FALL OF CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 13

FALL OF CITY

JAPANESE VICTORY ALL-NIGHT BATTLE NON-COMBATANT ZONES CONSUL-GENERAL'S PLAN HINT OF SYMPATHY By Telegraph—Preßs Association —Copyright (Received June 7, 5.5 p.m.) Times C'ablo LONDON, June 6 The Japanese, in a dust storm so dense that it formed ramps up which they could advance without scaling ladders, captured Kaifeng after an all-night battle, says the Shanghai correspondent of the Times. The Japanese accept the phenomenon as a mark of divine favour. The Japanese Consul-General at Hongkong, Mr. Nakainura, has acknowledged the protest of the British Consul, Mr. A. P. Blunt, against air raiders flying over SJiameen, and expressed regret for the occurrence. He said the airmen must be more careful in future. Mr. Nakamura added: "If the Great Powers were to co-operate in requesting the formation of non-combatant zones in Chinese cities, and appoint observers to "assure their demilitarisation, I am sure Japan would bo sympathetically inclined." . The Domei news agency says official Japanese sources consider that the British and American protests are not likely in the slightest degree to alter Japan's " immutable policy."

The French Government, says a message from Paris, has instructed its Ambassador at Tckio to protest against the bombing of open towns and the French hospital in Canton. NOTE TO LEAGUE ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS HEAVY CHINESE LOSSES OPEN TOWNS BOMBED [BY TELEGRAPH I'RESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The following information lias been received by the Prime Minister s Department from the information section of the League of Nations: — The Secretary-General of the League, M. Joseph Avoiiol, lias received and transmitted to member States a communication from the Chinese Government to the-effect that, since the beginning of Japan's military aggression in

China, Japanese aircraft have daily bombed Chinese open towns, inflicting a heavy loss of civilian life. Recently, says the .communication, Japanese airmen have continuously raided Canton, deliberately bombing and machine-gunning the residential quarters, which are far from any military objective, and wounding several thousand non-combatants, including many women and children. The Chinese Government points out that in September, 1937, the League Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the aerial bombing of Chinese open towns by Japanese airmen. CANTON RAIDS , HEAVY CASUALTIES CANTON. Juno 6 Jt is officially stated that the casualties in the latest air raids on Canton exceed 1500 killed and injured. Moro thnn 1000 dwellings were destroyed. Bombs played havoc among the tightly-packed sampan dwellers on the river. One Red Cross unit next door to the French "hospital laid out 45 corpses. The neighbouring Y.M.C.A. also suffered a high death roll. It is reported that Japan intends to create a large permanent naval base at Anioy to counter-balance the British base at Hongkong.