Death From the Skies

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 308, 29 December 1938, Page 7

Death From the Skies

Concerted, Devastating Japanese Air Raids CITIES BOMBED BY DOZEN United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph-—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 8.20 p-m. LONDON, Dec. 28. The Hong Kong correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that mpre than 160 Japanese 'planes participating in a devastating series of air raids in which hundreds of civilians were killed from Shensi to Kwangtung. .Dozens of cities and towns were bombed, including Chungking, Sian, Changsha, Kweilin and Yingtak. More than fifty bombs were dropped in Kweilin, destroying a cinnamon forest and a temple, and re-started fires that gutted the city’s centre three weeks ago. GAINS AND CASUALTIES JAPANESE ESTIMATE TOKIO, Dec. 26. An Imperial Army communique re siewing the Chinese war claims that • Japan occupies 5,850.000 square miles, equivalent to 47 per cent, of China, with a population of 179,000,000, or 68 per cent, of the total inhabitants. It puts the death-roll from the outbreak of the war to November 30 at 47,133 Japanese and 823,300 Chinese. The Chinese casualties exceed 2,000,000. The war front in north and central China extends from Hangchow to Shansi, a distance of 1860 miles, four times as long as the Western Front in the Great War. RIGHT OF THIRD POWERS JAPAN REFUSES TO EXPLAIN LONDON, Dec. 27. « is learned that the Japanese Foreign Minister. Mr Hanchiro Arita, refused to enlighten the British and American Ambassadors respecting Japan's proposals to abolish the extraterritorial rights of foreigners in China. He declared that the cessation ol hostilities was the best method ol settling all the problems, but that this was rendered impossible owing to the granting of British and American credits to China. The British United Press correspondent at Tokio learns that the American Ambassador, Mr Grew, sharply reminded Japan about United States interests in China, declaring that the United States was more interested in results than in plans. He insisted that Washington was still not satisfied with the Japanese reply to America's protest * at the Japanese discrimination against | foreign shipping on the Yangtse river. ' Mr Arita is reported to have replied in a conciliatory tone, declaring that m versified authority in China had hitherto prevented a satisfactory solution of Questions involving China and third Powers. The new central organisation was improving the position. MESSAGE TO CONSUL WELLINGTON, Dec. 28. The following cablegram has been received by the Chinese ConsulateGeneral at Wellington:— The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in refuting ttfl» recent statement of the Japanese Prims Minister, Prince Konoye, on Japan's aims in China and conditions of peace, said:— “Prince Konoye stated that Japan would respect China's sovereignty, yet at the same time he insisted on continuing military operations, establishing puppet organisations and compelling China to join the anti-Comin-tern group. This statement, to say the least, is self-contradictory. “Prince Konoye declared that Japan had no territorial ambition in China, yet at the same time he demanded that Japan should station troops in China, and that Inner Mongolia should be designated a special anti-Communist area, thus virtually cutting up Chinese territory. “As to his statement regarding the right of Japan to free residence and trade in China, on the surface It appears to be nothing unusual, but. on looking into Japan’s action in controlling the puppet organisations and stationing troops in China, it can be seen that Japan’s real intention is to rely on her military operations and the puppet organisations in order to mobilise her man power and material strength for an extensive and intensive economic encroachment in China. “As to Japan having no intention of establishing an economic monopoly, and of limiting the interests of third Powers in China, by viewing the present condition of the puppet organisation in the north-east and Japan’s economic devices in China during the past year and her absolute disregard of the interests of third Powers it can be readily seen that Prince Konove’s statement is merely designed to deceive the vrorld and to counter the international atmosphere, which is becoming unfavourable to Japan.” Another cablegram received by the Consul-General states that the object of Mr Wang Chin-wei in going abroad » to seek medical treatment because of iU health. (It was reported yesterday that Mr Wang Chin-wai was going to Hongkong to dijeuss peace terms with the Japanese! CHINA DISTRUSTS TERMS " MERE DISGUISE " CHUNGKING, Dec. 27. The Chinese Foreign Office spokesman asserts that the Japanese Premier's statement of peace terms clearly reveals that Japan has not changed her policy of destroying China’s independence and integrity. The closing of the open door to trade, the maintenance of Japanese troops throughout China and > the transformation of Inner Mongolia ►•to a so-called anti-Communist district, ke declares, are a mere disguise for an attempt at the political dismemberment of China and the achievement of economic penetration throughout China. It was earlier reported that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek denied that Wang < ’hin-wei, viee-president of the Kuomintang, who has gone to Hong Kong to contact the Japanese authorities, was

authorised or intended to negotiate for peace. THREE-YEAR PLAN TOR JAPANESE INDUSTRY SELF-SUFFICIENCY AIM TOKIO, Dec, 27. The Cabinet is discussing a threeyear industrial plan aimed at making Japan self-sufficient. It embraces irou, steel, coal, light metals, non-ferros metals, petroleum, pulp, gold, machinc ry, railway rolling-stock, shipping, motor cars, wool, electricity, soda and industrial salts, and ammonium sulphate. The plan specially emphasises economic co-operation between China, Japan and Manchukua.