CHECK BY SNOW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19455, 14 October 1937, Page 5

CHECK BY SNOW

JAPANESE DRIVES INVASION OF CHINA EFFORT TO CUT LINES BOMBING OF CHAPEI APOLOGY TO BRITISH (Elec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) Reed. Oct. 14, 12 noon) LONDON, Oct. 13. Shanghai reports state that the Japanese advance in North China is more successful than in the Shanghai area, but here again the weather may be an important factor. Snow is beginning to fall in Mongolia and may soon bring the Suiyuan campaign to an end. The Japanese; however, hope to drive a wedge between Chinese Mongolia and China proper in order to cut communications between China and Russia before the winter. The Japanese offensive in the Shanghai sector has not made much progress. Country Sea of Mud The Chinese' spokesman pointed out that though the war had lasted 28 days longer than in 1932, the, Japanese had not advanced anything like as far from Shanghai, nor had they been able to consolidate their gains. The countryside round Shanghai is a sea of mud and highly unfavourable for infantry operations. Whether the Japanese progress has been interrupted by the adverse weather cannot yet be determined, out it seems that the main southward thrust has not weakened the Chinese positions in Chapei and Kiangwan. Japanese planes are dropping handbills on the Chinese fronts, offering a dollar for every soldier deserting.

During to-day’s extensive bombing of Chapei a bomb fell 15 yards from a house manned by British troops and stove in the roof. There were no casualties. A protest was promptly sent to the Japanese commander, who sent an officer to apologise.

SCRAP IRON RESTRICTION N.Z. STEP REPORTED (Reed. Oct. 14, 10 a.m.) TOKIO, Oct. 13. The Domei News Agency reports that New Zealand has prohibited the export of scrap iron to Japan.

LABOUR CALL IGNORED WHALER AT FREMANTLE FREMANTLE, Oct. 13. The coal lumpers to-day ignored the call for labour for the Japanese whaler, Tonan Maru. Th whaler will now replenish her supplies in the Antarctic from a ship which is to be sent from Japan. Stores of oil and water will be loaded at Fremantle by the ship’s own crew. Sir George Pearce, Minister of External Affairs, stated to-day that he deprecated boycotts of this kind by individual organisations.

VICTIMS OF GAS PATIENTS AT NANKING NO WOUNDS EVIDENT (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. The following cablegram was received by the Chinese Consul in Wellington from Nanking yesterday:— “The Japanese at the Shanghai sector are using poisonous gas, and many casualties have been reported. The following statement, signed by the chief surgeons of the Nanking Red Cross Hospital, Dr. H. F. Ettinger and Dr. Borcic, representatives in China of the Health Organisation of the League of Nations, is concrete proof: “ ‘The undersigned have examined three cases in the Red Cross General Hospital at Nanking, and have diagnosed them as gas casualties, and submit the following findings:— “ ‘The patients still have marked symptoms of conjunctivitis with photophobsa and are covered with blisters varying in diameter between .2 to 5 centimetres. Some blisters are beginning to dry up; others secondary infection and ulceration. The colour of most of the lesions is copperish, but some contain black pigment. “ ‘Hoarseness is the common symptom of all cases. The eyelids in two cases are edematous, eyes lachrimatlng constantly. One case arrived with marked broncho pneumonia. “ ‘Patients present no wounds and they state that three or four hours after enemy attack from artillery and from the air, they felt burning all over their bodies. Their eyes started to smart and water. One, the youngest, felt pain one hour after attack. “ ‘Combination of clinical history with physical findings convinces us the patients are suffering from effects of a vesicant agent, most likely gas of the mustard group, which was released from gas bombs or shells and struck them in a low state of concentration.

“Other cases are under examination and further reports of use of poisonous gas by the enemy are still coming in. “Japanese units east of the LuihangDazang highway were driven back to the edge of Wentsaopang. To hold off the Chinese attack, the Japanese used poison gas cylinders which burst upon landing among advancing Chinese troops.”