DESPERATE EFFORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 7

DESPERATE EFFORT

NANKING ADVANCE CHINESE PREPARATIONS .WUSIH STILL STANDS MAJOR BATTLE IMMINENT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Nov. 24, 11 p.m. SHANGHAI, Nov. 23. The Chinese are rushing strong reinforcements to Washing, from which the civil population has already fled. A major battle is imminent, owing to a desperate effort by the Chinese to stem the advance on Nanking. The Japanese spokesman admitted that the reported fall of Wusih, China’s Manchester, is premature. The Japanese forces are still five miles from the town. The Japanese have begun a heavy bombardment across the Yellow River, near Tsinan, and have set fire to the Hungtai station. Tsinan residents are in panic. The Municipal Council at Shanghai has agreed to carry out the demands of the Japanese regarding the rights of the Chinese formerly exercised in the International Settlement. The, council’s spokesman said that the Japanese were entitled to prevent the settlement being used politically on behalf of the Chinese Government.

JAPANESE NAVY ACTIVE PASSENGER SHIP SEARCHED [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. Miss M. Sutherland returned to Wellington by the Wanganella to-day from the Far East. She said that the ship she was travelling in, the Nankin, was held up by a Japanese destroyer before the Nankin reached Hongkong and she was boarded and her papers examined. All the time a gun was trained on her. One night a number of Japanese destroyers were passed and searchlights were played on the Nankin. Submarines could be seen manoeuvring around. Miss Sutherland left New Zealand before fighting began in earnest. “We were not allowed to go 'o Shanghai,” she said, "and even Canton was not safe to go to, but I enjoyed the visit very much, the Japanese treat‘ng us very well.” MEXICAN LABOUR BOYCOTT OF JAPAN INSTRUCTIONS TO UNIONS MEXICO CITY, Nov. 23. The newspaper Labour News has announced that Labour has decided on a con-plete boycott of Japanese goods as a protest against invasion of China in defiance of international law and treaty obligations. All unions are instructed to observe the boycott, and the dock workers 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 to place an embargo on imports from Japan and the export of raw materials to Japan. SAFETY OF FOREIGNERS AT NANKING Received Nov. 24, 11.50 p.m. NANKING, Nov. 23. General Tang Seng-chi, who is in charge of the defences, has assumed full responsibility for the safety of foreign life and property "even in the hour of extreme danger.” THE SETTLEMENT JAPANESE NOTE CONTENTS NOT REVEALED. PARIS, Nov. 23. The Foreign Office admits that Japan has sent a Note to England and France regarding the International Settlement. The contents are not revealed. CHANGE IN CONTROL. NEGOTIATIONS PROCEED SMOOTHLY. SHANGHAI, Nov. *23. Negotiations are proceeding smoothly for the transferring to Japan of the Chinese administrative machinery in the International Settlement, including the Customs and the Post Office. JAPANESE NOTIFICATION Received Nov. 24, 9.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Nov. 23. Japan has notified the Powers regarding her intention in the International Settlement, the police of which gave unofficial advice leading to the cessation of five leading Chinese newspapers and the official Chinese news agency. CHINESE ’PLANES DESTROYED IN AIR RAID. TOKIO, Nov. 23. A Japanese raid at Chowkiaow annihilated the local Chinese air force, bringing down five ’planes which challenged the Japanese and destroying twenty on the ground. DECLARATION OF WAR JAPAN CONSIDERING. TOKIO, Nov 23. The Government is seriously studying the question of a declaration of war against China. x 1