SHANSI PROVINCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23857, 11 July 1939, Page 9

SHANSI PROVINCE

NEW JAPANESE DRIVE CHINESE REINFORCEMENTS GUERRILLAS TAKE TOLL (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) CHUNGKING, July 9. The Japanese have launched a new drive in the south-east of Shansi province. Chinese reinforcements are being poured into the sector in an effort to stem the advance. Guerrillas are very active in the lower Yangtse valley and have inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese. JAPANESE RESOLUTIONS HOSTILITY TO BRITAIN TOKIO, July 9. Sixty thousand people participated in the anti-British rally at Kobe. Hostile resolutions were cabled to Mr Chamberlain, Lord Halifax, and Sir Archibald Clark Kerr (British Ambassador in China). Similar meetings were held at Morioka and Peking. The British Consul at Tientsin, Mr Jamieson, is reported to have apologised to the Japanese army authorities regarding a river collision in which the escort vessel Lowestoft and a Japanese army motor boat were involved, damaging the latter. The Japanese, in view of the fact that the collision was purely accidental, accepted the apology and did not demand damages. TIENTSIN DISPUTE THE TOKIO NEGOTIATIONS LONDON, July 9. The Tokio correspondent of The Times says the Anglo-Japanese conference concerning Tientsin is expected to open on either July 12 or July 13. The Japanese military and civilian delegates held a preliminary conference at the week-end and drew up proposals for submission to Cabinet on July 11. The Tientsin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says all is quiet, but the Japanese sentries are annoying Britons by sending them back to the end of the queues in the examination sheds and giving preference to Chinese.

The British and Japanese military authorities have broken off relations. General Homma, commander of the Japanese garrison at Tientsin, refused to receive Major-general Grasett, commanding the British troops in China, who is making a tour of inspection. The Japanese interfered with shipping on the Hai River. They held up the P. and O. vessel Soudan for a day. CONCESSION INCIDENT JAPAN PROTESTS TO FRANCE HANKOW, July 9. Japan has protested to the French municipality against the Concession incident. It is stated that a blockade of the Concession is likely if the French do not respond in a proper manner. A dangerous anniversary incident occurred at Hankow on July 7, where 100 French marines armed with machine-guns defied the Japanese garrison and refused to allow a decorated float to traverse the Concession.