UNITY OF CHINESE PEOPLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20927, 5 January 1938, Page 7

UNITY OF CHINESE PEOPLE

FEARED BY JAPANESE AUTHORITIES PROTRACTED STRUGGLE LIKELY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright TOKIO, January 3. The Autonomous Committee established at Nankin has issued a statement denouncing the dictatorship of the Kuomintang and declaring that its administration will be based on the will of the people, the peace of the Orient, co-operation between China and Japan against Communism, industrial development and “abandonment of blind dependence upon European and American Powers.”

The Tokio correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” reports that Japan finds little comfort from these drastic reforms. The Chinese Central Government is reported, with the inclusion of outstanding Communist leaders, to be worrying the statesmen and military officers.

The general opinion is that reorganisations have brought about a greater unity of every “faction in China, the basis of which is unremitting opposition to Japan. There is no Indication of a collapse of Chinese morale at all. Japan realises that when China announces that she will pursue prolonged guerrilla warfare it is no idle boast. So Japan is preparing to maintain this life - draining, money - squandernig struggle indefinitely.

DRAMATIC MOVE IN HONG KONG REVIVAL OF EMERGENCY RELATIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 4, 11.30 p.m.) HONG KONG, January 4. The Government announces the revival of the 1931 emergency relations, giving the widest powers. FOREIGN HELP "OR CHINA REPORTS OF OPERATIONS OF SOVIET BUILT PLANES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 4, 6.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, January 3. Soviet-built Chinese aeroplanes, believed to have been flown by Soviet pilots, made a surprise raid on a Nankin aerodrome and destroyed two Japanese bombers. Landing of War Material Despite the daily bombing of railways and roads by a score of planes the unloading of dangerous goods and the transhipping of war material and fuel from Europe and America is being carried on briskly. The Italian liner Conteverde to-day unloaded 1400 tons of aerial bombs consigned to Canton. The British ship Haidha is three weeks overdue from Seattle with a cargo of sulphur. It is feared she may have been captured by pirates.

FIGHTING FOR STRATEGIC POSITIONS JAPAN'S INTENSE PRESSURE United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 4, 6.30 p.m.) HANKOW, January 3. Fierce fighting is raging on the southern bank of the Wei river as the result of a further Japanese advance from Taian. The advance is part of the great drive being made to connect the Japanese forces operating in North China with the Yangtse and Central China armies. Determined to link up the forces going northward along the TientsinPukow railway, the armies which recently captured Tsinanfu are vigorously pushing south towards Yenchow. Meanwhile another column is going south to Kwehteh with the intention it is believed to cut off Uunghai railway and outflank the Chinese defenders at Suchowfu. If this drive is successful it will mean that the Japanese will be able to run through traffic from Pekin direct to Shanghai via Nankin.

According to a Japanese telegram from Shanghai, bombs were thrown into the home of Mr Ku Hsigni, an influential financier and a member of the Citizens' Association for the reconstruction of the Chinese area. Nobody was injured. The Japanese Consulate is strongly protesting to the Council of International Settlement demanding guarantees of stricter control.

YACHT FIRED ON FURTHER JAPANESE EXCESSES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 4, 6.30 p.m.) HONGKONG, January 3. Three English yachtsmen, E. Greave, J. Johnson and D. Coppin, were fired on by unidentified marksmen as the yacht was passing one of the Japanese Island bases outside Hongkong. The yacht was damaged but the men were not Injured.