TIENTSIN MAY FALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19947, 16 May 1928, Page 11

TIENTSIN MAY FALL

NATIONALIST CLAIM. CRISIS IN CHINESE WAR. INTERNATIONAL FORCES. DEFENCE PLAN ARRANGED. 'AGITATORS IN SHANGHAI. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received May 15, 8.53 p.m.)

United Service. SHANGHAI, May 15. The civil war situation in the North is obscure owing to the almost total absence of news from that area. A Nationalist message, however, claims that Tientsin is practically surrounded. It says the Nationalists are approaching the city from three sides and that its fall is imminent. The commanders of the international forces at T ; entsin have agreed upon the defensive measures to be adopted if the Seutherners capture the city. The plan includes the stationing of a cordon seven miles in radius outside the city. The Japanese forces are to be entrusted with the task of protecting the most important foreign properties.

It is reported that America has 4000 troops at Tientsin, France 3000, and Britain 1000. There are also 20 aeroplanes and five tanks.

In spite of the Nanking Government's prohibition an agitation has broken oui in Shanghai among the students. They are endeavouring to create an anti-Japanese boycott. The effort is likely to fail owing to the reluctance of the Chinese merchants v,ho deal in Japanese goods to cut off that business again. The students are agitating for the formation of a students' training corps for the purpose of forming an army suitable eventually for taking revenge on the Japanese for the Tsinan affair. They also seek the substitution of a military training school for physical exercises.

CARE OF FOREIGNERS. MILITARY AT TIENTSIN. POWERS ON THE ALERT. British Wireless. RUGBY, May 14. Referring to the situation in China in the House of Commons to-day, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Austen Chamberlain, said the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Japan had 8252 troops at Tientsin. Japanese and Italian reinforcements were also being sent. The British Government had closely watched tho situation at Tientsin, and, should it bo necessary to strengthen the British forces there, no difficulty would arise in doing so.

In regard to the protection of the British communities in China generally Sir Austen said the normal precautions had been taken. There was a British warship at practically every port along the coast where there were British subjects.

The Japanese Government had informed the British Government of its decision to send 5000 troops to Tsingtao, the eastern port of Shantung. It was explained that the despatch of these troops was an unavoidable measure of self-protection, by 110 means implying unfriendly intentions toward China and her people, or interference with the military operations of the .Northern or the Southern forces. As soon as the Japanese Government considered it no longer necessary to maintain troops for the protection of Japanese residents in the war zone, they would immediately be withdrawn. The Foreign Secretary said he had expressed to the Japanese Charge d'Affaires who had made this communication to him his sympathy with Japan in the trouble by which she was confronted. He hoped that later information would not confirm the terrible accounts of outrages on Japanese nationals, which he understood had been contained in the first reports. He also expressed satisfaction at the assurance that the Japanese troops would be withdrawn as soon as the safety of nationals was assured.

AMERICA'S DECISION. INDEPENDENT DEFENCE. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. NEW YORK, May 14. The Washington correspondent of the United Pres3 Association says the United States probably will join the other Powers in protecting the 8000 ioreigners residing at Tientsin, if the situation there becomes acute, instead of attempting to evacuate the 900 Americans now in th© town. This defensive plan was adopted when the Nationalists occupied Shanghai. It has been made clear, howevci, that the 3? 100 United States marines now at Tientsin will operate independently, and will not become part of a unified command.

HELD FOR RANSOM. MISSIONARY IN CHINA. BANDITS ON THE YANGTSE. (Received May 15, 8.53 p.m.) United Service. LONDON, May 15. Official circles in London have been advised that bandits on the Yangtse River »re holding for ransom an Irish Roman Catholic missionary, Mr. J. Lalor, and are demanding £2OOO for his release.