JAP OFFENSIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1932, Page 5

JAP OFFENSIVE

' CHINA WEAKENING HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. COMPLAINT BY SOVIET. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, Feb. 27. The gradual process of destruction of the Chinese main defences, forts, and airports, is having demoralising effects on the Chinese, whose morale is weakening under the terrific bombardments of the past few days. A steady stream of wounded is pouring into the Settlement* necessitating the erection of temporary hospitals. | The Japanese morning bombardment of Chapei succeeded in destroying a wide area of C'lmpei. A hundred White Bussians readied here to-day from Harbin, forming the first batch of those engaged by the Japanese as a labour corps. Howitzer opened a heavy bombardment at Chapei to-day at five a.in. causing six new fires, preparatory to a fresh attack launched later without achieving much progress. Aeroplanes again bombed Hangchow, The Japanese Eleventh . Division is . expected hourly and eight foreign pilots are standing by to bring transports into Hnrt.sotlr, The Chinese Government has warned them that if the pilots assisted the Japanese it would revoke their licenses. The Chinese ammunition' is running low. Telegrams have been sent abroad inquiring for munitions, and offering goods- in exchange owing to finances being depleted.

The bombardment of Tsetzeling forts, between Paosban and l.ieuho for the third'time this week, with aeroplanes, gunboats and destroyers is believed to indicate that the Japanese will be landing at Lieulio, instead of within the Settlement.

JAPANESE NON-COMBITANTS. ORDERED TO LEAVE SHANGHAI SHANGHAI, Feb 27. All the Japanese non-combitants have been ordered to leave Shanghai, and proceed to Japan. Already eleven thousand have evacuated. The question where future Japanese reinforcements are to land is engaging attention, in view of th e fact that Britain and other Powers have protested to the Japanese Government on their landing further troops at the Settlement.

Yesterday’s widespread air riding embraced five Chinese air bases far behind the jiiies. The Japanese claim the destruction of ten Chinese aeroplanes-

INQUIRIES BY SOVIET. INTO JAPANESE ACTIONS. LONDON, Feb. 27. “Tlie Time’s” correspondent nr Riga says that M. Karakhan summoned Mr Ilirota. the Japanese Ambassador, in connection with the Japanese activities in Manchuria. He alleges that Japanese militarists at ' Harbin asked the Chinese Eastern Railway to transport seventeen train loads of Japanese soldiers east of Harbin, towards the Soviet frontier for Granjtchnaya, ostensibly to protect Japanese residents’s lives. M. Karakhan asserted that was a political and not a commercial request, affecting the existing JapanSoviet and Sino-Soviet agreements, and he requested the Japanese Government’s explanation. M. Karakhan also sought an explanation of the activities of the White Guard in Manchuria whom the Japanese were patronising and directly assisting which was inconsistent with the Japanese former promise.

POWERS’ PLANS. FOR EVACUATING SHANGHAI. LONDON. Eel.. ‘27. The State Department reported that the Powers have worked out plans for the evacuation of Shanghai in the event of ‘“extreme .emergency.” It is also reported that Mr Forbes has joined the British-French-Italian envoys, in requesting the Japanese Foreign Office not to permit further landing of Japanese forces in the* International Settlement and to withdraw the Japanese warships to points where fire directed at them will not he a menace to neutral lives and property. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. SITUATION IN REVIEW. . RUGBY. Feb. 20. I News from Shanghai indicates that tlie Chinese continue to lin'd all the positions north of \\ oosnng Creek, including the forts, and that the position at Clianei is unelianogs. Japanese reinforcements are reported to be on their way. Meanwhile, despite the continuing hostilities, diplomatic relations between China am! Japan continue. The Chinese Minister remains at Tokyo, where he discusses matters with I he Japanese Administration, and the Japanese Munster to China continues in contact with the Chinese Government representatives, while in the Western Hemisphere, diplomatie discussions are lining continued with the hope of early collective mediation in

the anomalous, dangerous and unprecedented situation. Press comments on the Japanese reply to the League appeal are not favourable. The newspapers regard the letter on the Far East situation from the American Secretary of State (Mr Stimson) to Senator Borah, as oblique blit effective, to most of the points raised therein. “The Times” expressed the view that it was worth the serious attention of Tokyo, that the tendency of ! diplomatic and public opinion must inevitably become more unfavourable to Japan while the conflict lasts. • It is considered unlikely that Japanese reinforcements at Shanghai will lie landed in the International Settlement. The British Ambassador at Tokyo lias requested that the landing should be made elsewhere, in the interest of the safety of the foreign residents in the Settlement, and also suggested, as a precautionary measure that the berth of the Japanese flagship, anchored off the Bund, which recently drew artillery fire, be moved further clown the river, thereby lessening the risk of life and property in the Settlement. Other .Powers, with interests in the Settlement, made a similar request at Tokyo.

CESSATION OF NOTES. WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. Folio wing a late afternoon conference With Mr Hoover to-day on the Shanghai situation, Mr Stimson said there would he a cessation of note writing oil the SinoTapanese question. FIGHTING FUND. SHANGHAI, Fob. 27. Funds for the Ghi.nese war chest are pouring in from many countries where Chinese are residing, such as Burma, America, Piiillipines and Canada. The Japanese Cabinet voted an additional 22,000,000 yen for Shanghai expenses, bringing the total expenditure on Manchuria and Shanghai to 98,060,000 yen.

NOTE FROM JAPAN. A POSSIBLE OPENING. (Received this day at 9.25 a.ml GENEVA. February 27. Japan lias addressed a communication order to the League Council which is hoped will open the door to** cessation of hostilities at Shanghai. It is reported that the Japanese acquiese to the establishment of a neutral zone, but says it is understood the note indicates a willingness to cease hostilities if the Chinese withdraw and the Powers assume civil and military control at Shanghai.

The note was not sent to the SeciNctafliat bera'usei Japan fstfiU maintains the Council of Twelve is incompetent to deal with the matter, hence it was sent to twelve individuals.

A BATTLE ENDS, IN CHINESE: SUCCESS. (Received this day at, 9.25 a.ml A CHINESE EPIC. SHANGHAI. February 28. Tlie battle for Kiang Wag Village has ended. It was a most sanguinary encounter. The Japanese flag is now floating over the ruins where the dead lie in hundreds, after the fiercest of hand to hand fighting. A small band of Chinese numbering a few hundreds, lacking food and water, withstood an incessant bombardment for over a week, and fought practically to the last man, behind the ancient Chinese walls, inflicting heavy casualties before they were annihilated. The Japanese official casualties for capturing the village are 84 dead and 109 wounded. Approimately 500 Chinese are lying dead amidst indescribable shambles.

U.S. OPINION. NEW YORK, February 2r. Tlie “Times” Washington correspondent summaries of press reports and informal indications of Government opinion received by the State Department today from Britain and various European countries, showed that the sentiment is increasing for the assembly of the League next ’Thursday, the meeting to align itself with United States by declaring that recognition would not he accorded to any arrangements resulting from the Si no-Japanese, conflict, contrary to existing treaties. The boycott agitation still continues throughout tne country, but the predominant view of American Government officials is against so drastic a step. JAPANESE TRIBUTE. TO GALLANTRY OF CHINES PL * (Received this dav at 10 15 a.rn.) SHANGHAI, February 28. During the battle of Kiang Wan, three Japanese companies of picked men rushed the remnants of the Cantonese defenders, who fought with extreme courage and ferocity during the bayonet charges, using machine gum. and I Tail'd grenades, realising that all retreat was severed and their lives were forfeit. The Japanese .attacked ori three sides leaping on each others hacks and sealing the nuns of l.he fortification. Their tanks led the advance, pouring a deadly hail on me ruined houses, where the ( hjnese dcfcndcivi were hidden. Haggard, dos-