JAPAN AND CHINA.

Otago Witness, Issue 4066, 16 February 1932, Page 24

JAPAN AND CHINA.

BATTLE AT WOOSUNG. FIGHTING IN A SNOWSTORM AREA NOW A QUAGMIRE SHANGHAI, February 13. A transport carrying approximately 10,000 Japanese troops arrived at the wayside wharves this evening under the command of Lieutenant-General Ueda, one of the most famous Japanese military officers. They will be landed on Sunday morning, moving into the Chapei lines preparatory to a big push. This afternoon, following heavy shelling of the Chinese positions, the first serious infantry battle occurred at Woosung, where a small advance party of Japanese crossed the Woosung Creek, four miles above the village, where the. Chinese forces were entrenched. The crossing was achieved on pontoons, which had been carried overland by Japanese engineers, the troops crossing under fire and immediately charging the Chinese trenches along the banks. After a stubborn resistance the Chinese retreated in the face of Japanese reinforcements, 2000 having landed from the main division. The Japanese are now commencing an encircling movement of the village in a westerly direction, necessitating a rearguard to prevent Chinese reinforcements attacking while the main body is surrounding the Chinese forces, which the Japanese expect to accomplish on Sunday morning. To-day’s fighting was severe and the Woosung territory is a quagmire. This afternoon’s battle was fought in a snowfall. THE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT JAPANESE ASSURANCES TOKIO, February 13. The transportation at frequent intervals of reinforcements intended to relieve the marines from shore duty at Shanghai is proceeding. The authorities state that the total number has not yet been decided, but that it will only be sufficient to remove the Chinese soldiers from the proximity of the International Settlement. The Japanese military commander on arrival will request the local representatives of the Powers to join in the strongest demand that the Chinese troops to be withdrawn to a safe distance from the settlement. It is officially stated that the Japanese will land troops, but will not enter the settlement, in order to avoid international complications. PEACEFUL NEIGHBOUR . ATTACKED CHINESE POINT OF VIEW GENEVA, February 13. There cannot be a desire for disarmament in China while a militarist nation is allowed to hurl a powerful war machine against a peaceful neighbour in defiance of all solemn peace pledges, said Dr Yen at the Disarmament Conference. China favoured disarmament in all forms on the basis of Sir John Simon's formula plus security. LEAGUE OF NATIONS DISCUSSIONS RUGBY, February 12. Geneva reports state that a private session of the League of Nations Council was held, all delegates except those of China attending. The Council took note of the Chinese letter regarding the question of the convocation of the League Assembly in plenary session. The League Council will be held on Monday, when the date of the Assembly meeting will be fixed. The report adds that as China's request was based on the application of Article 15 of the Covenant, the Council of the League will continue the discussion of the Far East question in the light of Articles 1 and 10. CHINESE REFUGEE CAMP BOMBED BY JAPANESE PROTEST TO THE LEAGUE GENEVA, February 13. Sir Hope Simpson, director of the National Flood Relief Commission, has telegraphed to the League Secretariat protesting in the name of humanity against the Japanese air bombardment on February 5 of the flood refugee camp, con- . taining eight thousand, and killing one woman and a boy and wounding four. Several patients also died of fright. The camp had been again bombed on February 6 and 7, resulting in more deaths. The action is described as wanton, inhuman, and militarily useless. JAPANESE ADVANCE AT WOOSUNG CREEK LARGE CONCENTRATION OF WARSHIPS SHANGHAI, February 14. The Japanese report that they occupied the north bank of Woosung Creek during the night. There is a large concentration of Japanese warships at the mouth of the Yangtse Kiang. The situation at Chapei is quiet.

TERROR-STRICKEN CHINESE PARTY EFFECTS RESCUE GREAT HUMANITARIAN ACT SHANGHAI, February 12. The greatest humanitarian act in the present Sino-Japanese campaign was performed this morning, when a small band of 16 Roman Catholic sisters, headed by Major Haleybell, Father Jacquinot, and Miss Haleybell, entered ruined Chapei. They crossed the dreaded No Man’s Land during the four-hour truce, and effected the rescue of approximately 1000 starving, terror-stricken Chinese ,vhc had been isolated since the outbreak of hostilities a fortnight ago. Owing to the impossibility of motor trucks crossing the shell-torn Chapei roads, which are blocked with ruins, the small party was forced to walk. Father Jacquinot, who is a veteran of the Great War and a French military medallist, led the party, with Major Haleybell, a former commissioner of Customs. Then followed the white-gowned sisters, carrying Red Cross flags, each with a bag of medical supplies and provisions. Miss Haleybell, a 19-year-old English girl, accompanied her father. The party was accompanied by a Japanese escort as far as the Japanese front lines where it was wished Godspeed and a safe return, and despatched across the desolate wastes towards the Chinese lines. From that moment until the first batch of refugees appeared anxious moments were spent by those who were awaiting their return. There was little fear that the Japanese would break the truce, but the uncertainty about the Chinese soldiers caused considerable anxiety. During their absence two Chinese shells were fired, while occasional shots rang out in the Chinese lines, but the truce was well observed.

Although they were reluctant to recount the terrible scenes witnessed in the Chapei shambles, where the unburied dead lie rotting, the refugees were found starving amidst unspeakable squalor, huddled in ruins and whimpering, necessitating force in some instances to induce evacuation. Eventually a stream of reftlgees appeared amidst the ruins, slowly trekking towards the settlement and carrying a conglomeration of household effects. Many were staggering from weakness, but were finally brought to the concentration cam]), where they received their first meal for 14 days. The rescuers report that many refused to leave, and had to be abandoned to whatever fate awaits them. Chinese merchants are asking the British, French, and American Ministers to endeavour to arrange an extension of the truce with a view to peace negotiations with Nanking. A message from Tokio states that Admiral Nomura has requested the cruiser Berwick to leave Woosung by 3 o’clock, intimating that Japan is contemplating a bombardment.

EVACUATION OF JAPANESE TOKIO, February 12. The evacuation of women and children from Shanghai has practically been completed, 9000 having been transported to Japan. SHANGHAI SETTLEMENT SITUATION GROWING WORSE SHANGHAI, February 11. The situation in the settlement is growing worse. The Chinese food supplies are perilously short. Two hundred thousand skilled Chinese workers are idle, apart from an equal number of labourers, and untold numbers of refugees, who in a few days may be facing starvation, with serious consequences to the safety of the lives and property of foreigners and the better class Chinese within the boundaries. NO MAN’S LAND CHINESE DRIVING TUNNELS SHANGHAI, February 11. During the past few days the Chinese have been tunnelling in No Man’s Land, and laying large electric mines along a wide front, where the Japanese must cross for an infantry attack. Large coolie squads are engaged on the work. The Japanese must eradicate the forces at Woosung village before landing. The latest division of troops which intends marching overland with eight batteries of howitzers is now aboard transports at the mouth of the river. The division consists of 14,000 men. THE FOUR-HOUR TRUCE RUGBY, February 11. A message from Shanghai states that the British Consul-general (Mr Brennan) and his United States colleague have arranged a four hours’ truce for to-morrow morning to permit of the evacuation of the women and children and, wounded from the Chapei district. A truce was also arranged by the German Consul-general to permit of the withdrawal of the German professors from the college at Woosung. A REQUEST BY CHINA GENEVA, February 11. The Chinese, exercising their right under Article 15 of the Covenant, are

requesting a special session to be convened to consider the Sino-Japanese conflict. ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE LEAGUE CONSIDERS REPORT RUGBY, February 9. At a special meeting of the League Council at Geneva to consider the preliminary report of the Shanghai Commis sion of Inquiry, the Chinese and Japanese delegates gave their own versions of the manner in which the present situation had developed. Count Sato declared that in order to end hostilities the Japanese were willing to withdraw behind the line assigned to them, but it was essential that the Chinese should also withdraw behind their line, thus creating a neutral zone to b>administered and controlled by neutral authority, but the question must be discussed at Shanghai, as sufficient informa tion was not available at Geneva. THE BRITISH FORCES DEFENCE OF SETTLEMENT RUGBY, February 9. Questioned by Mr Lansbury on the Shanghai situation. Mr Baldwin in the House of Commons replied that the British Government on three occasions had made it clear to the Japanese Government that it could not approve of the use of the settlement except for defensive purposes. The role of the British forces was strictly confined to the defence of the settlement. Answering further questions, Mr Bald win said the aim all the time was to bring about a peaceful settlement between the Japanese and the Chinese, and to avoid embroiling Britain on either side. THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY NEW YORK, February 10. Hope of bringing peace to the Far East was expressed by the League of Nations Far Eastern Commission of Inquiry, four of the five members of which have arrived here. The Earl of Lytton, the British representative, said that their survey of the Far East would be limited to nine months, but it was hoped to finish the work before the September meeting of the League. They will sail for the Orient from San Francisco on Saturday. AMERICAN NATIONALS MEASURES FOR PROTECTION WASHINGTON, February 10. The announcement that the Tokio Government was considering sending envoys to Washington, London and Paris to explain and clarify the Japanese position in the Manchurian question was received with surprise in official circles, where it is understood that such representatives would be welcomed, but the general impression exists that the Ambassador (Mr Debuchi) is presenting the viewpoint ably. It is understood that the State Department has forwarded instructions to the Consul-general at Shanghai (Mr Cunningham) regarding the protection of the lives and property of the nationals. It is believed that sufficient ships are available at Shanghai' to evacuate nationals, if that is necessary.