JAPAN’S PLANS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19550, 4 February 1938, Page 7

JAPAN’S PLANS

RUMOURED SOUTH DRIVE RESISTANCE PREDICTED NORTH CHINA INDUSTRY PROPOSALS FOR CONTROL (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Abbii.) (Reed. Feb. 3, 3.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 2. The Hongkong correspondent of The Times states that rumours have arisen in Canton that the Japanese are planning shortly to invade South China, and have already nominated two politicians to establish a puppet Government, but the Japanese air raids have heightened the spirit of the inhabitants, whom the Government expects stiffly to resist. Kwangsi troops, including women, have arrived at Pakhoi.

Two Japanese destroyers attempted to pass Boccatigris, at the mouth of the Canton River, but the forts tired and the Japanese, after replying, turned back.

Reports from Tokio state that the Foreign Minister, Mr. K. Ilirota, t'old the Budget Committee that the only businesses in North China not open to private enterprise would be transport, communications, electricity, and salt manufacture, all of which were being entrusted to special companies.

Japan hoped that rehabilitation and Organisation would be established for the reopening of all business in Shanghai. • Mr. Ilirota intimated to the Diet that if the international situation demanded it, Japan would conclude a tripartite anti-Communist pact with Manchukuo and the new Chinese Government, aiming primarily to defend China against a threat from the Continent.

The Japanese claim that 15,000 Chinese irregulars infesting the PekinHankow railway in the Changten area surrendered and are now employed in Japanese army transport. From Shanghai it is reported that a Chinese civilian assassinated a Japanese commander at Hangchow. The Domei News Agency says that the Japanese captured Pengpu after heavy Chinese losses. Japan thus controls more than half the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow railway. The next objective will be the Suchow junction.

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED

JAPANESE COMMANDER (Reed. Feb. 3, 3 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 3. The Chinese Consul-General in Sydney issued a statement to the effect that General Matsui, commander-in-chief of the Japanese army, was shot twice in the leg and once in the arm after reviewing -troops at Hanjao. His condition is serious. His assailant committed suicide immediately.