BRITISH TROOPS TURNED BACK

Southland Times, Issue 23499, 4 May 1938, Page 5

BRITISH TROOPS TURNED BACK

ATTEMPT TO CROSS INTO HONKEW JAPANESE FOLLOW LORRY INTO CONSULATE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 3, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 3. The Japanese turned back a lorry containing British troops seeking to cross the Garden Bridge into Honkew, where a British gunboat had just berthed, states the Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press. The Japanese followed the lorry into the British Consulate compound and brushed aside a sergeant-major who tried to stop them. The British soldiers thereupon alighted and are reported to have fixed bayonets. The Japanese withdrew to their own territory. Japanese warships released the British 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. The Chinese claim favourable developments on all fronts, states a message from Hankow. The Taierchwang line is intact and the Japanese positions in Shansi have been reduced from a line to points threatening early abandonment unless they are reinforced. The Japanese continue to ridicule the Chinese claims to victories in Shantung. On the contrary, they say, the Chinese have been repulsed at Taierchwang and have lost Ichowfu, their largest base in Shangtung. They have suffered several hundred thousand casualties.

The Japanese have resumed the use of one of the main avenues of penetration, the Peiping-Hankow railway, which was idle for 50 hours because of Chinese guerrillas blowing up a bridge at Liuliho, states a message from Peiping. The Chinese also blew up a Japanese troop train between Chuchow and Liuliho on April 29.

JAPANESE RESOURCES TO BE MOBILIZED DISPLAY OF ENTIRE FORCE OF NATION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 3, 10.45 p.m.) TOKYO, May 3. Though it has been hitherto assumed that the National Mobilization Bill has not been utilized in the present Chinese conflict, the Government is immediately enforcing its clauses and is mobilizing personal, industrial and commodity resources to ensure the most effective display of the entire force of the nation. The Tokyo correspondent of The Times says that, signifying the intention of the High Command to prepare for protracted warfare by changing commanders tired after 10 months of fighting, the Navy announces that on June 4 vice-admirals and rear-admirals will be transferred during a complete shuffle of commands in China. Vice-Admiral Hasegawa, commander of the Third Fleet, will be transferred to the command of the Yokosuka base and will be replaced by Vice-Admiral Oikawa. Yokosuka is one of the most important Japanese commands. RearAdmiral Sugiyama goes to the Naval General Staff in Tokyo and will be replaced as Chief of Staff of the Third Fleet by Rear-Admiral Kusaka.

PAYMENT OF CHINA’S FOREIGN DEBTS JAPANESE TO HAND OVER QUOTA FROM CUSTOMS (British Official Wireless) (Received May 3, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 2. Temporary measures to be taken by Japan for the of Customs payments in areas occupied by the Japanese forces in China during the period of hostilities are discussed in statements issued in London and Tokyo. According to the arrangements, which will be subject to reconsideration if any radical change occurs in economic conditions, all revenues collected by the Customs at each port within the areas under Japanese occupation are to be deposited with the Yokohama Specie Bank. From revenues thus deposited the foreign loan quotas will be remitted to the Inspector-General of the Chinese Maritime Customs (Sir Frederick Maze) to meet in full the servicing of foreign loans and indemnities secured on the Customs revenue.

The arrangements are the result of negotiations conducted by the British Ambassador to Tokyo (Sir Robert Clive) with Japan since last February and, having regard to the military situation in the Far East, appear to Britain to offer the best guarantee obtainable for safeguarding the interests of holders .of Chinese foreign debts secured on the Customs revenues and thereby to assist in maintaining China’s credit.