Ominous Extension of Japanese Activities

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 February 1932, Page 7

Ominous Extension of Japanese Activities

YESTERDAY’SDEVELOPMENTS. San Francisco Press Broadcast. SHANGHAI, Feb. 2. Following are Sino-Japanese developments summarised: — Nanking: Japanese warships shell forts and land troops, which meet stiff opposition from crack Chinese forces, throwing city into panic and bringing likelihood of quick evacuation of nationals. American destroyer almost caught in crossfire. Shanghai: Japanese bluejackets rip American flag off mission and are reported to have fired on U.S. marines, who, like other foreign troops, are

under orders to do everythingpossible to avoid clashes. British marines rescue Chinese from Japanese patrol inside International Settlement. Japanese destroyers splatter American oil plant with machine-gun bullets. Fighting increases, with Japanese apparently preparing for major offensive against Chinese reinforcements arriving from Nanking. Hong Kew and Chapei areas of International Settlement completely lined off from foreigners by Japanese. Big Japanese air bombardment expected shortly. Many other Chinese ports in panic, with several American and other noncombatant destroyers deploying for possible emergency aid to nationals.

Tokyo: France and Italy join United States and Britain in protests, but Japan insists on present course, with high command urging army division be sent to Shanghai. Manila: Thirty-first United States Infantry sails aboard Chaumont for Shanghai in wake of cruiser Houston and destroyer flotilla. Harbin: Japanese troops invade outskirts of Harbin and capture of city from Chinese expected hourly. Russian attitude not announced.

JAPS DETERMINED TO OCCUPY HARBIN.

ULTIMATUM TO CHINESE

San Francisco l?ress Broadcast MUKDEN, Feb. 2.

General Shigeru Hon jo, commander of all the Japanese forces in Manchuria, to-day informed Ting- Chao, leader of a

strong Chinese military faction at Harbin, that he had better withdraw. Japanese troops, General Honjo said, were determined to occupy Harbin in order to safeguard foreign lives and property.

U.S. ARMADA SAILS UNDER SEALED ORDERS. WEIGHTED DOWN WITH HEAVY SUPPLIES. San Francisco Press Broadcast. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2. Turning their prows westward toward the strife-torn Orient, the mighty ships of the United States battle fleet streamed from Los Angeles harbour to-day for war manoeuvres in Hawaiian Islands. Sailing under sealed orders to a rendezvous somewhere in the Pacific, the fleet Ayill be joined by other navy craft which left San Diego and San Francisco to-day. Then they- will carry out the manoeuvres of war problems outlined a year ago. But they were low in the water, those big gray ships, weighted down with tons of stores aboard, enough for a long stay, and as they steamed out into the gray mist that wreathed the horizon to westward they looked very business-like. SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES FOR YEAR’S OPERATIONS. Received Tuesday, 9.50 p.m. HONOLULU, Feb. 1. With the United States fleet of more than sixty vessels en route here for joint army and navy manoeuvres officers here speculated whether some of the ships might be sent to the Orient in event of further disturbances. The fleet is known to have supplies aboard sufficient for a year’s operations.