RAID ON AN HOTEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 9

RAID ON AN HOTEL

JAPANESE CONSULAR POLICE FOUR CHINESE ARRESTED INCIDENT IN SHANGHAI (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SHANGHAI. Dec. 6. The Municipal Council strringly protested to the Consular Corps against the arrest of four Chinese when Japanese Consular police raided the Great Eastern Hotel in the International Settlement. The corps is expected to complain to the Japanese authorities at this infringement of rights of the Settlement. It is believed that the Japanese intend to establish the right of independent arrests, Britain is directly concerned, because the hotel is owned by Mr Wingon, Australian born, and employing many of Britis nationality. The hotel is registered in Hongkong and is entitled to British protection. The Chinese were detained for an hour The Japanese seized 200 junks moored in the British defence sector in Soochow Creek. The Rising Sun was hoisted and the junks were towed from the sector end the occupants evicted. Several of the junks were sunk to prevent capture. It is revealed that 42 people were killed at Wuhu during bombing, including 12 aboard the Tuckwo. The Japanese recorded a direct hit on the Union Jack painted on the roof of Butterfield, Swire Company at Wuhu wharf. The Japanese Spokesman insisted that thousands of Chinese troops were near the vessels Tatung and Tuckwo, but this is denied by the British naval authorities. BRITISH VIEW OF INCIDENT REGARDED AS VERY SERIOUS SHANGHAI, Dec. 6. A high British Settlement official regards the police raid on the Great Eastern Hotel as very serious. Twelve Japanese Consular policemen, armed with rifles and pistols, and without warning the Settlement police, dashed to the hotel in fast cars, disdaining traffic lights. They arrested three Chinamen and a woman and took them to Hongkew, not giving the woman time to dress, but made her travel in her underclothing. The quartet was released after an interrogation . lasting an hour. It is regarded as essential that British and American Consuls take a firm stand. The Consul-General, Mr H. Phillips, after making representations to the Japanese regarding the bombing of Wuhu, declares that London must originate further developments. The Daily Telegraph's Nanking correspondent says the Chinese casualties on the steamer Tatung are not known, but over 100 were mutilated and burned. Some were haltdrowned and sent to hospital. The Daily Telegraph's Hongkong correspondent says a packed audience heard the first air raid precaution lecture. It was \earned that anyone failing to obscure lights would be fined 1000 dollars. Seventy thousand gas masks are amiable for the population of 1,000,000, which is mainly illiterate and easily put in a panic.