LUNGHAI RAILWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23501, 16 May 1938, Page 9

LUNGHAI RAILWAY

SEVERED BY THE JAPANESE INDIGNATION IN SHANGHAI MALTREATMENT OF BRITON (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SHANGHAI, May 14. (Received May 15, at 5.5 p.m.) The Japanese announce that a mobile column severed the Lunghai railway, and is blowing up a bridge near Tangshan. A message from Hankow says the Chinese are destroying harbour works at Haichow and blowing up tracks and bridges east and west of the railway, fearing Japanese landing at the port as part of the campaign against Hsuchow. The British community at Shanghai is seething with indignation at the Japanese arrest and maltreatment of a birdlover, Mr E. S. Wilkinson, who climbed barbed wire in the Japanese sector to observe nesting birds. Mr Wilkinson complains that Japanese soldiers performed a war dance around him in the prison yard at the gaol and finally thrust a bayonet into his shoulder, just missing a lung. SOVIET HELPING CHINA ARMS AND LONG CREDITS LONDON, May 14. (Received May 15, at 7 p.m.) It is believed that there are now 1,000,000 Japanese troops in China, of whom 300,000 are immobilised from the conflict because they are watching the Soviet frontier. One Japanese soldier in China is costing five times as much as at home, irrespective of the swelling burden of transport, munitions, foodstuffs, and raw materials. Nevertheless, there is nothing to indicate a likelihood of mediation. Chinese finances are not overstrained and they pay cash on delivery for some munitions, but the Soviet is allowing large quanties on long credits, encouraging the Chinese to fight the Japanese on its behalf. The Soviet is also supplying to China heavy transport planes and has established a chain of air bases, enabling constant supplies from inland. The Chinese are also procuring aeroplanes from America in addition to munitions from Europe. A GENEVA RESOLUTION ASSISTANCE FOR CHINA GENEVA, May 14. (Received May 15, at 7 p.m.) A secret session of the Council agreed to a resolution strongly urging members of the League to assist China against Japan and send any information obtained regarding the use of poison gas. Chile has given the statutory two years’ notice of withdrawal from the League owing to dissatisfaction with the reception of its proposals for League reform. CLAIM BY INVADERS YELLOW RIVER CROSSED TOKIO, May 15. (Received May 15, at 10.30 p.m.) The Domei News Agency claims that the Japanese isolated Hsuchow, and 70 or 80 Chinese divisions are faced with surrender or annihilation. Japanese crossed the Yellow River at Puyang and occupied Tsaochow, from which point the Lunghai railway is under gunfire. JAPANESE PLANES ACTIVE TERRIBLE TOLL OF LIVES SHANGHAI, May 15. (Received May 15, at 10 p.m.) One hundred civilians were killed and 500 wounded by a Japanese air raid on Shuchow. Two hundred Japanese planes bombed the Tientsin, Pukow and Shanghai railways and other centres, including Suhsien, where 80 refugees were killed at the Katalian Catholic Mission. CHINESE COUNTER-ATTACK JAPANESE DRIVEN BACK HANKOW, May 14 (Received May 15, at 10 p.m.) The Chinese counter-attacked and drove back the Japanese in the neighbourhood of Yungchen ALLEGATION BY REFUGEES THOUSANDS MASSACRED LONDON, May 14. (Received May 15, at 10 p.m.) The Daily Herald’s Hongkong correspondent says refugees allege that the Japanese massacred 4000 Chinese civilians at Amoy REFUGEES FROM AMOY POURING INTO KULANGSU HONGKONG. May 13. The British steamer Hongkheng arrived with 2300 refugees from Amoy. Captain Banperman declared that he watched 16 Japanese planes sweeping the Chinese defences with bombs and bullets for 13 hours. He also saw 50 Chinese captured and executed immediately by machine guns. Food and water are running out at Kulangsu owing to the influx of thousands of refugees JAPANESE BATTLESHIPS FIVE LYING OFF SWATOW HONGKONG, May 13. It is reported from Amoy that five Japanese battleships are off Swatow to cover a landing on Namlang Island.