success.

NO EVACUATION

Chinese Territory Held By Japanese Tokio, March 22. “I can at least safely say that Japan is determined not to evacuate even an inch of the territory occupied by the Japanese forces in China,” said the Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, in reply to a question.

> CHINESE REPORT

Successful Counter-Attack The following cablegram was received by the Chinese Consul in Wellington from Hankow yesterday: — “On the northern sector of the Tsiupu railway our troops counterattacked with the result that the enemy south of Linchem were driven back several kilometres. On the west of the railway our left flank also made progress and pushed on toward Kinshiang. “South of Shansi the enemy are retiring in a north-easterly direction, and are attempting to enter the Pinghan line. On March 19 our troops severely defeated the enemy at Hunglinkiao in the south of Anhwei, enemy troops totalling 1500, advancing along the highway, threatened Kwangteh. but were attacked by our troops. In this engagement the enemy lost over half their number.”

U.S.A. BILL TO JAPAN

Sinking Of The Panay (Received March 23, 8.30 p.m.) Washington, March 22. The Government has presented a bill to Japan for the American loss of life, personal injuries, and damages resulting from tlie sinking of the gunboat Panay. The State Department published the text of the Note to Japan fixing the damages at 2,214,000 dollars and stressing that “this amount includes no item for punitive damages.”

CHINESE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Protection By Japanese The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” reports that the new Government in Central China has been organised and will soon be inaugurated. Mr. Liao Fengshi, who was formerly associated with Mr. Tang Shaoyi, a former colleague of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, will preside over the executive council, and Mr. Wen Tsungyao will head the Legislature. Twenty-six other Chinese who are at present in Shanghai have consented to serve.

Nanking will be the seat of the Government, which will administer the area in North Kinegt’u, Chfikiang, and Anhwei, which the Japanese occupy. The new Government will be protected by the Japanese Army, which it will be expected to consult on matters of fundamental policy.