CHINA & JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1937, Page 5

CHINA & JAPAN

CANTON RAIDS

CAUSE MUCH DAMAGE.

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright).

SHANGHAI, September 22

While Japanese planes were raiding Nanking, others attacked Canton oy relays, apparently aiming at the Can-ton-Hankow railway, whereover large supplies of ammunition are going to the Chinese armies. The raids at Canton are believed to have caused greater loss of life than at Nanking. The streets were strewn with hundreds of dismembered bodies.

JAPANESE CLAIMS

TOKIO, September 22

The Japanese claim to have brought down nineteen Chinese planes, in the course of the raid on Canton, which is described as the largest the Japanese planes have yet attempted. The communique declares that they damaged aerodromes, military barracks, and cadet schools, and destroyed a section of the Canton-Hankow railway. The Japanese also cla?m to have wrecked three Chinese warships anchored off Kiangyin fortress. The Japanese spokesman announced that the Japanese again bombed Canton, this evening.

FURTHER SERIOUS RAID

LONDON, September 23.

The British United Press correspondent at Canton says: Belays of huge bombers, convoyed by fighter planes, broice through the Chinese defences at Canton at six o’clock this morning, and they dropped scores of incendiary and explosive bombs on the city. It was the worst raid that Canton has yet experienced. Numerous fires are now blazing.

The people are in a state of panic,

JAPANESE REPLY TO PROTESTS

TOKIO, September 22

The Japanese spokesman, commenting on the Anglo-American representations against the bombing of Nanking, stated that the Foreign Office informed the ambassadors that the Japanese would not attack non-com-batants, and did not intend to infringe the rights of other Powers. Japan did not commit itself to recognition of claims for damage of foreign property. The Spokesman went on to allege that the Japanese had discovered a Chinese plot to bomb foreign embassies during the Japanese air raids. The Chinese comment on die Japanese reply to the air raid protests is that Japan apparently plans to blame China for all her future atrocities.

JAPANESE ATTACK

TOKIO, September 22

The Japanese attacking both wings of the Chinese in Hopei, reached Taosing river, six miles north of Paotingfu, which the airmen bombed. They are now within eight miles of Tsangchow, which sixty thousand Chinese are defending.

The Japanese captured Pingticlman on the Suivuan railway.

CONSUL’S REPORT

WELLINGTON, September 28,

The Chinese Consul has secured a message as follows, from the Government at Nanking:—

“Interviewed by the Central News, the Chinese Military Commander expressed confidence that the Chinese forces were capable of bolding the new Chinese defence line at Shanghai for a prolonged fight. Lotion is still in Chinese hands. LiufiV) is cleared of the enemy, while the Chinese positions at Kiangwan and Chapei are intact.

The Chinese commander also revealed that the defences at Pootung are strong enough to resist the Japanese troops at Shanghai. Replying to a joint communication from the foreign representatives at Shanghai, the Mayor of Shanghai reiterated that strict orders had been issued to the Chinese military and air forces to avoid, whenever possible, srch action as may cause d anger to non-combatants in the settlement and the French Concession. According to a Chinese official communique. seven of the Japanese planes which participated in the Nanking air raid, on Tuesday, were shot down. Fifteen civilians were killed and sixteen injured. Fifty houses were wrecked.

BOMBERS DRIVEN BACK

HEAVY JAP. REINFORCEMENTS

(Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, September 23. Chinese lighters intercepted and drove back fifty Japanese planes on route (o bomb Nanking. Japanese, however, bomber Tviangyia Forth. Four thousand Japanese troops disembarked at Shanghai bringing the total reinforcements for the week to forty thousand.

CHOLERA EPIDEMIC

(Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, September -23. Fortv-sLs died of cholera yesterday in the International Settlement. It marks a grave development of the epidemic. China has requested the League to

immediately call the Committee of Technical Collaboration to ass.si to prevent the spread of the disease and other measures to help the civil population.

Sir KuatchbuH-Hugesson will leave the hospital on September 25. He will go for a sea trip to the Dutch Indies.

GERMAN REPRISAL

(Received this day at 10.50 a.in.) GENEVA, September ‘23

Germany has refused the League's invitation to participate on the? FarEastern Advisory Committee.

REVIEW OF POSITION

CRITICAL STAGE REACHED

(Received this day at 9.40 a.in.) SHANGHAI, September 23

The “Times” says a critical stage ol the conflict has been reached as the result of the systematic, aerial bombing and rapid advance of tho Japanese annoi s in the north. The Japanese regard themselves as predominant in the air, and that they will soon be able to render the capital untenable. Troops in the north of China have overcome the Chinese resistance without serious difficulty. Reserves in the north, however, are hardly conclusive, because the Chinese armies have withdrawn, in good order, and there is nothing yet to show that their morale is affected. Chinese forces in Shanghai’ have put up a splendid fight and are still showing a great spirit. It seems that the Japanese will have to await reinforcements before seriously attempting to drive them westward.

COMMUNIST PARTY

TO WORK UNDER CHINESE GOVT

WELLINGTON, September 21

The following cablegram was received from Nanking by the Chinese Consul :—Chinese Communist Party lias issued a manifesto containing the following four points:—

(1) Realising Sun Yat Sen’s three principles of the people are indispensable to the reconstruction of China, the party now pledges itself to exert its utmost for the complete realisation of these principles. (2) 'L’lie party decided to abandon all measures aimed at the overthrow of the Kuo Alin Tang Government by force, 'the propagation of Communist doctrine, and the policy of forcible appropriation of land. (3) The party decided to dissolve the Government of the Soviet Republic ol China, and to support the democratic form of Government, with a view to unifying the administrative authority of China.

(4) The party decided to abolish the Red Army, and to reorganise its forces as a nationalist revolutionary army, to be placed under command of the military affairs commission of the national Government. The new army is ready to take part in the front line and the duties of national defence under the direction of the commission.

3000 DEAD

IN CANTON RAIDS

(Received this day at 1.30 p.m.)

HONG KONG, September 23

It is estimated that three thousand I non-combatants were killed in the bombing of Canton, while the suburb of Tunshan was half demolished. Crowds fled from the city and crouched among the waves of adjacent hillsides, and gazed terror-stricken from the faces of the dead and upon the faces of the dying, yet were still able to cheer faintly when two Chinese airmen, though desperately outnumbered went upwards to encounter twelve huge Jananoso bombers and their attendant fighters. These turned in acceptance of the challenge, twelve machines, three a Breast racing to meet the Chinese amid bursts of machinegun firo. Then tin* unbelievable hap”onrd, a Japanese fighter faltered, dropped out of the formation and nosedived as a b”rst of flames followed a trail of smoke find incinerated the plane <t>’ew as the wreck-acre fell to destruction in the tortured city.

DAMAGE AT NANKING

(Received tin's dav at 1.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, September 23

Damnnre to foreign rronertv in Nankin" air raid o" KrWpmbor 22 was confirmed to ihe sinking of a pont-on. which communicated with bulks used as offices and dormitories h'v the firms of .Tnrino, Mathjeson and Butterfield. The casualties did not exceed two hundred.