EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS AT TIENTSIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 142, 19 June 1939, Page 7

EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS AT TIENTSIN

VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT TROOPS BRITAIN BELIEVED TO HAVE REPRISALS PLAN READY JAPANESE THREATEN TO REPLY WITH FURTHER MEASURES 'By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Keceived June 18, 7.50 p.m. LONDON, June 17. The Domei news agency at Tokio says that 1000 British troops, plus volunteers, are standing by in the Concession prepared for emergency. The barricades have been strengthened. The blockade has reduced the entry of vegetables, fish and rice by nine-tenths. Reuter’s Tientsin correspondent says that the food shortage is rapidly becoming worse. The Japanese have now placed motor patrol boats on the Hai River lor the purpose of turning back all boats loaded with vegetables for the Concession. Thu Exchange’s Hongkong correspondent .says that Japanese sources state that His -Majesty’s ships Lowestoft from (’hing-Wangtao and .Medway front Wei-Hat-Wai are steaming to Tientsin with provisions lor the Concession. It is thought in London that it is unlikely that British warships will be used to take food to the Concession at Tientsin, where, there is no great, hardship. The l 'or< ieii-S, cretai'y. Viscount Halifax, returned to London from Yorkshire after receipt of the latest information by telephone from the Foreign Office in relation to China ami ■Japan. It is nudm-stood that a British reprisals plan is ready. According to the Domei news agency in Tokio, olfieial circles declare that should Britain take the steps indicated in the statement yesterday, Japan will he constrained to take necessary measures to meet tin- situation. A Japanese official added: "What Japan wants is a radical improvement of such British policy as was manifested in the non-surrender of the four criminals.” Tim British statement is described as intended Io whitewash ;i serious blunder as regards the assassins. FRANCE READY TO CO-OPERATE ANY ACTION WITH BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES Received J<m 18, 8.5 p.m. BARIS, June 17. It is understood that the Foreign .Minister, AL Bonnet, indicated to the British Ambassador. Sir Eric Phipps, and the American Charge d’Affaires, .Mr. Wilson. that France will co-operate fully in any action which Britain ami America may deem necessary at Tientsin.

INTERVIEW REQUESTED REFUSED BY JAPANESE COMMANDER RUMOURS OF AMERICAN ARBITRATION Received June 18, 8.5 p.m. TIENTSIN, June 17. Despite renewed British protests, the Japanese continued the discrimination against British subjects at the entrances to the Concession, where hundreds of farmers bringing provisions were turned back after an allnight vigil. The British consular officials deny that the Japanese presented formal conditions for the lifting of the blockade. A message from Tokio says that rumours are circulating regarding the possibility of either French or American arbitration to settle the deadlock. The American Consul at Tientsin, Mr. Caldwell, is especially mentioned for this task. The commander of the Japanese at Tientsin rejected a British request for an interview, because he said it would be useless. The present situation which had developed was a protest against Britain's pro-Chine=e

policy. The commander added that ; economic retaliation was impossible I without the participation of the United States. A Japanese sentry shot dead a Rus- | sian at point-blank range while exam- I ing his credentials. An English wit- I ness whom the sentry threatened with ; his revolver, said the killing was in- j explicable. Mr. George Smith was admitted to hospital with head injuries as a result I

of blows from a Chinese constable’s i revolver butt. The intense heat is aggravating the . food situation. Few British subjects ' ventured out to-day, and trade is at | a standstill, except transactions between the banks. A British tug made ! thr first successful trip to Tangku ’ since the blockade. It was stopped j only once for examination of its documents and cargo. NAVAL STRENGTHS IN EASTERN WATERS BRITAIN, FRANCE AND U.S.A. LONDON. June 16. The present strengths of the British. French and American navies in the Far East are as follows: - Britain, the cruisers Kent. Cornwall, Dorsetshire, and Birmingham, the aircraft-carrier Eagle. 14 destroyers, 5 escort vessels, 15 submarines, 6 motor torpedo boats, and one minelayer; at Hongkong, nine mine-sweep-ers and a monitor; at Singapore, 20 river gunboats and one submarine depot ship. France, two cruisers, four escort vessels, two patrol boats, and 9 river gunboats. United Stater, two cruisers, three escort vessels, one patrol ship, 13 destroyers, 6 submarines. 4 rnine-s. ccpers, 5 river gunboat . two depot-ships, and on? niier.

f PARADE CANCELLED MEMORIAL SERVICE INSTEAD STOPPAGE OF FOOD. TIENTSIN, June 16. The Japanese have cancelled the i arrangements for the j roposed mass parade in the British Concession tomorrow. Instead seventeen Japanese delegates will attend a Boxer memorlial service. The Japanese have rejected the i British Consul-General's protest ! against the stoppage of food supplies, ! j denying that a ban has been imposed. i I They also do not accept the validity ■ ’of the protest against the searching of Britons, on the ground that British interference with Japan’s measures is ■ intolerable. The British authorities formally ■ protested against a Japanese balloon which is flying over the city and which trails banners bearing Chinese i characters stating: ‘‘Britain must ■ recognise the new order in Asia." The French have strengthened the .(police on the border of the French ' j Concession. JAPAN’S POLICY : LOCAL SETTLEMENT

ARMY DEMANDS FREE HAND. LONDON, Juu? 16. The Tokio correspondent of The Times says that the Japanese Cabinet has decided that the Tientsin dispute must be settled locally. This means that the demands o£ the army were approved that settlement ol the dispute shall be left in the hands of the command in North China. The Tokio correspondent of the

British United Press states that an j offer of arbitration from either the ' Americans or the French is considered possible. FOOD BY WARSHIPS ! RELIEF FOR CONCESSIONS. ' TOKIO, June 16. ' The Domei news agency states that the British authorities have requested warships to convey food to the British Concession at Tientsin. STEAMER’S ARRIVAL IN TIENTSIN | British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, June 16. It is reported that the steamer Taisenhong. chartered by Messrs. Jardine and Matheson, Ltd., arrived in Tientsin to-day in safety. She is the first vessel flying the British flag to reach the city since the enforcement of the blockade.