FOUR BATTLES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19375, 13 July 1937, Page 13

FOUR BATTLES

TRUCES IN PEKIN AREA NIGHT ATTACK IN ERROR DISPUTE OVER BRIDGE ARTILLERY TN ACTION (Eire. Tol. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 12. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 11. The Daily Mail’s Pekin correspondent says that the clash between the Chinese and Japanese troops near Pekin produced four battles and four truces. Battle number one began with the Chinese mistaking the Japanese night manoeuvres for an attack on the Marco Paolo Bridge at Wangping. The Chinese fired on them. Chinese and Japanese officials arrived and stopped the fighting.

Battle number two developed next morning and included the shelling of. Wangping. An armistice was declared. An hour later the Japanese sent an ultimatum to the Chinese to retire from the bridge. Battle number three opened two hours later when the Chinese refused to withdraw. The thunderous roar of artillery died down and fresh negotiations were opened. Battle number four commenced on the same evening and was fiercer than the previous engagements. It ended after an hour and a-half. Verbal and armed clashes continue, the Chinese and Japanese both accusing the other of bad faith, while further brushes are being reported. The Japanese captured Wangpingsein, and fighting occurred six miles to the west of Pekin, which the Japanese are reported to be attempting to surround. However, it is doubtful whether they have sufficient troops for this purpose.