SINO-JAP. TENSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19029, 1 June 1936, Page 5

SINO-JAP. TENSION

TROOP TRAIN BOMBED CHINESE ACCUSED FRIENDSHIP IN JEOPARDY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) PEKIN, May 30. Acute tension followed a mishap to a Japanese troop train last night three miles from Tientsin, versions of which are in direct variance. Tho Japanese statement declares that a bomb exploded beneath a troop train carrying reinforcements to the Japanese garrison at Tientsin. .One wagon was destroyed and several horses injured. The Chinese, on the contrary, assert that tho Japanese themselves loosened the fish plates and prised up a length of rail. Chinese discovered this before the arrival of the troop train and repaired. the damage. The Chinese fear that tho Japanese will seize on the incident as a pretext for [direct action in North China.

It is reported that the Japanese have placed a Chinese official under surveillance.

An official Japanese statement says I hat any disturbance will destroy SinoJapanese friendship. The Japanese military authorities are devising measures in the performance of their duty. The Chinese claim that only a patrolman's vigilance saved the crowded Mukden express from disaster on the damaged track.

The British United Press Pekin correspondent says that the Japanese have mounted machine-guns at Pekin station. As three troop trains arrived, they ejected journalists from the platform,