JAPAN WILL PUNISH CHINA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20815, 25 August 1937, Page 9

JAPAN WILL PUNISH CHINA

TOKIO DEMANDS APOLOGIES J\’O REPLY TO BRITISH NOTE {ANGLO-AMERICAN APPEAL FOR PEACE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 24, 8.45 p.m.) TOKIO, August 24. "Japan will not be satisfied until real punishment has been given China and until China recognises her wrongs and apologises for it,” says “The Japan Times" in a leader. “If the fighting lasts two years it will obviously tax Japan's manpower and economic strength to the utmost. According to “The Michi Shimbun," the War Minister (Mr Sugiyama) told a conference of parties that Japan would seek the speediest decision, and would not play into China's hands with a protracted war. General Iwane Matsui, former Com-mander-in-Chief in Formosa, has been appointed the new Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Forces in Shanghai and he has already taken over his duties.

APPEAL FROM UNITED STATES RESORT TO WAR DENOUNCED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 24, 7.53 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 23. The United States Secretary for State, Mr Cordell Hull, formerly appealed to China and Japan to refrain from resorting to war for the settlement of differences. Mr Hull called attention to the statement made by the United States and he pointed out that China and Japan were included in the nations who expressed approval. NO REPLY TO BRITAIN SINO-JAPANESE ATTITUDE DEFINED Uuned Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 24, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, August 23. The Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, is returning to London from Aberdeenshire on Wednesday. Still Without Reply The British Government is still without any reply from the Japanese and Chinese Governments to the suggestion made for the restoration of the situation at Shanghai, which, according to to-day’s news telegrams, continues to deteriorate. The reactions co the British proposals in semi-official circles in Tokio appear to have been unsympathetic, which has caused disappointment here. On the Japanese side, it has been strongly emphasised that Japan will not tolerate foreign intervention, but it is pointed out that the British project does not in any sense imply intervention, and is merely a request to both sides to withdraw from the area in which foreign interests are heavily Involved.

In Nankin, although there has been no official reply, the reaction is understood to have been, on the whole, favourable, and this fact has been noted with satisfaction. Mutual Agreement Sought The proposals for a mutually agreed withdrawal of the forces now in conflict from the Shanghai zone, were made with a view to securing isolation from warlike operations if the International Settlement, where many countries, and Britain in outstanding measure, have very large financial, commercial and industrial Interests, and where a large foreign population resides. The British authorities are providing protection for their nationals against attack, but so long as hostilities are actively pursued around the Concessions, there can be no assurance against accidental death or injury. ATTACK ON FOREIGN QUARTERS FIRES IN IMPORTANT WAREHOUSES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 24, 11.47 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 24. The Idumo led off at dawn by bombarding Pootung, where immense fires were soon raging in Chinese warehouses. Chinese artillery from Kiangwan started fresh fires in the rich Japanese business quarter of the Settlement. Japanese Not Responsible The Japanese deny that any warships were disabled. Admiral Hasewaga announced that no Japanese guns were firing at the time when shells caused the disaster at the department store known as Sinceres. Japanese seaplanes again made a night raid on Nankin. The Domel Agency quotes a Japanese naval communique affirming that tie disaster at Sincere’s British departmental store was due to bombs from Chinese planes. Officials of the Shanghai Municipal Council also declare that the damage was caused by a bomb, not a shell. Three hundred bodies were taken away for burial in ten motor lorries.