CHINESE IN MANCHURIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21069, 31 December 1931, Page 7

CHINESE IN MANCHURIA.

WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS. DECISION OF COMMANDER. JAPANESE ADVANCING. RESISTANCE BY BANDITS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received December 31, 12.23 a.m.) Times Cable. PEKING, Dec. 30. The Manchurian -war-lord, Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, to-night ordered the Chinese troops in Chinchow and the vicinity to withdraw inside the Great Wall. It is officially explained that this decision was actuated solely by a desire to give tho Japanese no pretext for further aggression in North China, especially in the Peking-Tientsin area. Tho withdrawal of the Chinese has already begun and will proceed as rapidly as possible. Despatches which have reached Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang's headquarters from Chinchow indicate that the Japanese forces are advancing up the YingkowKaopgngtze branch line, have occupied Panshan and are threatening Kaopangtze. A message from Tokio says:—lt is reported here that the Chinese regulars from Chinchow are retreating toward the Great' Wall in consequence of the Japanese occupation of Panshan and Kao-pangtze, whence they drove out bandits who offered stubborn resistance. BANDITS' OUTRAGES. JAPAN'S NOTE TO LEAGUE. ATTACK ON BASE NECESSARY. GENEVA, Dec. 29. A fresh Japanese Note to the League of Nations alleges that the Chinese military authorities at Chinchow are encouraging bandits, whose activities are increasing. It stales that the outrages perpetrated between November 1 and December 10 numbered 1529. The Note further states that in spite of promises the Chinese forces at Chinchow have not withdrawn within the Great Wall and that the Japanese arc compelled to fight robbers in the whole of Southern Manchuria and must advance to the west of the Liao Piiver, where the bandits' base is situated.