CHINA & JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1937, Page 5

CHINA & JAPAN

AT NANKING AWAITING THE RAID, (United l’ress Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received September 22, 1.10 a.m.) N"ANKING, September 21 Zero hour, noon, passed without the threatened Japanese air raid occurring. The day is grey and overcast. “We may prefer to keep the capital in suspense," was a Japanese spokesman’s quizzical reply to the question when operations would begin. ' All but 17 Americans, including the Ambassador,’ Mr Nelson-Johnsou. have gone upstream. Mr Johnson said : “I am too unhappy to speak, it is the first time in 30 years that I have been loreed to leave my post under Washington’s instructions." The staff of the Italian Embassy have also left, -but lull others are remaining. The British Acting-Minister .Mr R. G. Howe) supplied the Japanese with a map showing British property and residences. Meanwhile all anti-aircraft guns have been manned and cellars and other shelters prepared. Many of the native populace have repaired to these carrying emergency rations. LONDON, September 20. “The Times’ ” Shanghai correspondent reports that yesterday’s two raids ai Nanking were carried out by 35 to 40 bombers, estimated to have dropped at least thirty tons of .high explosives, representing a destructive power ten times greater than the biggest Great War raid. The Japanese claim groat damage, including the destruction o! the Army headquarters and other important Chinese buildings. The C hinese deny the damage was excessive, but report that many noncombatants were killed or wounded. PEKIN, September 20.

Mongol cavalry, supporting the Japanese invading Suivuan province, occupied Shanktu, defeating 1500 Chinese. Japanese air-bombed Haiehow and Suchowfu on the Lunghai railway. IN HOPEI PROVINICE. PEKIN. September 20. Japanese troops in the Hopei province advanced seven miles along the Pekin-Hankow railway, to a line bordering the Aisliu river. jjMjje vanguard is constantly engaging skirmishing parties of Chinese firing from the cover of millet fields.

Ten Chinese divisions along the Pekin-Hankow line, and twenty along the Tientsin-Tsian line, are desperately building defences in the hope of checking file Japanese, but the situation is precarious, owing to lack of artillery, tanks, and planes. TOKIO, September 20.

Japanese air raids on Nanking have so depleted the Chinese Air Force that only seven engaged to-day’s attackers, who claim to have shot down four, leaving only three to defend die capital. GENEVA, September 20. The American diplomatic representative in Switzerland is instructed that the United States will be represented on the committee of twentythree countries, formed at the time of Japan’s aggression in Manchuria, and now to be re-summoned to advise the Assembly about the latest Far East developments. The United States Minister at Berne will be the delegate, attending rather as an observer, than as a plenipotentiary.