A CHINESE ARMY

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1940, Page 5

A CHINESE ARMY

FIGHTING ON JAP SIDE 50,000 Land in Fukien [Aust & N.Z. Cable Assn.l SHANGHAI, February 12. The Japanese military announced that a Chinese army of 50,000, supporting Wang Ching Wei, landed on the coast of Fukien on February 5. With the Japanese army and navy in co-operation, they captured Shaoan. FOOCHOW, February 12. Seven Chinese survivors struggled into Foochow. They revealed that their hundred-ton coaster struck a mine at the mouth of the Min River on January 26, and was blown to pieces. Three hundred, including a hundred Chinese boys and girls from foreign mission schools, are believed to be dead. SHANGHAI, February 12. The Chinese claim to have reoccupied Pingyang and Wuming. The Japanese version is that, having achieved the purpose in shattering the possibility of a counterattack at Nanning, they shortened their lines and evacuated Pinyang and Kiutanga. CHUNGKING, February 12.

The recent Japanese bombings of the Yunnan-Kunming railway have started landslides, and traffic is blocked for several months. The Chinese doubt whether the line can be used for the rest of the war.

TOKIO February 12. The Foreign Office' announced that necessary steps have been taken to terminate on J'uly 11, the JapaneseNetherlands Treaty of judicial settlement, arbitration and conciliation. WASHINGTON, February 12. Mr. Roosevelt sent a message conveying birthday greetings to Emperor Hirohito. NEW CHINESE GOVERNMENT. ABOUT TO BEGIN. (Received February 13, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 12. General Wang Ching Wei’s China News Agency expects that the River Yangtse will be reopened up to Nanking on March Ist. This is interpreted as meaning that General Wang Ching Wei expects to launch his "Puppet” Central China Government on or before March Ist. JAPANESE SOUTHWARD ADVANCE (Received February 14, 1.30 a.m.) TOKIO, February 13. The Imperial Household Ministry has sanctioned the erection on Kalura Island, in the Palau Archipelago of a first-class Shinto shrine, ot be named the South Seas Grand Shrine, and dedicated to the Sun Goddess, Amaterasoumikami, in commenoration of the 2600th anniversary of the Japanese Empire. It is for 120,000 inhabitants of the mandated islands, including 70,000-Japanese. This worship significantly indicates the importance that Japan attaches to the islands as an outpost of a southward advance. 1 JAPANESE ARMY EXPENSES. PUBLIC UNEASINESS REPORTED. (Received February 14, 1.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 13. The Associated Press of America Tokio correspondent says: A second criticism of the Japanese army was heard in the Diet in ten days, when M. Ryonzo Makino, of the Seiyuka Party, made a charge that secrecy surrounding Army expenses was creating uneasiness among the people. A bitter scene culminated in M. Makino making a charge that M. Hata had failed in his duty.