JAPANESE WAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1939, Page 6

JAPANESE WAYS

» — ASSAULT ON ELDERLY AMERICAN WOMAN FACE SLAPPED BY SENTRY. CONSUL LODGES PROTEST. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) TIENTSIN. August 15. _ Mrs Richards, a 60-year-old American subject, who was entering the French Concession, was assaulted by a Japanese sentry, who crumpled up her Japanese and American passes, and slapped her face because she refused to place her baskets on the same mat as a stripped Chinaman. She was detained for an hour. The American consul has protested. BRUTAL ATTACK REPORTED TO WASHINGTON. ANTI-BRITISH DEMONSTRATION AT SWATOW. • Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON. August 15. The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says the face-slapping of Mrs Frances Mary Richards, an American missionary, was fully reported to Washington. Mrs Richards is a widow, augmenting her slender income by selling commodities. When she produced a personal card from the Vice-Consul, Mr Nishida, requesting every courtesy, the sentry crumpled it up, swung her round and struck her on the side of the head, badly shaking her. Mr Nishida apologised to her and to the American Consul-General. There is no restriction on the entry of foodstuffs.

The Hong Kong correspondent of "The Times” says a Chinese mob made violent demonstrations: outside the British Consulate at Swatow and threatened the Consul, Mr H. D. Bryan, who had vainly protested against a Japanese prohibition of the landing of British bluejackets.

Japanese agents at Amoy threatened a Chinese magistrate in the Kulangsu Mixed Court, demanding his resignation in favour of a Japanese Court. Bombing in South China areas continues. Mr Wang Ching-wei is still vainly trying to undermine General Chiang Kai-shek's authority. A majority ol Chinese printers of his newspapers in Hong Kong struck, demanding an editorial change of policy. BRITISH PRIESTS ARRESTED BY JAPANESE. CHARGES DECLARED BASELESS. (Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 15. The Japanese are holding incommunicado two British subjects. Fathers Courchesne and Renaud, at Hsuchowfu, after removing them from a Canadian mission and charging them with antiJapanese activities. The priests declare that the charge is baseless.

LIEUT.-COL. SPEAR

WELL BUT SHOWING SIGNS OF CAPTIVITY.

(Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI. August 15. Mr Gerald Parker, military language officer at Tokio, who has returned to Peking from Kalgan, says Lieut.-Col-onel Spear is well but is showing signs of his captivity.

ACTION DEMANDED

BY BRITISH TRANSPORT WORKERS.

AGAINST JAPANESE LAWLESSNESS.

(Received This Day, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON. August 15

The executive of the Transport Workers' Union passed a resolution demanding energetic Government action to prevent the continued violation of international law by the Japanese in China.