HOPES FAILING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 14 July 1937, Page 6

HOPES FAILING

CRISIS IN CHINA SERIOUS CLASH LOOMING NANKING DETERMINED CHECK TO INVASION OEI A! TOKI<) WARNING (Klee. Tol. Copyright—Unili-d Press Assn.) (Reed. July 14, 2 p.m.) LONDON, July 13.

Reports from Shanghai state that with the war fever burning in China and Japan and the armies drawing closer towards Pekin hopes of averting a serious clash are dwindling. Addressing the Foreign Office Staff at Nanking, the Chinese vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “China is determined to resist further encroachment on Chinese territory.”

Meanwhile the Mayor of Pekin has telephoned to Nanking stating that the outlook for peace is completely hopeless. The chancellors and professors of the most important universities of Pekin have telegraphed to Marshal Chiang' Kai-Shek urging the most drastic action against the Japanese.

Twelve more Japanese troop trains arrived at Tientsin to-day. Others are on the way. At least 100 Japanese aeroplanes were seen manoeuvring yesterday over the ShanhaiKuan sea end of the Great Wall. Embassies Warn Nationals

The British and other embassies at Pekin have warned their respective nationals living outside the walls to withdraw inside the city preparatory to evacuation. The city is now almost completely isolated from civilian transport. The Chinese Foreign Office has requested foreign consulates to instruct their nationals to evacuate Pekin and is offering aeroplanes to assist their removal. The 160th division of the Chinese Army has been ordered to entrain to proceed northwards. The Japanese are reported to have retreated to Feng-Tai after two hours of battle. Fighting is proceeding in the Wangping-Sein area. The Japanese have 32 planes on the Tientsin front.

A Hongkong message says that two Japanese naval squadrons from Formosa have been ordered to South China as a protection against antiJapanese agitation. A Tokio report says (hat the Japanese army spokesman stated:— "Full preparations have been completed to assist the liquidation of the North China incident. The army is prepared to take the most extreme measures in the event of further provocation.” The Governor-General of Formosa has received warning to place the island on a war footing. Korea is already in this position. Similar orders have been sent to the Japanese naval stations.

ANXIETY IN LONDON TALKS WITH MINISTERS SETT LEM ENT EFFORTS (British Official Wirelwss.) Reed. 1.15 p.m. RUGBY, July 13. The incidents in the Far East are being watched with concern in London. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, is maintaining close contact with the United States regarding the developments. Yesterday he had an interview with the Japanese Ambassador and expressed anxiety which the situation is causing the British Government.

A danger that is apprehended in London is that in the efforts of each side to fix on the other the responsibility for the recent fighting questions of prestige may be permitted to prevent an early settlement of the dispute. The United States Charge d’Affaires in London had interviews with Mr. Eden yesterday and to-day, and the Chinese Ambassador had an interview this morning.