MILLION HOMES EVACUATED

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 7

MILLION HOMES EVACUATED

Near Approach Of Winter FEARS OF EPIDEMICS NO HARVEST OF RURAL CROPS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 15, 8.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, October 15. With the approach of winter the Shanghai authorities are most concerned at the plight of the destitute Chinese, many of whom fled from the war zones. It is estimated that there are 1,000,000 evacuated homes of which number three-quarters of the people have gone to Shanghai. Two hundred thousand are homeless, living in alleys and doorways, while tens of thousands of others are housed in mat sheds. All need warm clothing, bedding and medical supplies. There are fears of outbreaks of small pox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, typhus, meningitis and influenza. Many of those destitute rely on garbage cans for food and others beg. Thousands are living on the charity of friends or on their dwindling resources. It is feared that 500,000 will be destitute before Christmas and the total is likely to increase as the area of hostilities extends. Three hundred and fifty thousand farmers outside the municipal areas will be unable to harvest summer crops and will not be able to plant autumn crops. Relief funds are almost exhausted. JAPAN MAY ATTEND CONFERENCE NO PROPOSAL OF VATICAN SUPPORT (Received October 16, 1.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 15. The Chinese air force, taking the initiative from the Japanese at Shanghai, raided Japanese positions all night and destroyed several Japanese planes at the Yangtze-poo aerodrome. General Shih-yuen, commander of the famous “ironside troops,” has been appointed commander-in-chief at Shanghai with instructions vigorously to prosecute the counter-offensive. Chinese officials estimate Japanese casualties at Shanghai at round about 20,000. . A Foreign Office spokesman at Tokyo stated that there was a possibility that Japan would attend the nine-Power conference, but not if Japan was branded an aggressor. The Government was awaiting the agenda before its decision. It is hinted that naval quarters favoured a war blockade to prevent other Powers sending munitions to China. Two hundred thousand Japanese Catholics requested the Foreign Office to establish a delegation at Vatican City. The Apostolic delegate to Japan, commenting on the movement, stated that the Vatican did not take sides in political controversies and he had received no instructions from the Vatican to assist Japan in its fight against Bolshevism. ATTACK ON BRITISH CARS ROUTE PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED (British Official Wireless) (Received October 15, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 14. Investigations have established that the motor-cars in which a British party was attacked by Japanese aeroplanes earlier in the week were following the route between Nanking and Shanghai which had been previously notified through the Consular authorities to the Japanese armed forces.

JAPANESE SPOKESMAN’S WARNING INTERFERENCE WOULD ENDANGER PEACE TIENTSIN, October 14. Mr Matsuoka, president of the South Manchuria Railway and the youngest member of Japan’s “brain trust,” told journalists that the Chinese problem was insoluble until Shanghai and Nanking were occupied. He added that the movements of General Chiang Kaishek were not as important as the real Chinese leaders were at present in Shanghai. Interference by other Powers in the Far East would endanger peace. USE OF POISON GAS CHINA’S ACCUSATIONS TO LEAGUE GENEVA, October 14. China has sent two new Notes to the League accusing Japan of using poison gas and dum-dum bullets and continuing to bomb open towns. Two ilatements from League medical officers are attached certifying that there are three cases in Nanking hospital suffering from gas poisoning.