AIR ATTACK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 5

AIR ATTACK

BRITONS IN PERIL JAPANESE 'PLANES CARS RAIDED ON HIGHWAY ESCAPE OF OCCUPANTS SHANGHAI BOMBARDMENT PRELUDE TO BIG PUSH (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 13, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 12. A message from Shanghai states that 12 planes, allegedly Japanese, today attacked and machine-gunned three British motor cars en route from Nanking to Shanghai, 1G miles from Shanghai, the occupants' including' the assistant air attache, Mr. S. Murray, who alighted on the side of the road. There were no casualties. The cars carried Union Jacks which, it is stated, should have been easily identifiable. A member of the Embassy party, Mr. Braham, in an interview, said that the Union Jack was conspicuously painted on the cars, but this did not deter the attackers. A bullet smashed a window of one car. The British authorities informed the Japanese, who issued a communique declaring that they were not notified that British cars were travelling 10 Shanghai. Unable to See Markings The Japanese authorities later stated ! that they had received a preliminary report showing that the planes con- : cerned were unable to see the markings on the cars, which were supposed to be occupied by high Chinese officers. The Chinese are constructing elaborate fortifications in the region of Minghong where the incident occurred, and consequently the area is receiving special attention by Japanese bombers. The, British Consul-General has completed a preliminary investigation. It is learned that the British Embassy at Nanking notified the Japanese Embassy in advance of the intention to send cars to Shanghai. Pounding of Lines A further report from Shanghai states that the pounding of the Chinese lines to the north of the International Settlement continued throughout the day. The shelling is believed to be the prelude to a great Japanese offensive, for which the weather is now favourable. After the artillery fire planes terrifically bombed the Shanghai-Woosung railway near the North Station. The Chinese spokesman claims that the Chinese artillery scored direct hits on two Japanese transports which were unloading troops for Whangpoo. A Nanking message states that thrilling air battles were witnessed today when Japanese bombers attacked the aerodrome at Nanking. One ol the raiders was shot down. Three others succeeded in dropping about 60 bombs.

LOADING WORK REFUSED JAPANESE WHALER FREMANTLE WATERSIDERS FREMANTLE, Oct. 12. Pursuant to the recent decision not to handle Japanese ships, the wharflumpers here to-day refused to unload explosives and load coal in the Japanese whaling vessel, Tonan Maru, which, with five chasers, is the vanguard of several Japanese whaling fleets due to pass through and obtain provisions at this port within the next 10 days. The Tonan Maru is now anchored in the harbour.

TOKIO WAR LOAN NEARLY £12,000,000 (Reed. Oct. 13, noon) TOKIO, Oct. 12. It is officially reported that the Bank of Japan is underwriting a Government loan of £11,600,000 to finance the war in China.

OLD CAPITAL RENAMED JAPANESE DECREE (Reed. Oct. 13, noon) PEKIN, Oct. 12. The ancient capital, named Peiping by the Nanking Government in 1928, has been renamed Pekin by the Japanese authorities. The use of the name Peiping has been forbidden as from to-morrow.

TIME OF GRAVE ANXIETY MISSIONERS IN CANTON BOMBS NEAR HOSPITALS ■ ■ (Per Pross Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. News of the dangerous and disturbed conditions under which missionaries of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church in the Canton area at present are living was given to the Auckland Presbytery to-night by the superintendent of missions, the Rev. G. Budd. He said that the last news he had received from them came by air mail, and was dated October 1. All their missionaries were safe at present, but