JAPANESE REVERSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 April 1938, Page 7

JAPANESE REVERSES

: OFFICIAL EXPLANATION TEMPORARY SET-BACKS [by CABLE —PBESS ASSN.—COPYBIGHT.] (Recd. April 21, 8 a.m.) TOKIO, April 20. The Foreign Office spokesman has ' chosen the moment of Japan’s new ; drive into Shantung to deny the Chinese claims of sensational victories in North China. He said that Japan had undertaken a difficult task, -clearing the enemy from a widespread area, wherein unfavourable situations were inevitable, but Japanese faith was unshaken in the eventual attainment of their objectives. ITALIAN ARRESTED. (Recd. April 21, 10.30 a.m.) PEKIN, April 20. An Italian journalist, Barzini, on the staff of “Corriere Della Sera,” who was aboard the Panay when sunk, has been arrested by Japanese frontiei’ guards at Kupeikow. He was returning after a visit with a party of tourists to Jehol, to where he was returned, and was placed in prison. No reason was given. The British United Press says the authorities considered that he was taking too many photographs. LATER. The journalist, Barzini, has been released. It is understood that he was arrested on a charge of photographing, military barracks, and other forbidden subjects. BOOKS CENSORSHIP. (Received April 21, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 20. “The Times’s” Tokio correspondent says: The Commission investigating the books used at universities is banning those regarded as encouraging Liberalism, offending morals, describing excessive cruelty, or written by authors who have attacked Japan.