WARNING ISSUED

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1932, Page 7

WARNING ISSUED

ACTIVITIES Of CHINESE CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS •JAPANESE CANNOT IGNORE’ IMPROVEMENT IN SHANGHAI MANCHURIAN EXCITEMENT Br Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Shanghai, March 8. The Japanese Commander-in-Chief (General Shirawaka) has issued a warning to the Chinese regarding the continued con* Mntr&tion of hostile troops in the vicinity •f the Japanese defences. He states that the . digging of trenches and the erecting *t defences constitute a threat which the Japanese cannot overlook. If a serious •lash occurs the responsibility will be on the Chinese. , The Nanking populace is reported to be excited and many are evacuating the city owing to reports of the advance of the Japanese and the retreat of Chinese troops. These reports are discredited. General Chiang Kai Shek has been ap* pointed Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army, Navy and Air Force. The situation in Shanghai is brighter following the announcement that the Chinese public services are to be resumed in the devastated area. Changchun, the new capital of the new Manchurian State of ManchowkoU, is agog with' excitement pending the inauguration of the new regent, the ex-Emperor of China, now generally known as Mr. Puyi. All the preparations are* in the hands of the Japanese; Meantime developments in Manchuria are again attracting attention. Harbin reports that 61 locomotives have been sent by the Chinese-Eastern Railway into Russia. The purpose is unknown. DANGER OF. CIVIL WARFARE ’NECESSITY OF JAPANESE FORCES’ MAJOR BATTLES NOT EXPECTED. Rec. 12.55 a.m. Shanghai, March 9. Despite General Shirakawa’s warning to the Chinese yesterday, he .officially indicated to a conference with the Press to-day that he did not expect further major hostilities, though the danger of civil war between the Cantonese forces and General Chiang Kai Shek’s troops in the areas around Shanghai was obvious, necessitating the retaining of considerable Japanese forces, along the twenty-kilometre boundaries. MEDIATION, NOT COERCION.” BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S VIEW. Rec. 1 a.m. London, March 9. “The British Government will not. participate in any coercive measures against Japan,” Sir John Simon told the Daily Mail’s special representative at Geneva. Sir John added: “The League’s duty is to obtain a settlement by mediation, not coercion which would inevitably leave one of the parties embittered.” INCENDIARISM AT MUKDEN DEMONSTRATION AGAINST PUYI. JAPAN REPORTS MANY ARRESTS. Rec. 1.5 a.m.- Tokio, March 9. Innumerable simultaneous fires early this morning are reported at Mukden. Hundreds were arrested when they were caught red-handed. They are said to be adherents of Marshal Chang Hsueh Liang, and intended.the fires as a demonstration against the inaugural ceremony and investiture of Mr. Henry Puyi as regent of the new State of Manchuria. •DAILY REPORTS TO GENEVA. FOREIGN OBSERVERS’ REVIEWS. British Wireless. Rugby, March 8. Sir John Simon at the League Assembly at Geneva to-day read a message from Sir Miles Lampson, British Minister in China, stating that, in accordance with the Assembly’s request, the British, United States, French and Italian authorities in Shanghai were collaborating to send to Geneva a daily joint telegram giving the latest available information regarding the situation in the Shanghai neighbourhood. The first report, dated yesterday, gave the position of the Japanese lines and stated that occasional skirmishing was then continuing. The Assembly delegates then continued a general debate on various aspects of the dispute.