BATTLE OF NANKING

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1937, Page 5

BATTLE OF NANKING

ABOUT TO BEGIN Jap. Artillery Closing In [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received November’ 28, 7.30 p.m. ( ) SHANGHAI, November 27. The Japanese have captured Wusing and Thing. They now are almost within artillery range of Nanking, but Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s troops are preparing to make a desperate resistance, with twelve divisions manning the adjacent defences, Desides forty thousand Szechwan troops who are garrisoning Nanking city. However, Nanking is suffering from an acute shortage of food. A message from Shanghai states that, apparently portending a severe bombing attack on Chinkiang, the Japanese have advised British ships to regard it as a danger zone. The British Charge d’Affaires, Mr Howe, has arrived at Hangkow aboard the gunboat “Bee,” with the majority of the Embassy staff from Nanking.

CHECK ON MUNITIONS FOR CHINESE. (Received November 28, 7.20 p.m.) HONG KONG, November 27. In the hope of preventing the transport of munitions to China, twenty Japanese ’planes dropped more than a nundred bombs on the Canton-Kowloon railway. Hundreds of feet of track were torn up, necessitating a suspension of the service for two days.

Hong Kong Chinese RUSH OF RECRUITS. LONDON, November 26. The Hong Kong correspondent of “The Times” states that no X-ray quality of vision is .required to detect a certain liveliness in the defence preparations in Hong Kong. The Government has at last decided to permit Chinese to join the Hong Kong volunteers, and there has been an immediate rush of recruits. General Pai Chung-hsi, who is regarded as the successor to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, has 1,000,000 conscripts training in Kwangsi. Southern feeling will certainly prevent a surrender to Japan, however accommodating the north may be. General Chan Chai-tong, the former southern war lord, is donating 7,000,000 dollars to the war chest from the wealth which he accumulated while he was ruler of Canton.

JAPS TAKE OVER P. & T. SERVICE (Received November 28, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, November 27. The “Daily Telegraph's” Shanghai correspondent reports that the Japanese to-day took over the Chinese Post Office and Telegraph services in Shanghai, and also a Government wireless station.

Apprehension is growing, after persistent but unconfirmed rumours that Japan will occupy the entire International Settlement on December 1. The Japanese continue to press on. It is expected that they will enter the Settlement from the south of Soochow Creek. Their troops seized the pontoon dock opposite the Bund used by Jardine and Mathesom the largest English firm in the Far East, and hoisted the Japanese flag. The Japanese commander, General Matsui, told the newspaper representatives that unless the Chinese resistance ceased the Japanese would 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 Chunkiang,” he added. Japanese aeroplanes heavily bombed Changchow. The column operating on the southern shores of Lake Taihu is now eighteen miles west of Washing. The forces north of the lake are preparing to advance on Chang chow.

WIRELESS AND POST OFFICE. JAPANESE IN CHARGE. SHANGHAI, November 26. It is semi-officially stated that the Japanese are taking over the postal and wireless offices to-morrow. Customs appraisers have been assigned to duties on the wharves south of Soochow Creek. BRITAIN'S INTEREST. IN SHANGHAI CUSTOMS. (Received November 28, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 28. Sir H. Craigie, British Ambassador at Tokio, has been instructed to make it perfectly clear to the Japanese Government that Britain must be consulted over any arrangements as to the Chinese customs revenue at Shanghai. U.S.A. INTEREST IN CUSTOMS, (Received November 28, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 27. The United States, acting simultaneously with Britain, and France, and possibly other countries, has made representations at Tokio expressing concern at Japans taking over the Chinese customs organisation at Shanghai. It is not disclosed whether this is connected with a conference held between President Roosevelt and M. Troyanovsky (Soviet Ambassador) to-day. The Secretary of State, M r Hull, at his press conference, explained tha tthe United States was greatly concerned at the possiblity of an impairment of The integrity of the Chinese customs service, because a considerable part of the revenues was earmarked for foreign debts.

Japan Determined

TO IMPOSE HER TERMS. I PREMIER WARNS POWERS. TOKIO, November 27. The paper “Asahi” declares that the Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, told the Japanese pressmen yesterday: "As regards the Shanghai International Settlement issue, Japan may find it necessary to resort to force. Everything depends on the attitude of the other party concerned.” The "Asahi” goes on to report Prince Konoye as saying that since the Nine-Power Pact is a pretext for Western Powers to intervene in Far Eastern affairs, Japan will propose either the revision or the denuncia-

tion of that pact when there is proper opportunity for so doing. He is said to have added: “As it was made clear several days ago, Japan does not admit the right of European or American intervention in the Far East. We should have resorted to this step long before: Namely, the revision or the denunciation of the Nine-Pow-er Pact (which guarantees the integrity of China).” TOKIO, November 28.

Prince Konoye, the Prime Minister, reiterated that if the Nanking Government and Marshal Chiang Kaishek make a volte face on their antiJapanese policy, Japan will be ready to respond, but if China is resolved to prolong the hostilities, Japan will accept her challenge. Any future change in the situation might necessitate a declaration of war.

Prince Konoye hinted that a new administration is likely to be organised in North China in January.

JAPANESE FLEET GOES HOME.

FRESH WAR SUPPLIES NEEDED

TOKIO, November 26.

The Japanese combined Fleet in Chinese waters has been ordered to return to home ports. The Navy Office stated that this was necessary to meet spectacular developments in the land operations in the Shanghai area. They would take on fresh supplies, and reinforce the Japanese manpower.

Honan Province

NEW GOVERNMENT SET UP.

INDEPENDENT OF NANKING.

TOKIO, November 28

The autonomous government of the Honan Province, in North China, separated from Nanking, has been inaugurated by General Hsiao jui-chen, a Divisional Commander under Marshal Wu Pei-fu. He was sworn in as Chief Executive in the presence of five thousand delegates from the “Peace Maintenance Commissions.”

General Hsiao stated that the Honan Government was established in order to save the people of the province, and to establish a lasting peace in the Far East.

AMERICA’S ATTITUDE UNALTERED.

(Received November 28, 6.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 26.

The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that President Roosevelt at his press conference to-day reiterated that it is the United States’ intention to continue its efforts towards peace and towards the facilitation of a cessation of the Chinese-Japanese, conflict, if, and when, the circumstances are propitious. But no immediate move, he said, is contemplated upon the conclusion of the Brussels Conference, and, in any event, they would only be made in conjunction with other Powers.

Singapore Base READY FOR SERVICE. NEW GRAVING DOCK. (Received November 28, 7 p.m.) LONDON, November 28. The “Observer” says: The Singapore graving dock at the naval base will be completed on Tuesday next, after which it will become a fullyequipped part of the British defence works in the Far East. The Singapore floating dock, the world’s third biggest, is moored off the naval base. It has deteoriated, owing to the humid climate, which fact makes the graving dock all the more valuable. The graving dock is one thousand feet long, and 130 feet wide. It is able to accommodate two battleships. The naval base is not finished, because the shore quarters for the crews of the warships are not built. Other works are contemplated, but the base is ready for active service, if needed. One and a quarter million tons of oil fuel is already stored, sufficient for six months supply for the China Station. The total cost of the base has been twenty millions sterling.