SWEEPING VICTORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 February 1939, Page 7

SWEEPING VICTORY

—»— CLAIMED BY CHINESE OPERATIONS IN EASTERN HONAN 1000 JAPANESE DEAD [U.P.A.— By Electric Telegraph— Copyright! (.Received 27th February, 9.55 a.m.) CHUNGKING, 26th February. The Chinese claim a sweeping victory at Changyinchii, in Eeastern Honan. killing 1000 Japanese, routing the remander. The Chinese Government ordered the evacuation of Chungking, Chengtu, and Kweiyang. JAPANESE LAUNCH NEW DRIVE ' (Received 27th February, 9.55 a.m.) SHANGHAI. 26th February. The Japanese launchei a new drive 50 miles west of Hankow. INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST TERRORISM i . ACTION BY JAPAN (Received 27th February, 9.55 a.m.) TOKIO, 26th February. The Domei News Agency reports that the Nanking Government sent troops and militiamen to surround the International Settlement, “As a precautionary measure against further terroristic demonstrations.’' Meanwhile the Japanese authorities at Shanghai are meeting to-day, “to fix the final steps for coping with the situation.’’ ANOTHER FRONTIER CLASH ALLEGED TOKIO, 25th February. The newspaper “Nichi Nichi Shimbun,” alleges that Soviet cavalrymen twice attacked frontier guards on the western Manchukuo border and were repulsed with the loss of one killed and several injured. ACTION EXPLAINED LIMIT TO GENTLEMANLY ATTITUDE ■ (Received 27th February, 10.40 a.m.) NANKING, 26th February. The Government, explaining the decision to send militia to the outskirts of the International Settlement and the French Concession, issued a statement: “We hesitate to brand British and French vesels on the Yangtse as enemy, but naturally there will be limits to Japan's gentlemanly attitude towards the International Settlement and the French Concession. If Britain and France do not change their attitude of assisting General Chiang Kai-shek. Silent war must be declared against the International Settlement and the vessels, which are nothing but a base for operations.

POSSIBLE EXAGGERATION I (Received 27th February, 10.40 a.m.) i LONDON, 26th February. An official of the Japanese Embassy lin London described reference to the j "Silent war” which is quoted from the Domei Agency’s report, as a possible j exaggeration in translation, but added ; that the Nanking Government was ini dependent and conditions on the Yangtse river a matter of domestic policy. CONCESSIONS ENCIRCLED WITH WIRES TIENTSIN, 26th February. The Japanese erected barricades and encircled the British and French concessions with live wires, enabling the sudden closing of exits and entrances.