BRITISH TROOPS FACE JAPANESE

Southland Times, Issue 23498, 3 May 1938, Page 7

BRITISH TROOPS FACE JAPANESE

HIGHLANDERS WITH MACHINE-GUNS SETTLEMENT EASES HIGH TENSION (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 3, 1.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, May 2. As a sequel to the throwing of a hand-grenade, allegedly aimed at a Japanese lorry on the Nanking road in the International Settlement, a tense situation has arisen. Brigadier-General Telfer-Smollett, officer in command of the British troops in the International Settlement, posted a detachment of steel-helmeted Seaforth Highlanders at the spot with machine-guns in consequence of Japanese gendarmes virtually taking possession of the street overnight and half a dozen entering the Louza police station which is staffed by British officers. Brigadier-General Telfer-Smollett complained that the British defence sector had been violated and ordered the Seaforth Highlanders not to vacate the police station while the Japanese remained. A report that 2000 Chinese guerrilla fighters had entered the foreign area heightened the tension. The incident ended in an agreement between the Seaforth Highlanders and the Japanese and the gendarmes were withdrawn.