War Almost Certain, Says Famous Admiral: Must Meet Challenge

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1939, Page 5

War Almost Certain, Says Famous Admiral: Must Meet Challenge

(Received 2 p.m.)

LONDON, June 18. OF THE FLEET SIR RO GEE KEYES, M.P. (CONSERVATIVE, PORTSMOUTH) WHO WAS IN TIENTSIN AT THE TIME OF THE BOXER REBELLION, IN A SPEECH AT HORNSEY, SAID THAT EVENTS IN TIENTSIN AMOUNT TO A DECLARATION OF WAR,

“The challenge must be met,” he declared. “If we hesitate, humiliation is certain. War is almost inevitable.”

The temperature at Tientsin today is 106. Americans went swimming, but only three Britons have passed the barricades in two days.

Britishers Man-Handled

Official British reports state th,at Japanese guards in their searching forced the first man to strip, and the second was partly stripped and manhandled. A girl was also man-handled by Chinese policemen. Japanese continue their efforts to set the Chinese against the

British. The captive balloon over the city carried a slogan, “The

British who despoil our commerce are North China’s public enemy.” Intensfying Food Shortage.

British fixed loud speakers at the entrance of the concession telling Chinese to keep out. The secretary of the British Municipal Council states that supplies of foodstuffs are sufficient only for two days.

Supplies of rice and flour in warehouses are ample, but Japanese continue to allow more Chinese to enter the settlements, resulting in a bigger .demand, leading to a shortage and higher prices. Japanese patrol boats on the Hai River are turning back Chinese foodladen craft, making the blockade complete. Anti-British Rally. Chinese and Japanese held an antiBritish rally in the Japanese concession. Bursts of machine-gun fire provided the day’s only alarm, but that proved to be Japanese target practice near the British concession.