CHINA WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22847, 30 September 1937, Page 11

CHINA WAR

BOMBING RAIDS

league condemns

unanimous resolution

'ATTITUDE OF AMEIiICA

STRONG DISAPPROVAL

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 20. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Sent. 2S A message from Geneva states that the Assembly of the League of Nations to-day carried unanimously a resolution condemning the bomb : ing of open towns by the Japanese in China. The Health Commission at Nanking reported to the League that Japanese airmen had dropped a bomb on its headquarters, killing two people and wounding five. Despatches from New York state that the Washington correspondent of the New York Times reports that the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, in a statement to a press conference, supported the League in its condemnation of Japan and reiterated that the bombing of open towns was unwarranted and contrary to tho principles of law and humanity. However, this statement is not considered to be a direct endorsement of tho League's action. I-t is held to be a reminder that the United States is not accepting the obligation of League membership and still desires to retain independence of judgment. Mr. Hull declined to discuss the possible reaction of the United States to the League's proposals.

JAPANESE ACTIONS

BRITISH PRESS COMMENT POLICY MAY BE REGRETTED LONDON. Sunt. '2B The Daily Mirrof, under the caption, ' " 'Honourable' Japanese use bodies for bayonet practice and to sharpen their knives," publishes two gruesome photographs, anct says they were taken by a British press photographer. These show 1 Japanese soldiers using the dead bodies of Chinese opponents, propped tip on poles, for bayonet and sabre practice. / » •• The British Government denies Japanese newspaper allegations that the British bombed natives in Tanganyika, made as a retort' to the British protest against Japanese # air raids. In an editorial article headed, "Frightfulness," the Times says the world is watching Japan's actions with growing resentment and disgust. Promiscuous, indiscriminate terrorism to break .the spirit of the Chinese is rousing world opinio ; n to a degree, and Japan may well have cause to regret a ' policy which is effectively uniting arid nettling the Chinese.

* japan's tactifcs of barbarism are a symptom of impatience, if not alarm, the paper.

MASSACRED FISHERMEN

COMMENT BY THE TIMES RESENTMENT AND DISGUST British Wireles.- ' KUGBY Sept. 2* Newspaper comment reflects the resentment and disgust aroused at recent horrors in China. -'The Times recalls the assurance# given that the Japanese forces in China had been instructed to exercise the greatest care in safeguarding noncombatants, and notes that on September 6 in the' Diet the Minister of Marine stated that it was unthinkable that the Imperial Navy would commit an act contrary to humanity. "These lofty words," says the Time*, "make a shabby' pendant to the Imperial Navy's latest exploit—systematically destroying almost an entire fishing fleet of junks by gunfire in the neighbourhood of Hongkong. "This massacre in cold blood of a little civilian community—for ■ a fleet of junks is little more than a floating village—can be extenuated by no plea that the fishermen had even the re.motest connection with the war, and is a crime revolting, not only to the world at large, but to all those Japanese who still honour the chivalrous traditions of the samurai.

"Japan it seerns is bent on demoralising China by methods which other nations will not hesitate to condemn."

JAPAN'S QUANDARY-

: economic difficulties minister warns public TOKI'O. Sent. 2« in a national broadcast, Mr. Yoshino, Minister of Commerce and' Industries, 8 3id Japan was confronted, firstly, with a national emergency, and an even graver cnnHiot that might arise isolating Japan economically, and, secondly, hardly a country in the world was gladly admitting Japanese goods 'Thercfoie, it is imperative," said .Minister, "to tighten our belts, ec °nomisti and carry out fully our new defensive economic system —which it may be necessary to continue indefinitely—and to employ to the utmost substitutes tor our major imports, particularly wool and cotton. Also we must increase industrial production and expand the production of war munitions."