SHANGHAI HOSTILITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21110, 18 February 1932, Page 9

SHANGHAI HOSTILITIES.

TENSE SITUATION.

BOTH SIDES REINFORCED.

big clash imminent.

TRAGEDY FOR CHINA.

STRENGTH OF JAPANESE

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 17, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 17. Despatches from Shanghai state that in spite of the combined efforts of the British, American, French and Italian Ministers to persuade the Chinese to withdraw in accordance with the wishes of Japan, as a preliminary step toward peace, there is little prospect of the Chinese agreeing. Heavy Chinese reinforcements are arriving daily, and their lines are being strengthened. A wide system of trench work radiates from Chapei. The Shanghai correspondent of the Times says the situation entails tragedy for China. Whatever happens the Chinese intend to withstand' the invaders to the utmost. The Japanese are chagrined at their failures and are determined to vindicate their military reputation. They should eventually be able to crash their way to any objective because they can be reinforced indefinitely and must finally win. The more the Chinese fight the more the Japanese can reinforce. The more it costs Japan to win the harsher can be the ultimate terms of settlement.

EXPECTED OFFENSIVE.

JAPANESE REHEARSALS. NERVOUSNESS OF CITIZENS. t, SHANGHAI, Feb. IG. The Japanese are carrying out rehearsals preparatory to an attempt to capture Chapei. Three large fires were Btarted at dusk in the Kiangwan area, where the Japanese are taking up positions. , The Chinese apparently are preparing to meet the offensive as heavy reinforcements have /arrived and a large concentration is taking place along a .wide front. The Chinese lines in some places are barely half a mile from those of the Japanese, but both sides are withholding their fire. The rumour that Marshal Chiang Kaishek is coining to Shanghai to assist in the defences was strengthened to-day when 2000 of his/ personal crack troops reached Chengju., The cessation of heavy firing around the International Settlement, with the intensive military preparations by both sides, is causing the authorities more alarm than the actual fighting at Chapei, sinco the pending hostilities undoubtedly will drive the Chinese toward the boundaries of the settlement. The citizens of Shanghai, therefore, are nervously awaiting the offensive which the new Japanese troops are expected to launch to-morrow. Five Chinese army corps, under General Feng Yu-hsiang, are concentrating in the Shanghai-Nanking railway area. COUNCIL OF LEAGUE. APPEAL TO JAPAN. PACIFIC SETTLEMENT URGED. British Wireless. RUGBY, Feb. 16. A committee of the Council of tho League of Nations to-day despatched a message to Japan regarding the situation at Shanghai and urging a pacific settlement with China. The text has not yet been published, but press telegrams state that members of the Council while recognising the difficulties with which Japan has been faced, recalls her responsibilities as one of the principal partners in the world organisation for the maintenance of peace.

The message appeals to Japan to show restraint, and it is understood that it also recalls the terms of Article X. of the Covenant in the sense related to the "principle already affirmed by the American Government whereby the acquisition "T>y force of any territories would not be recognised.