HEAVILY HIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 13

HEAVILY HIT

JAPANESEWARSHIPS YANGTSE FIGHTING LIMPING DOWN RIVER CLAIMS FROM TOKIO HUGE CASUALTY LIST By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received July G, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 0 Foreign observers at Shanghai report that several badly damaged Japanese warships limped down the Yangtse River, including three destroyers and an aircraft-carrier with 30 damaged aeroplanes. Fearing an attack by Chinese guerilla forces, the Japanese garrison at Peking lias closed seven of the city gates. Kxtraordinary precautions are being taken. On the first anniversary of hostilities a Japanese review published in Tokio says 510,109 Chinese have been killed and 800,000 wounded, while 36,629 Japanese have been killed. It is claimed that the Japanese have occupied 480,000 square miles of territory, in which there are 130,000,000 inhabitants. The present front lines extend over 1400 miles.

RIOT IN PENANG VOLUNTEERS CALLED OUT ANTI-JAPANESE FEELING GOODS BURNED IN STREETS (Received July 0, 11.30 p.m.) PENANG, July G All shops and places of amusement in Georgetown were closed after rioting and looting as the result of an objection to the importation of a consignment of Japanese soya beans during their transport to the headquarters of the China Relief Fund, where it was proposed to sell them by auction. Rioters broke in and loaded the beans on lorries and dumped them into the sea. Volunteers were called out to put down the threatened spread of antiJapanese demonstrations. Several persons were arrested after a mob stormed Chinese shops and removed Japanese goods, which were burned in the streets.

FATE OF CIVILIANS MASSACRES IN CHINA BRITISH OFFICIALS PROTEST LONDON, July 5 The Lord Mayors and Lord Provosts of 11 British cities have signed a protest against the bombings and massacres in China, which has been published by the International Peace Campaign. It fetates: "Conscience revolts at the thought of killing mothers and children, and we call on world opinion to force Japan to desist." French Mayors have made similar protests.

CHINESE AIR FORCE BRITISH VOLUNTEER PREVENTION FROM JOINING SINGAPORE, June 24 A young former officer of the lloyal Air Force, Flight-Lieutenant Hugh Taylor, who passed through Singapore in May to join General Chiang Kaishek's air force, has returned, having been prevented by the British authorities from achieving his ambition. Mr. Taylor, who was educated at Eton and Oxford, approached the Chinese Embassy in London and was advised to go to China. When he reached Canton he was accepted by the Chinese Government, who offered him 1500 dollars (Chinese) a month and a bonus for every aeroplane he brought down. In the meantime, however, the Governor of Hongkong, Sir Geoffery Northcote, instructed the British authorities at Canton to place Mr. Taylor under arrest unless he took out Chinese naturalisation papers. "I had no intention of losing my status as a British citizen, so I decided to abandon my plans of joining the Chinese air force," Mr. Taylor said. "Pilots of other nations do not appear to be restricted in the same way in China." While travelling to Canton along the Canton-Kowloon railway, Mr. Taylor said his train was bombed by Japanese aeroplanes. With the other passengers, he lay in a potato field until the bombing stopped. Some of the bombs hit the track, but the rails were immediately repaired by gangs of coolies. In his opinion the Japanese bombing was poor, considering the lack of antiaircraft opposition.