CHINA INVADED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 9

CHINA INVADED

JAPANESE ARMY FIERCE ENGAGEMENTS FOUR TOWNS CAPTURED HEAVY BOMBARDMENTS GREAT WALL CROSSED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 17, 7 5 p.m.) SHANGHAI. April 17 Following upon the fall yesterday of Chinwangtao, the port just south of Shanhaikwan, the Japanese are pressing southwards. They intend to capture the area between the Ltian River and the Great Wall. Severe fighting is proceeding in the Peitaiho and Changli areas. Japanese airmen are bombing the retreating Chinese. The Chinese forces at Nantassau, east of Peitaiho, suffered under a heavy artillery bombardment and subsequent bombing from aircraft. Practically the cntiro town was levelled. Fierce fighting also is raging at Luanyang. Another report states that the Japanese now are rapidly advancing westward by threo routes. They have captured Peitaiho, a popular tourist resort, Hsinfengkow and Lengkow and are approaching Lulung and Funing by separate routes. After the occupation of Chinwangtao the Japaneso repaired the damaged railway. This enabled armoured trains to enter. A provisional military Government has been established in the city. The residents are remaining remarkably calm under the sudden change. The latest developments bring tho Japanese Army definitely within China proper, although the Japanese authorities originally stated that they did not intend to proceed beyond the Great Wall. The Chinese casualties in the past few days have been extremely heavy. Dr. V. T. Soong, Finance Minister, is proceeding to London via America to attend the World Economic Conference, but his main purpose is to present China's case to Britain and America. MANCHURIAN RAILWAY JAPANESE ACTIVITIES SOVIET PAPER'S ALLEGATION MOSCOW, April 1G The Soviet newspaper Izvestia alleges that the Japanese in Manchuria are plotting to secure control of the Chinese Eastern Railway by dynamiting bridges, water towers and other equipment at the end of April. The paper urges the Japanese Government. to restrain unbridled adventurers, including Japanese officials of Manchukuo, who are seeking to complicate the situation in the Far East. PURCHASE OF TIMBER JAPANESE ACUMEN DEALINGS IN EAST INDIES BATAVIA, April 11 In consequence of tho undesirable granting of certain concessions—to the Japanese the Government of the Netherlands East Indies is considering whether to centralise the power of granting concessions, which is now in the hands of Resident Administrators. While awaiting a decision about timber concessions near Tarakan, a Japanese concern started buying timber from the natives. It was needed for tho war in Manchuria. The masters of Japanese steamers which came to load this timber obtained special permission from the Resident Administrator, after which the Japanese applied lor permission to establish a harbour on the coast behind the island of Tarakan. This caused the Dutch Government to suggest that the centralising of the timber trade at Sangkoelirang Bay, situated more than two degrees south on the coast, where Japanese work an oil concession, would also suit the purposes of the Japanese.