ADVANCE HALTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 7

ADVANCE HALTED

Japanese In China STRONG RESISTANCE MATSUI WANTS MORE TROOPS Y© PROGRESS FOR TEX DAYS (By Telegraph—Prasa Association—Copyright) I LONDON, Jan. 26. A Shanghai message states that there is the best of reasons to believe that Tokio is worried over the continued hold-up of the Japanese advance. The weather and an insufficiency of troops are hampering the Japanese, bit they are also encountering an unexpected and most powerful opposition. General Matsui is reported to have appealed for four more divisions of troops. The Times’ Shanghai correspondent and the British United Press Shanghai correspondent suggests a hold-up of the Japanese advance on the strategic Lunghai railway. The Times correspondent states that no movements have taken place for a week. Military observers are of the opinion that there is a hitch somewhere. The Japanese, after a long period without opposition, are now encountering strong resistance, and are compelled to await reinforcements. Meanwhile, the Chinese claim minor successes in counter-attacks between Tsining and Yenchow. The British United Press correspondent says that the most active Japanese column has made no progress for ten days. Chinese guerillas at Suiyan have been ordered to begin a general offensive to prevent the transfer of Japanese to Lunghai. The Chinese are closing in on Tsining on three sides, and claim to have driven back the Japanese at Wei River, scores being drowned under the withering machine-gun fire. The Chinese have recaptured Lungwangmaio and also claim that the yare surrounding Chuangchueng, in Anhwei Province.

SOVIET AND JAPAN

*OSTAL RELATION’S BROKEN OFF Received Jan. 28, 1.15 a.m. MOSCOW, Jan. 28. The Government has decided temporarily to break off all postal relations with Japan fcom to-day. The decision affects mail in transit between Japan and other countries as well as direct mail betw’een Russia and Japan. The reasons for the break are firstly the protracted and unlawful detention by the Japanese Manchukuan authorities of a large quantity oi mail belonging to Soviet citizens, secondly, the detention of a mail ’plane and crew which, after losing its way, made a forced landing in Manchukuo territory on December 19. The Soviet complain that there have been unsatisfactory Japanese answers to repeated Soviet addresses on the subject.

FIRES AT TSINGTAO

ENORMOUS JAPANESE LOSSES TOKIO, Jan. 26. Japanese interest in Tsingtao sustained £29,000,000 damages as the result of the recent fires.

FOR SERVICE IN FAR EAST

NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 27. The Medical Committee, acting on behalf of a joint council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, has approved of the appointment of Dr. Hector C. Tre-

mewan for service in the Far East Dr. Tremewan will leave by the Wanganella on February 12 to join Dr Robert Grey, who left recently foi service in China. He is at present house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital.

FINES AT TOKIO

BRITISH STEAMERS. Received Jan. 27, 6.30 p.m. TOKIO. Jan. 26. The steamer Marion Moller was fined £BB for infringing rights in the fortified zone in Tokio Bay. The authorities decided not to confiscate the ship. A magistrate at Nagoya fined the two arrested members of the crew of the Severnleigh, Mackenzie and Kan-

garius, £l2 each for destroying Japanese property. The Sevenleigh sails to-night. The British cargo vessel Marion Moller was detained by the Japanese, who forced her to anchor in a storm in a bay until it was ascertained whether any of the crew could be charged with espionage. They were cleared of suspicion. Seven members of the crew of the British steamer Severnleigh, under charter to a Japanese firm, were arrested on January 22, but five of them were released. It was stated that the two who were still 'field landed at Tokio during a religious festival, had a few drinks, snatched flags from a house, and ran away. They did not trample the flags, which the police were unable to find. The captain j apologised.

REPORTS TO CHINESE CONSUL

WELLINGTON, Jan. 27. The following cablegram was received by the Chinese Consul from Hankow this morning:— There is no important change on the Tsinpu front. Fighting is still proceeding between Chinese and Japanese troops on the northern sector of this front near Tsouhsien and Tsining, which have changed hands more than once. On the souther nsectcr we still hold Linhwaikwan.

Our troops and ’planes continue to attack Wuhu and Chwanchen. Severe fighting is taking place on the outskirts of Wuhu.

Chinese ’planes yesterday made sexera! raids on Chwanchen, and bombed the enemy’s lines. Yesterday’s claim that Chinese ’planes scored direct hits on ten boats in which m;?-? tnan 300 Japanese soldiers were crorsmg the Yangtze FtTver at Chwanchen end all were killed, hn» been confirmed.

Yesterday a large number of Japanese troops left Shanghai. They were evidently bound for Nanking to reinforce their troops on the Wuhu

LABOUR POLICY

EMBARGO AGAINST JAPAN. PROPOSAL REJECTED IN U.S.A. Received Jan. 27, 9.5 p.m. NEW YORK, Jan. 26. Not favouring a step which possib’y would involve the United States In war, the American Federation of Labour rejected a suggestion by th 3 International Federation of Trade Unions for a financial and economF' embargo against Japan. The president (Mr. William Green) cabled Sir William Citrine, secretary of the British Trade Union Congres that though it deplores the aggressive, indefensible and uncivilised warfare aga’nst China, the council of his federat’on is not prepared at present f O go as far as is suggested.

JAPANESE SHIPPING

MONOPOLY OF CARGOES SCHEME TO BOLSTER UP EXCHANGE. LONDON, Jan. 26. The Times’ Tokio correspondent states that as a measure of support for the Japanese exchange, Mr. Shozo Murata. chairman of the second largest Japanese shipping line and president of the Shipowners’ Association, has submitted to Cabinet a plan for carrying all Japanese commodities in Japanese ships. Foreigners taking Japanese cargoes would require an official permit. He says that the scheme would increase the earnings of Japanese shipping by 160,000,000 yen yearly.

SOLDIERS’ FAMILIES

JAPANESE RELIEF FUND DIET INCREASES VOTE TOKIO, Jan. 26. The Diet voted an increase in the relief fund for soliders’ families, making the total £2,350,000 since the outbreak of hostilities.