WAR IN CHINA

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 7 May 1928, Page 6

WAR IN CHINA

GROWING ANTI-JAPANESE FEELING. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, May 5. Reports from numerous Shantung cities show that the anti-Japanese feeling is growing. The official declarations by the Nationalist Government are not improving the situation, but rather tending to aggravate it. In view of the possibility of Manchuria and Mongolia being turned into theatres of war, it is reported that the Japanese Government is considering the blocking of the entrance of Chinese troops to South Manchuria railway zone. Japanese warships are hastening tr important ports, where Japanese residents are residing, in expectation of anti-Japanese outbreaks. SHANGHAI, May 5. Information relating to the situation at Tsinanfu is scarce. Communications are totally severed, including wireless. The last news received stated that the Japanese troops were exhausted, but had completed the defences and the civilians had been concentrated. Ammunition and provisions, although diminishing, were sufficient for a few’ days. No information as to the casualties among non-Japanese foreigners has been received. All are depending on the Japanese for safety. ’ SHANGHAI. May 5. The Peking Government has lodged a protest with the Japanese Legation, blaming Japan for the Tsinanfu incident. General Chiang-Kai-Shek (Southern Commander) wirelessed to Shanghai the official Nationalist version, declaring that Japanese troops raided the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, following a minor incident, in which a Southern soldier was killed. They looted the Bureau, seized the Commissioner (Tsaikungsze), bound him with rope, cut off his ears, and gouged out his eyes before murdering him. The. burned the Bureau and embarked on an orgy of killing Southern soldiers. The latter retaliated in self-defence. The vernacular Press attributes the Japanese conduct to disappointment at failing to arrive at Tsinanfu before the Southerners, and prevent the capture.

The Press declares that the Japanese, assisting the Shantungites, deliberately precipated the Tsinanfu incident, in order the check the Nationalist advance. TOKIO, May 4. The Pekin representative of the Japan Telegraph Agency wires that American, British and French Ministers expressed approval of the Japanese action at Tsinan. TOKIO, May 5. Anxiety exists regarding 3000 Japanese troops in Tsinanfu. Communications are interrupted and wireless is unresponsive. No despatches wfcre received to-day. The War Office statement says: The attack on the protective troops was intentional, and was carried out awcrdmg to the plan suggested at the histigation of Southern leaders, antagonistic. to General Chiang-Kai-SheK, whose friendliness-is unquestioned. He had hitherto freely co-operated with the Japanese Commander in securing the safety of residents. Reinforcements are being rusiied to Dairen and Tsingtao.

FIGHTING BECOMING WORSE. SHANGHAI, May 4. Tsinanfu despatches state that fight ing between Southern and Japanese troops is becoming worse. The Japanese casualties are already four officers and thirty privates. There is an unconfirmed report that 100 Japanese civilians. residing at • Hanichien, <i Tsinanfu suburb, were butchered. A message from Teinisin reports that negotiations between the Japanese and Nationalist authorities have been' broken off. In addition to a mixed brig de of Japanese troops from Darien m air unit from Korei and a railw v unit frem Japan, totalling 300 have been ordered to Tsingtao. Further reports from Tsinanfu state that Southern soldiers, hidden upstairs in houses and shops, sniped Japanese residents and troops passing. Suppression was difficult. Japanese residents are arming themselves with rifles taken from the disarmed Southerners, General Chiang-Kai-Shek has proclaimed martial law in Tsinanfu. The Tsingtso-Tsina n railway has again been cut. Japanese reinforcements are proceeding by forced marches. The situation in Tsinanfu is hourly becoming more dangerous, and more critical. The tentative agreement made between the Chinese and Japanese, regarding the area controlled by the Japanese, has been broken, and further street fighting occurred, with additional casualties on both sides-. The position of the Japanese is

extremely critical. Communications with Tsingtao have been severed. The Japanese are outnumbered by 9 to 1. Though real warfare has yet not commenced, reinforcements reached Tsinanfu after a long, forced march, owing to the cutting of the railway lines in ten places between Tsingtao and Tsinanfu. The Chinese are making every preparation for regular war. Telephonic and other communications of the Japanese units fighting in the city have been severed, whilst wireless in other centres has been demolished. The efforts of the Japanese to send an armoured train from Tsingtao to Tsinanfc has been prevented, owing to the dqpiolition of the railway by the Nationalists. Despatches state that the Japanese are surrounded by Nationalists and are using artillery and shrapnel, indicating definite warfare. The cutting of the Yellow River bridge has been planned to prevent the Japanese reinforcements from reaching Tsientsin. Chinese captives possessed 'pamphlets containing instructions and exhortations to press the Japanese campaign, ordering the extermination of all Japanese in Shantung and the removal of their influence from China. Local Nationalists report that the newly-appointed Commissioner of foreign affairs at Tsinanfu, and his entire staff were killed by the Japanese during street fighting, but this is not confirmed. Additional forces, naval and military, have been ordered to proceed from Japan to Tsingtao. The British aircraft carrier Hermes has been ordered from Hongkong to Chefoo. TOKIO, May 5. The Spokesman of the War Office, answering questions in the Diet, stated that he had only fragmentary and indefinite information, with no know ledge of the events outside the Japanese guarded zone. Last night there were ten Japanese dead and thirty wounded. The Spokesman declared that the military reports from the scene state that the Southerners opened fire, n«’cording to a pre-arranged plan, oi ■ it is not clear whether the Nationalist Headquarters is responsible for the plan or not. The Japanese are singularly apathetic regarding the fate of their countrymen in Shantung, and are discussing chiefly the local political effect of the fighting and massacre. There is no demand for retribution. TOKIO, May 6,

It is understood that Cabinet. ap proves the recommendation of General Fukada, commanding the Expeditionary Force, that the Chinese troops are to be cleared from Tsinanfu and along the Tsingtao railway. It is expected the Japanese will take the initiative on Monday, when the Manchurian reinforcements arrive. Another division from Japan is ready to move if required. INTEREST IN WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, May 4. Government officials are watching with particular interest the movement cf 5000 Japanese troops into the heart of the Chinese war area. The United States will continue neutral, . both regarding the Chinese civil warfare, and the movement of Japanese soldiers, un’ess American lives and property are endangered, but some fear is expressed over the possible consequences of a clash between the Japanese af-d National forces.