HAZE FOILS GUNS OF JAPAN

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 5

HAZE FOILS GUNS OF JAPAN

Chinese In Nanking

Destroy Cover

TERRITORIAL DEMANDS HINTED IN TOKYO (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 9, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 9. A haze enabled Nanking to escape bombing, but land and river batteries shelled the city. The authorities are busy clearing the crowded Hsiakwa waterfront district in expectation of air attacks. Rigorous martial law has been imposed. Chinese soldiery continue to bum beautiful new residences between the inner and outer walls in order to deprive the Japanese of cover. The Japanese vanguards have reached the Unicom and Morning Sunshine gates, two of the 18 in the city’s outer or “high sea” wall. The Morning Sunshine gates lead to the Mint' Tombs, one of the few remaining monuments of Nanking’s bvgone Imperial glories. The Japanese for the first time in the campaign crossed the north bank of the Yangtze Kiang and seized Tsingkiang, opposite the Chinese forts at Kiang-tin. They are apparently trying to cut off the retreat of the Chinese fleeing to Nanking. The Japanese are now only 15 miles from Wuhu. They have also occupied Ching-kiang, which the Chinese have burned down.

A Japanese spokesman at Peiping admits that the Chinese have recaptured Ping-yao. The Domei news agency (Tokyo) states that the Japanese command is delivering a demand for surrender to General Tan Sheng-chi, who is commanding'3oo,ooo Chinese troops in the Nanking and Wuhu areas, before the Japanese apply final pressure declaring, in “true Samurai spirit,” that the Japanese are not desirous of causing a heavy loss of non-combatants in carrying out their plans to eliminate Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. It is unofficially understood in Tokyo that Japan is still ready to negotiate with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, but if overtures are not forthcoming Japan will soon assume that he has resigned and will proceed with the formation of a “peace at any price” Government. The Foreign Office spokesman hinted that Japan might require territorial concessions in addition to her previous demands if the resistance continued. He added that there was no need to hurry, as any peace conference must be held in the Far East. CHINA EXPECTED TO SUE FOR PEACE

JAPANESE ADMIT GERMAN EFFORTS AT NANKING (Received December 9, 11.35 p.m.) TOKYO, December 9. “The only peace procedure acceptable to Japan is an approach from China, upon which Japan will state her terms, and all a third party can do to expedite peace is to persuade Nanking to enter into direct negotiations with Tokyo,” declared the Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Tatsuo Kawai) who admitted that Germany was trying to persuade Nanking along this line. “I do not know whether such action is concerted or individual,” said Mr Kawai, “but it is only natural that Britain, Germany, Italy and others with large interests in the Far East should be active in persuading China to sue for peace. And we are awaiting the results.” BOMBING OF BRITISH STEAMERS JAPANESE EXPRESSION OF REGRETS SHANGHAI, December 8. After a strom British protest against the bombing of the British steamers Tuck Wo and Tatung, the Chief of Staff of the Jananese Commander-in-Chief (General Matsui) waited on the Com-mander-in-Chief of the China Station (Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Little) and conveyed personal regrets. Britain will now lodge a bill of indemnity.