YANGTSE DELTA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 11

YANGTSE DELTA

PITIFUL DEVASTATION ENORMOUS TRACTS DESERTED JAPANESE NEARING NANKING DEFENDERS AWAIT ONSLAUGHT (United Press Association) • (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SHANGHAI, Nov. 30. The Chinese admit the loss of the vitally important Kiangyin forts, which leaves the Japanese free to breach the river boom, sweep the minefields, steam up the river and bombard Chinkiang. After a thorough inspection of the Nanking defences General Chiang Kai-shek said he was well satisfied and was ready to meet the Japanese onslaught. His wife is remaining in Nanking. It is expected that the Japanese will be stationing their crack frontline regiment as Shanghai’s permanent garrison. r It is confirmed that the Japanese are installing censors in the offices of the three cable companies, the Eastern, Great Northern, and the Commercial Pacific. The Japanese requested. the companies to hand over the landing charges and a share of the revenue formerly paid to China.

A traveller from Sunkiang to Shanghai describes the pitiful devastation over enormous tracts of the Yangtse delta. He saw only five Chinese. Once thriving farm lands are deserted, and a vast expanse of rice crops is unharvested and ruined.

The Domei Agency reports that Chinese bandits have taken two Italian missionaries to the mountains from Taiyuan and are demanding a ransom of £IO.OOO. THE DRIVE ON NANKING FOUR ROUTES BEING USED LONDON, Dec. 1. (Received Dec. 1, at 5.5 p.m. The Daily Telegraph’s Shanghai correspondent says the Japanese are reported to be driving back General Chang Fa-Kwei, commanding the Chinese Ironsides, to Suhu, preparatory to seizing the railway between Ningkwo (otherwise Hsuancheng) and Wuhu. The. Japanese are now approaching Nanking by four routes, namely, by warships in the Yangtsekiang River, by the Shanghai-Nan-king railway from Kiangym and Changchow, by the Ihing-Nanking railway, which General Huang Chihsang’s division is endeavouring to defend, and by a quick breakthrough by hammer blows from the south. The last-named is the main objective. JAPANESE SEIZE TUGS STRONG PROTEST LODGED

SHANGHAI, Nov. 30. > c The Japanese announce the capture of Kwangteh. ; . • : ■ ■ Japanese naval officers seized an American tug at the Kinleeyun whatf in the French Concession, tore ' down and threw, overboard the Stans and Stripes, and removed from the bridge a plate indicating ownership. ' The Uttited States Consul is reported to have protested emphatically, and has reported the incident to Washington. . , V Other Japanese seized two tugs carrying the Italian flag. The Italian Consul-General strongly protested to ■ the Japanese Consul-General against the seizing of tugs and hauling down the Italian flag and hoisting the Rising Sun. - ITALIAN TUGS RETURNED ■ SHANGHAI,-Dec. 1. (Received Dec. 2, at 0.15 a.m.) The Japanese naval authorities returned the seized Italian tugs, expressing regrets. An Italian official said the affair was due to a misunderstanding. ART TREASURES REMOVED : - NANKING, Nov. 30. China’s priceless art treasures are being , removed to an undisclosed ' destination in the interior. JAPANESE WAR AIMS THE ROAD TO SINGAPORE LONDON, Nov. 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 5.5 p.m.) “Japan is on the road to Singapore. Nothing less than Europe can hold up the Emperor’s advance,” said General Sir lan Hamilton, speaking on Japanese war aims at the London dinner of the Royal Scottish. Corporation. “ The Emperor’s roads are clearly marked—Hangkow, Hongkong, Singapore, Burma, Assam, Bengal. Some may think I talk wildly, but I do not. A land army can besiege and capture Singapore exactly as Port Arthur was captured. It is too near Japan s main power and too tar from ours. IF JAPAN CONTROLS CUSTOMS OFFICIALS WILL RESIGN LONDON, Dec. 1. (Received Dec. 1. at 11.30 p.m.) The Daily Herald’s .Shanghai corresnondent understands that the British Insnector General of Customs informed London that he and the foreign staff will resign if Japan carries out her threat to take over and operate them. ITALY’S ADVICE TO CHINA MILAN, Dec. 1. (Received Dec. 2, at 0.30 am.) Signor Mussolini’s Popolo D Italia, in an article believed to have been written by II Duce himself, advises China to seek Jaoan’s peace terms as soon as possible. “Japan’s terms mav be less hard than China thinks. The article adds: “ One thing is certain. Japan is changing the Far East map, and those who think differently are putting their money on the wrong horse.” APPREHENSION IN AMERICA WASHINGTON. Dec. 1. (Received Dec. 1, at 10 p.m.) The State Department announced that it recmested a consular version of , the Japanese seizure of an American vessel at Shanghai. Ihfc department also requested an em-

bassy investigation of reports that Japan has reduced the duties on a wide range of her products entering Tientsin. It is assumed that a protest will be lodged concerning this matter as it is a breach of tariff treaties and the onen door policy. Officials fear that American trade with China will be seriously affected by the Japanese occupation Furthermore, apprehension exists concerning the probability of an early Japanese declaration of war on China, due to the flow of munitions to China from Hongkong, which cannot be stopped by the present Japanese blockade. A declaration of war will probably elicit invocation of the Neutrality Act. Congressional opinion of the situation continues to be mixed.