Veritable Blood Bath

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 40, 17 February 1938, Page 7

Veritable Blood Bath

Raid on Chengchow BRITISH STEAMER SEIZED BY JAPANESE United Ftmi Association—By 811 sc trio Tolegraph.—Copyright HANKOW, Feb. 15. The Japanese air raid on Chengchow resulted in a veritable blood bath. Estimates of the casualties vary from 500 to 1200. The raid lasted two hours and 100 bombs were dropped, several landing in the main street, which became a shambles. Six hundred flimsy houses were damaged by direct hits, and also an over-crowded hotel. A bomb struck the American Baptist hospital, but there were no casualties. Britons had sought safety in response to the Consult warning. A force of 100,000 Chinese troops mans & national defence line 25 miles long above Weihciwei in order to check an offensive in which the Japanese are using all the apparatus of modern warfare. Tens of thousands of conscripted coolies have constructed the line, which consists of extensive concrete pillboxes, camouflaged trenches, numberless dug-outs, tank traps, and miles of minefields. The Chinese report the capture of .We^shang. The Hong Kong correspondent of the News-Chronicle says that the seizure of the British steamer Asian, which was formerly Chinese-owned, at Kwahchong while en route to ludo-China, constitutes the most serious interference by the Japanese with British shipping since the opening of hostilities. The Asian was taken to Formosa and wireless call* were unanswered. The Japanese Consul-General has been informed that unless the vessel is released and compensation paid, the incident will be regarded as a blow to British prestige. The Italian Embassy has protested to the Chinese Foreign Office against Chinese war planes bombing the Jesuit mission at Pengpu on February 12. The Japanese have released the French liner President Doumer. The terms of settlement have not been disclosed. TRADE AT SHANGHAI JAPAN IN COMPLETE CONTROL LONDON, Feb. 15. The Australian Associated Press agency says that the Japanese, by violating all Shanghai trade laws and disregarding the Customs integrity and rights of foreign Powers, have caused a situation in which all foreign trade at Shanghai is threatened with extinction. Tie British authorities, after consultation with representatives of the Dominions in London, vigorously pro tested, but the Japanese reply offers virtually no alleviation. It is doubtful •whether anything can be done to save the trade of England and the Dominions, since the Japanese have taken complete control and intend to retain it. The Japanese admit all cargoes from Japan duty-free, while foreign ships, on the other hand, are compelled to unload at Japanese wharves and are boarded by Japanese Customs officials, who exclude foreign Customs officials and impose full duties. Moreover, even if foreign goods are carried aboard Japanese ships, the full duties are levied. Apart from ousting foreign trade, Japan’s action threatens revenues on which foreign loans are served. REFUSAL TO HANDLE CARGO FOR JAPAN MR. MacDONALD QUESTIONED LONDON, Feb. 15. Replying to a question by Mr. G. L. M. Mander (Liberal) in the House of Commons, the Dominions Secretary, Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, said he had no knowledge, except from Press reports, of Australian and New Zealand stevedores refusing to handle cargo to Japan, and he was unaware of any munitions shipments to Japan from the Dominions. Mr. MacDonald did not reply to a further question by Mr. Mander that the stevedores were giving a fine lead to individuals throughout the Empire. BRITISH INTERESTS CLOSELY WATCHED DEBATE IN LORDS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Feb. 15. Speaking in a House of Lords debate >n China, Lord Plymouth said that the Government always made it one of the main duties to do everything within its power to protect British interests in China and had acted in the closest cooperation with foreign Governments having similar interests. Hostilities had almost completely stopper shipping traffic on the Yangtse. The Government was insisting that British vessels should be allowed to resume full trading rights as soon as the situation permitted. Referring to the Chinese Customs, Lord Plymouth said their integrity had been maintained and negotiations were still in progress.