NEWS AND NOTES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4566, 8 November 1937, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES

Japanese are swooping down on Taiyuanfu, capital of Shansi Province. They have entered Tsinglunochen, ten miles south of the capital, says a Tokyo message. Another force has occupied Yutze, an important railway junction 17 miles south, cutting off the Chinese retreat in that direction. The invaders entered Honan Province iand occupied Changteh, one of the largest walled cities.

The conference of signatories to the Nine-Power Treaty considered the draft letter of Dr. Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, who is presiding, which it is proposed to send to Japan. The letter emphasises that the conference is not under the auspices of the League of Nations and that Japan will be able to negotiate with a small body instead of the full conference.

The fact that Herr Hitler has in the past few days "had interviews with his Ambassadors to London, Paris and Rome, strengthens the expectation of an early colonial pronouncement.

Speaking in London the Marquess of Zetland, Secretary for India, said the motive in establishing in India, with its vast spaces and varied polyglot population, a system of representative government on a democratic basis had been, despite all accusations to the contrary, a single-minded desire to meet the natural aspirations of her people.

It is reported officially in Paris that the Duke of Windsor has postponed his visit to the United States. An early rumour stated that the Duke was displeased with the American reaction to his plan to visit the country, especially the description of his party as a “slumming party.”

Informed circles hint that Herr Hitler would be more acceptable as a mediator than President Roosevelt in the Far Eastern dispute. Moreover, it is freely rumoured that Japan would willingly end the Shanghai adventure, especially as the 'Navy is perturbed at the deterioration of warships.

The helicopter flown by Captain Hanna Reitsch was seen in a further demonstration. It was flown sidesideways and hovered for several minutes 18 inches from the ground while the pilot—the only German woman with the rank of flying captain—shook hands and chatted with Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh. The colonel described the incident as one of the most amazing in his flying experience.

The “Asahi Shimbun” reports that Japanese importers have completed arrangements to buy 20,000,0001 b of wool and 1,500,000 piculs of cotton produced in North China.

A gigantic pincer movement to dislodge the Chinese from the Shanghai area is being undertaken by the Japanese, according to foreign military observers. The Japanese troops are moving from the north-east across the Sooehow Creek, which they claim to have bridged, while others are moving up from the south-east.

The anti-Communist Pact has been signed by Count Ciano (Italy), Mr. Ohta (Japan) and Herr von Ribbentrop (Germany). Only officials were present.

One of the. wildest rumours circulating concerning the future trip to America of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor comes from San Francisco. It is that they will arrive in the United States on January 12, and that they have booked passages by the first Pan-American Clipper flight to New Zealand.