CHINA'S DEFIANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 9

CHINA'S DEFIANCE.

CONFLICT RESUMED. SHELL-FIRE AT SHANGHAI. DAMAGE IN SETTLEMENT. ATTACK ON" JAPANESE. " FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS." By Telegraph—Preßs Association—Copyright. (Received February 10, 9.45 p.m.) SHANGHAI. Feb. 19. .Without waiting for the expiry of the Japanese ultimatum to withdraw from Shanghai the Chinese, early (his morning, took tlie initiative and intensively bombarded the Japanese positions. Shells fell in the British quarter and one wrecked an upper room in the Savoy Ifotel. The commander of the, 19th Cantonese Route Army, General Tsai Ting-kai, rejected the Japanese demands, claiming that the Chinese people cannot accept such dishonourable means of averting the crisis. General Tsai said: "I am fighting for the rights of the. nation, which far too long have been trampled beneath the heels of foreign Powers. If I and my men die in defending what is the heritage of the Chinese people we. at least shall know that we have 'done what others feared to attempt." Chinese shells last night dropped behind Astor House in the Broadway district, breaking windows and doing other extensive damage in the International Settlement. Fortunately tho curfew regulation was in force and this prevented people being injured. The streets are deserted and it is practically impossible to reach the Chinese headquarters as the roads are mined and trenches and bridges have been destroyed. OFFENSIVE PLANNED. JAPANESE PR E PAR.I NG. THOUSANDS OF TROOPS. (Received February 20, 1.23 a.m.) SHANGHAI. Feb. 19. Thousands of Japanese, equipped with every modern weapon of warfare, are marching into the lines, which stretch from the boundaries of the International Settlement to the mouth of the Whangpoo River, near Woosung. Chinese official circles announce that an answer rejecting the Japanese ultimatum was handed to the Japanese authorities tonight. According to a statement by LieutenantCommander Uyeda, commander of tho Japaneso forces, to foreign press correspondents the Chinese must commence to withdraw at 7 a.m. to-morrow, otherwise he will open an offensive. General Uyeda assured the press that foreign interests will be completely safo in his hands. Further, ho declared that it was not the intention of the Japanese to pursue the. Chinese beyond the 20-kilo-metre zone, where the Japanese front line would be established. INTEREST IN ENGLAND. LOSS OF BRITISH LIVES. STATEMENTS IN. PARLIAMENT. Times Cable. LONDON. Feb. 18. Tho acute interest with which the House of Commons is watching the events in the Far East was shown again to-day when the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, gave members the latest information in his possession. The Minister referred with regret to the two British naval ratings killed yesterday by shells which, from their direction, seemed almost certain io have been fired bv Chinese guns. He said the British Minister to China, Sir Miles Larnpson, had sent a Note to the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs calling his attention to the episode and requesting that strict instructions be issued to the Chinese military authorities concerned, with a view to preventing any possible recurrence of such incidents. The Note also reminded the Chinese Foreign Minister that the British Government must, in this unfortunate conflict between China and Japan, hold each side responsible for any loss of British life and property that might be caused by the respective armed forces. Referring to the meeting this morning between the Chinese and Japanese military authorities, which he mentioned had been largely brought about by Sir Miles Lampson in the hope that a cessation of hostilities might bo arranged, the Foreign Secretary said the House would regret that the. latest press messages indicated that ari agreement had not been secured. When the Shanghai situation was mentioned in the House of Lords this evening, Viscount Hailshani, Secretary of State for War, expressed the grave concern of the Government. He said that what had happened was very difficult to reconcile with the provisions of the Pact of Paris and the Covenant of (he League of Nations. While co-operating with all peace efforts, the Government had kept, in the closest possible touch with the American Government and the representatives of Ihe, Council of the League. The reported failure of tho meeting today between Japanese and Chineso representatives was to bo greatly regretted and there seemed a/ serious risk of a recommencement of hostilities. Such a failure was not, going to discourage the Government in its peace efforts. Lord Hailshani asked for restraint to bo exercised in the expressions of opinion as to where the. responsibility lay for the situation, until a full opportunity was given the Council or the Assembly of the League to determine the issues.