CENSORED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 694, 22 February 1933, Page 1

CENSORED.

STRICT CONTROL OF NEWS IN TOKIO. Railway Traffic Slopped. JAPANESE ATTITUDE SUPPORTED BY POLITICAL PARTIES. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received February 22. 11.30 am.) PEKIN, February 21. Messages from Tokio. where there is a strict censorship, state that the Japanese advance may begin at any moment. Passenger traffic between Mukden and Shanhaikuan has been suspended since yesterday. Another Tokio message says: Except the Labour Party, which is numerically negligible, the political parties are united in their support of the Government in its hour of national crisis. Today a mass meeting of 8000 leading citizens of Tokio expressed stern determination to vindicate to the world Japan’s policy of established and secure peace in the Far East.

Japan’s statement to the League declares that the Chinese have 144,000 troops in Jehol itself and 33,000 massed immediately south of the Great Wall, constituting a most serious danger. The statement concludes that even in the case of joint Japanese and Manchukuo operations, the Japanese will not advance south of the Great Wall unless Chinese troop movements cc'Cpel them to do so for strategic reasons. The Japanese Government is supporting the Government of Manchukuo in the contention that the Province of Jehol is within Manchukuo territory, of which the Great Wall is the traditional boundary. Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, who formerly derived a huge income from the Jehol opium traffic, is sending troops to endeavour to interfere with the control of the Manchukuo authorities, Japan contends. Japan is bound by protocol to assist Manchukuo to maintain peace and order. Army leaders estimate that a campaign lasting seven days will be necessary to drive hostile Chinese outside the Great Wall. JAPAN BUYING SHIPS. LONDON, February 20. The “ Daily Express ” says that Japan's recent extensive purchases of old British liners is believed to presage their use for warlike purposes. Several ships left British and European ports suddenly, under secret orders to report at Kobe before April 29. Some of the \-essels carry sufficient fuel to enable them to avoid any intermediate call.