FIRING RESUMES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 22 July 1937, Page 10

FIRING RESUMES

3.15 P.M. EDITION.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE. SHORT-LIVED TRUCE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received July 22, 1.15 p.m. PEKIN, July 21. ■ Tho tension was temporarily relaxed by the reported withdrawal of the 37th Chinese Division from Wangping. but it was renewed owing to the division’s refusal, not only to continue the withdrawal, but its decision to reoccupy the positions, where the men are digging fresh trenches and intermittently firing on the Japanese trops. “Wangping is holy ground. We will never retire,” declares the Chinese commander. The Japanese troops continue to invade Hopei. The crisis is expected at noon on July 22, that time being fixed by the Chinese for the Japanese retirement to the lines held prior to tlie L u'ukouchiao incident. The difficulty of the situation is increased by the contradictory interpretations of the Tangku Truce of 1933. The Japanese say that the Chinese entry into Hopei violates this. The Chinese assert that while their army is still west of South Tangku, the armistice line, Japanese intrusion beyond that line flagrantly breaks the pact and justifies Chinese denunciation of it. A Canton message says that a separate issue ill developing in South China, where the Japanese Consul is reported to have demanded the withdrawal of General Li Hon-weli’s 155th Chinese Division from . Swatow because it is fomenting anti-Japanese feeling. This follows the refusal of Chinese coolies to handle Japanese cargoes. The Canton authorities have not only rejected the demand but liave ordeied the 153rd Division to Swatow.