JAPAN’S ACTION.

Wairarapa Age, 7 September 1937, Page 7

JAPAN’S ACTION.

DIRECTED AGAINST CHINESE ARMIES.

PREPARED FOB PROTRACTED HOSTILITIES.

TOKIO, September 5.

The Premier, Prince Konoye, told the Diet that Japan’s action was not directed against the Chinese people but against its Government and its armies and the only measure Japan can adopt is to administer a crushing blow to the Chinese army and make it completely lose the will to fight. If China fails to realise her mistakes and persists in resistance, Japan is prepared for protracted hostilities. It is officially announced that Japan has extended the blockade of Chinese vessels to the whole coast from Chingwangtao to the border of French IndoChina, excluding the Tsingtau territories leased to other Powers. NEW OFFENSIVE. LAUNCHED BY JAPANESE IN NORTH CHINA. SHANGHAI, September 5. The Japanese resumption of shelling the Chinese positions, and prompt retaliation, is the sole reply to the Powers’ request for the withdrawal of the Chinese and Japanese forces from the vicinity of the International Settlement. A Tientsin message says that the Japanese have launched a new” offensive in North China, the objective being the Chinese concentrations at Shantung. CHAHAR PROVINCE. AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED. TOKIO, September 5. The Japanese have established an autonomous government in Chahar, at Kalgan, which town was recently captured. SUNK BY GUNFIRE. FATE OF CHINESE SHIP. TOKIO, September 5. The Domei News Agency says that a Japanese warship ordered a Chinese vessel in the blockaded area to heaveto. The warship sent a boat to inspect the Chinese vessel, which fired on it, wounding a lieutenant and killing a seaman. The warship then fired on and sank the Chinese boat. SEAMEN DESERT. INCIDENT AT SEATTLE. SEATTLE, September 5. Thirty-four Chinese seamen deserted from the Japanese freighter, China Exporter. They said they wanted to fight for China., and were afraid of the Japanese officers.