THE ASIATIC CONFLICT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13642, 28 August 1937, Page 5

THE ASIATIC CONFLICT.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR RECOVERINGCHINESE DIGGING IN.

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right. SHANGHAI, August 27. A bulletin states that Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugesson, British Ambassador to China, who was seriously injured when his car was bombed and machine-gunned by Japanese ’planes, spent a reasonably satisfactory night. He was definitely more restful this morning, and the doctors are satisfied with his condition. The city passed a quieter night as the Chinese completed the re-disposi-tioning of their forces. It is reported that they have withdrawn their line three-quarters of a mile beyond the Intei-national Settlement boundary, where they are erecting fresh defences. The Peace Preservation Corps and the Second North Lancs. Battalion have taken over the sector on the north boundary. The Japanese control the eastern district, where the Chinese have not been sighted. Japanese bombers again riddled Pootung. There was severe night fighting, with heavy casualties, in the Lioho sector. The Japanese Spokesman says the Japanese troops have advanced on the Woosung highway within half-a-mile of Shanghai University, and he hopes that in two days the army will establish contact with the naval operations. A message from Nanking claims that Kalgan has not fallen, Shanshi reinforcements arriving just in time to frustrate the Japanese, The Japanese Spokesman, commenting on the Hugesson incident, declared that the unwarranted use of foreign flags by Chinese made their protection of bona-fide foreigners doubtful. Captain Lovat Fraser pays a tribute to Sir Hughe’s remarkable courage and calmness. Although in great pain, he did not lose consciousness and insisted on attending to urgent business on his arrival at Shanghai, before submitting to a doctor’s examination. The United States Consulate has lodged three protests against Japanese attacks on American property, which was bombed and machine-gun-ned although no Chinese were in the vicinity. The Japanese again raided Nanking, destroying 200 houses in the poorer part of the town. At least 150 of both sexes and all ages were killed. ALLEGATION* AGAINST JAPS. LONDON, August 27. The Daily Telegraph’s Nanking correspondent says a communique from Chiang Ivai-sliek’s headquarters alleges that the Japanese using poison gas in the Nankow Pass area, where the Chinese are reported to be still resisting stubbornly. The Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent says the Japanese threatened to bombard the Soviet Consulate in Shanghai “unless signals from the building to Chinese by flashlight cease iminediatelv.” The Soviet declares that the signalling allegations are an “absolute invention,” becausae the building was evacuated several days ago, and believes that the Japanese command is merely seeking an excuse to demolish it. The Soviet warns Japan

that it will he held responsible if the building is damaged. A Shanghai despatch says that the artillery and aircraft are quieter. The facts of the Japanese landings still remain undisclosed, though it is believed they are progressing at Liuho, whence heavy gunfire has been heard, and at Woosung and Chapoo. The Chinese positions are unaltered, except those which were wholly withdrawn at Yangtze poo. Tokio claims that 176 Chinese aeroplanes and 25 hangars were destroyed between August 14 and 25 and that the Japanese lost 16 aeroplanes. SET-BACK TO TRADE. TOKIO, August 27. The Foreign Office is receiving reports that Japanese trade is suffering severely as a result of a boycott of local Chinese merchants throughout South Seas countries. Businessmen are seeking means to counteract the boycott. “AN UNPARALLELED OUTRAGE” LONDON, August 27. The Times, in a leader on the w ounding of the British Ambassador, declares that the outrage is unparalleled. “The claim that it was accidental does not acquit the Japanese Government from responsibility, and apologies are an insufficient reparation. The status of an ambassador is sacrosanct, and nothing excuses violation. The outrage serves to underline the implications of an intolerable situation, and the British Government is assured of the strongest support whatever appropriate action is taken.” The Times’ Shanghai correspondent says the Japanese seemingly believed that Chiang Kai-shek intended to travel to Shanghai; so orders were issued to attack all cars on the road, despite the fact that there were no Chinese troops for miles around. EFFECT IN NEW ZEALAND. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Repercussions of the Sino-Japanese hostilities are now being felt in the running of Japanese ships to New Zealand. The Auckland agents of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha Line to-day advised that ships of the line in the New Zealand service would omit Hongkong, and Shanghai from their calls The motor-ship Sydney Maru, which arrived this afternoon from Kobe, via Australia, will be the first ship affected, and the alteration in the itineraries will continue until the cessation of hostilities. One effect of the new itineraries will he felt in the despatch of mails for China from New’ Zealand. The Osaka Shosen Kaisha ships have been a regular channel of communication between the two countries, and on receipt of the company’s decision today, China was withdrawn by postal authorities from the Sydney Maru’s mail notice. The position has been complicated by the recent decision of an American line trading between Honolulu and the East also to exclude Chinese ports from its schedules. The principal connections now remaining will he the services between Australia and the East.