JAPANESE IN CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 17

JAPANESE IN CHINA

PREPARING DECISIVE DRIVES ’LANES BOMB CHANGGHOW SERIOUS FOOD PROBLEM IN SHANGHAI Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, November 26. General Matsui told the Press that unless the Chinese resistance ceases the Japanese will march up the Yangtse Valley to the heart of China. “We are preparing decisive drives westward, and unless the Chinese reconsider their attitude we will advance successfully to Nanking and Hankow, even to Cfettakiang,” he said. Japanese planes heavily bombed Changchow. The column operating on tJi* southern shores of Lake Taihu is now 18 miles west of Wushing. The forces north of the lake are preparing to advance to Changchow. The danger of famine in Shanghai has been removed temporarily by the arrival of boatloads of rice from outports and the inflow of produce from Pootung. The feeding of hundreds of thousands who are pitiably destitute and wholly dependent on charity continues a serious problem.

HONGKONG DEFENCE GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES. LONDON, November 26. The Hongkong correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says no X-ray quality of vision is required to detect a certain liveliness in defence preparations in Hongkong. The Government has at last decided to permit the Chinese to join the Hongkong Volunteers. There was an immediate rush of recruits. General Pai Chungsi, regarded as successor to General Chiang Kai-shek, has 1,000,000 conscripts in training in Kawangsi. Southern feeling will certainly prevent surrender to Japan, however accommodating the north may be. Chan Chaitong, a former southern war lord, is contributing 7,000,000 dollars to the war chest from the wealth he accumulated while ruler of Cauton. FEELING AGAINST BRITAIN RESIDENTS IN TOKIO UNCOMFORTABLE. , TOKIO, November 26. British residents hero are made increasingly uncomfortable by the popular wave of feeling against Britain, complaining strongly that nothing is being done to counteract the campaign nor to give the truth of England’s position to the public, who know only what they learn from newspapers and the radio. ASSISTANCE TO CHIKA JAPANESE PRESS ALLEGATIONS. TOKIO, November 26. The Japanese Press gives prominence to allegations of British military assistance to China contained in documents seized after the Japanese occupied the Chinese positions in Shanghai. THE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT FEARS OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION. SHANGHAI, November 26. (Received November 27, at 10 a.m.) Apprehension is growing after persistent unconfirmed rumours that Japan will occupy the entire International Settlement on December 1. The Japanese continue to press on the right and will enter the Settlement from the ■ south of Soochow Creek. Troops seized the pontoon dock opposite the Bund used by Jardine and Matheson, the largest English firm in the Far East and hoisted the Japanese flag.

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL'S POSITION STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 26.. (Received November 27, at 11.30 a.m.) Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Viscount Cranborne said he understood that the council o£ the International Settlement at Shanghai was being pressed by the Japanese authorities to take action in matters such as the suspension of broadcasting and other Chinese activities, closing Chinese Government offices, and the removal ot officials and the suppression of the Chinese Press and postal censorship. Britain had not been consulted as to the course to be pursued by the British members of the municipal authority. It was not within the council’s power to deport people by legal process, and he had no information that the council had removed any Chinese officials. The authority of the municipal administration was derived from land regulations by which powers to keep good order and government of the Settlement were delegated to it by China. The precise extent ol those powers was a matter

for interpretation, which was in the first place the council’s responsibility. He did not think it would be proper for him to assume such interpretation in advance of the council. T.’.XIHG OVER POSTAL AND WIRELESS SERVICES SHANGHAI, November 26. (Received November 27, at 11.30 a.m.)

It is semi-officially stated that the Japanese are taking over the postal and wireless offices to-morrow. Customs appraisers have been assigned duties on the wharves south of Soochow Creek. CAPTURE OF CHAHGSHING REPORTED TOKIO, November 26. (Received November 27, at 10 a.m.) Changshing is reported to have fallen. JAPANESE FLEET RETURNING TO HOME PORTS TOKIO, November 26. (Received November 27, at 11.50 a.m.) The Japanese combined fleet in Chinese waters has been ordered to return to home ports. The Navy Office stated that this was necessary to moot the spectacular developments in land operations in the Shanghai area, to take on fresh supplies, and to reinforce the manpower.