CHINESE AERIAL OFFENSIVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20893, 24 November 1937, Page 9

CHINESE AERIAL OFFENSIVE

NEW WARPLANES IN ACTION

JAPANESE CALL FOR SURRENDER

STRONG PRESSURE ON WIDE FRONT

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph -Copyright (Received November 23, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press, says: The new Chinese warplanes have taken the offensive, and are delivering bombing raids on the southern Japanese lines, in order to raise the morale of the retreating Chinese.

JAPANESE PRESSURE CONTINUES PLEA FOR CHINESE SURRENDER Unittd Press Association—By Electric Telegraph -Copyright SHANGHAI, November 22. A Japanese aeroplane flew over Nankin to-day and dropped a message urging Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek to surrender. The Japanese have occupied Wisih, the pivotal point of the second Chinese “Hindenburg Line,” which is defending Nankin. The Chinese are fleeing in confusion, pursued by ’planes. The Japanese claim that the fall of the city means the definite failure of the Chinese to resist their westward advance.

A large Japanese fleet is ceaselessly bombarding Kiangyta in an attempt to blow up the boom across the Yangtse. Success in this operation would enable further flanking movements, but the Chinkiang boom up-stream checks ships intending to bombard Nankin. Later a Japanese squadron engaged the Chinese over the city. The Chinese were using Soviet ’planes for the first time. One Japanese machine was brought down. Japanese sailors have seized the British steamer Kaiying’s cargo of rice belonging to the Chinese Government and intended for the troops. Advance On Nankin The Japanese are advancing so swiftly towards Nankin that aeroplanes are provisioning the vanguard, but the capture of Wusih is still unconfirmed. The invaders are consolidating their position. South of Lake Tai they have beseieged Wushing (otherwise Huchowfu), the great silk-producing town, whose population has fled. Seven Japanese war ’planes ineffectually bombed and machine-gunned troops leaving Nankin to occupy defensive lines. Thousands of citizens have taken refuge in dug-outs, some of which are mere holes half filled with water. Others have cemented electric-lit structures capable of use as offices. Retaliation is difficult as the majority of anti-craft batteries have gone to Hangkow, but the Chinese, who are using machines from Russia, claim to have shot down two bombers while losing one fighter. The new Chinese pursuit ’plane is far faster than its predecessors. Foreign Embassies and Chinese officials are collaborating on plan for the approval of the Japanese High Command for delimiting the neutral zone.

STRONGER MEASURES PROPOSED SWEEPING VICTORY SOUGHT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph -Copyright TOKYO, November 22. Admiral Suetsugu and General Ugaki have interviewed the Prime Minister and urged the necessity for full disciplinary measures against China, including the occupation of Nankin and Suetsugu. It was subsequently stated that declaration of war on China would depend on the development of the situation.

STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT CHINESE RIGHTS MENTIONED British Official Wireless (Received November 23, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, November 22. Mr Anthony Eden, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said the conditions under which the International Settlement at Shanghai was administered were land regulations which could not be modified without the consent of the Chinese Government.

The British Embassy has decided not to delay Its departure from Nankin, and is leaving for Hankow to-day. The Shanghai correspondent of "The Times” says: General Falkenhausen and forty-nine other German advisers remain at Nankin closely watching all matters, in which they are experts.

SWIFT MOVES BY JAPANESE NEWSPAPERS CONSOLIDATED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 23, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 23. The Tokio correspondent of “The Times” says: The nucleus of a new Government has been created at Kalgan, where representatives of the three autonomous regimes who sprang up in the wake of the Japanese, created a Committee of Administration, Finance, Communications and Industry for South Chchar, North Shansi and Inner Mongolia. The Committee will resist the inroads of Communism.

BOYCOTT SUPPORTED UNITED FRONT IN MEXICO United* Press Association—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright (Received November 23, 8.15 p.m.) MEXICO CITY, November 22. The newspaper "Labor News” an-

nounced that Labour has decided on a complete boycott of Japanese goods, as a protest against the invasion of China in defiance of international law and treaty obligations. All unions are instructed to observe the boycott.

The dockworkers have been ordered to refuse to unload cargoes from Japan or load cargoes to Japan.

In addition, the National Workers’ Confederation has sent a petition to President Cardenas, asking him to place an embargo on imports from Japan and the export of raw materials to Japan.

PLEA FOR ACTION CHINESE DELEGATE’S CRITICISM British Official Wireless RUGBY, November 22. A Brussels message states that the Far Eastern Conference has considered a draft resolution which is believed o set out the fundamental principles of international law and morality which treaty Powers feel the necessity of reaffirming, and to provide fo. the suspension of sittings of the conference to enable exploration by the participating Governments of a peacefu 1 means of settling the dispute between Japan and China, consistent with the principles of the Nine Power Treaty. A Chinese delegate (Dr. Wellington Koo) expressed his dissatisfaction with the draft resolution and has applied to his Government for instructions with a view to proposing amendments at the next meeting. He urged the end of the mere re-affirmation of plo is principles. He is in favour of concrete action to help China.

In order to enable the Chinese delegates to receive a reply from China, the conference, after a private meeting adjourned until November 24.

ANXIETY IN UNITED STATES PLEA FOR STRICT NEUTRALITY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 23, 8.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 22. The demands for the invocation of the Neutrality Act, in consequence of what is considered the failure of the Brussels Conference, are more vigorous than ever and the Administration’s foreign policy is being attacked. In Congress, Senator Nye, announcing that he intended to confer with other Senators in an effort to invoke the Neutrality Act, said: “Brussels has given us nothing but embarrassment. It is about time that Americans learned that nothing constructive comes from such conferences. Our commerce with the involved nations drew us into the last war, and will do it again, unless we guard against it. Our commerce with Japan, and nothing else, so far, has stood ta the way of the invocation of the Neutrality Act.” Representative Lewis attacked the proposal for a referendum In reference to sending United States forces to participate in foreign conflicts. He said that a referendum was more likely to involve the United States than keep it out of an embroilment.