DESPERATE PLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 9

DESPERATE PLIGHT

CHINESE PEASANTS FLEEING THE YELLOW RIVER FLOODS TROOPS SEPARATED BY WATER (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SHANGHAI, June 15. The Yellow River burst its banks at the intersection of the Grand Canal, 100 miles eastward of the existing gaps. The water is rushing in a south-easterly direction, and is partly submerging the Japanesecontrolled province of Shantung. A flood five miles wide separates the Chinese and Japanese between Kaifeng and Chengchow, and is also over-running the Lunghai railway. Peasants are in a desperate plight and are fleeing en masse. HUGE AREA INUNDATED TWO THOUSAND VILLAGES HANKOW, June 15. The floods have reached Yenling, 50 miles from the breaks, inundating 900 square miles, in which there are 2000 villages. The Japanese admit that lives have been lost. ILLICIT TRADE IN DRUGS A JAPANESE DENIAL GENEVA, June 15. The Japanese delegate denied that the Japanese militarists were encouraging the illicit trade in drugs in China. On the contrary, the Government was investigating revision of legislation in order to stamp out the traffic. The present evils in Manchukuo would soon be materially reduced. Professor Cai;noy (Belgium) said the committee should not accept such a general reply, but should investigate the charges. THE AIR RAIDS ON CANTON ESTIMATE OF CASUALTIES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 15. Questioned in the House of Commons on the effects of the air attacks at Canton, the Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs; Mr R. A. Butler, said the official estimates of the casualties at present were incomplete, but reports indicated that between 3500 and 4000 persons were killed and wounded between May 28 and June 10. The British Government had protested to Japan against the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas and thickly populated centres.

Asked if a reply had been received to this protest, Mr Butler said certain preliminary observations had been made to the British Ambassador by the Japanese Foreign Minister, who promised to send a considered reply. FRANCE’S PRESTIGE A CONSULAR DECLARATION TIENTSIN, June 15. After a consular declaration that France would not tolerate detriment to her prestige, French troops occupied the Jesuit College until the Chinese police controlled North China and the puppet Government has withdrawn. JAPANESE NAVAL PLANES MOTOR HIGHWAY BOMBED TOKIO, June 15. Japanese units swept up the Yangtse River 45 miles from Nanking. The fall of Wangkaing is expected. Japanese naval planes, flying 1250 miles, bombed Kweilin, on the motor highway to French IndoChina. FLOOD SWEEPING ON RAIN STILL FALLING HANKOW, June 16. (Received June 17, at 1 a.m.) Rain is still falling, and the Yellow River flood has now reached 70 miles due south of Kaifeng and sweeping towards Chowkaikow, 40 miles west of Honan Province. The combined frantic efforts of Japanese soldiers and Chinese farmers failed to repair the breaches, though the Shantung inundation seems to be under control. Both Chinese and Japanese are building dykes the entire length of the Lunghai railway as safety zones.