BAYONETS FIXED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 4 May 1938, Page 5

BAYONETS FIXED

BRITISH THREAT PROTECTING CONSULATE JAPS. RETIRE IN SHANGHAI SUSPECT SHIP RELEASED TOKIO CALLS TO NATION (Klec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) <Recd. May 4, 10 a.m.) LONDON, May 3. The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press reporfe that the Japanese to-day turned back a lorry of British troops seeking -to' cross Garden Bridge into Honkew, where a British gunboat had' just berthed. The Japanese followed the lorry into the British Consulate compound and brushed aside a ser-geant-major who was trying to stop them.

The British . soldiers thereupon alighted and : are reported • to ; have fixed bayonets. The Japanese then withdrew to their own territory.

The Japanese protested to the British, alleging that the naval "authorities were attempting to take munitions to Hongkew without notice.

Japanese warships the steamer Kingyuan, which they intercepted in the belief that she was carrying 30,000 nickel ingots, formerly the property of the Nationalist Government's mint at-Shanghai. A Hankow message states that.the Chinese claim that their general offensive in the south Shantung area hurled baclTlhe Japanese for seven miles.

A message from Tokio states that though it hitherto has ..been assumed that the national mobilisation bill would not be utilised in the present Chinese conflict, the Government of Japan is immediately enforcing the clauses and is mobilising personal, industrial and commodity resources to ensure the most effective display of the entire force of the nation.