SINO-JAPANESE WAR

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 December 1937, Page 5

SINO-JAPANESE WAR

ADVANCE ON NANKING ( HEAVY BOMBING. Press Association Electric Telegranb—Copyriglil SHANGHAI, Monday. The Japanese advance on Nanking has reached a point ten miles from Chinkiang, which is 40 miles from the city. Nine aeroplanes heavily bombed the military airfield and the railway approaches to Nanking, the Ming Palace and the aerodrome within the city walls being destroyed. A petrol store and six houses were blown up. Japanese infantry are closing in on Kuymig, 22 miles south-east of the capital, which American nationals have been ordered to be ready fo leave at any moment. The city is under martial law.

The weather is freezing and food and clothing are short. Three hundred armed police are patrolling the safety zone, which the Chinese are demilitarising. An International Committee is endeavouring to arrange a safety zone at Wuhu, which has a population of 170,000. 1 A FLAG AFFAIR. JAPANESE INCENSED. SHANGHAI, Monday. A mass meeting of Japanese, incensed by the English lawyer E. T. Maitland destroying the Japanese flag during the victory parade, resolved to assume a determined stand and take all measures to arrange consideration of the incident by the British Government and people, and impress on them the outrageous and uncondonable nature of the affair. The British United Press understands that the Japanese authorities have complied with a request to demand adequate action from the British authorities. Su Hsi-wen, a citizen of Fukien, who was educated in Japan, has issued a manifesto proclaiming himself mayor of an “autonomous” Greater Shanghai embracing an area of 193 square miles formerly administered by the Chinese mayor, Yui, who has gone to Hangkow. The manifesto thanks the Japanese army for rescuing Shanghai, and promises full co-operation. GROUNDED WARSHIP. CAPTURED BY JAPANESE. SHANGHAI, Monday. Defying fierce gunfire, the crew of a Japanese destroyer crossed the Kiangyin boom across the Yangtsekiang, and boarded and captured as a prize the Chinese cruiser Ning Hai, which was aground near Paweikang. SETTLEMENT INCIDENTS. JUNKS SEIZED. (Received Tuesday, 10.0 a.m.) . SHANGHAI, Monday. The Municipal Council strongly protested to the Consular Corps against the arrest of four Chinese when the Japanese Consular police raided the Great Eastern Hotel, in the International Settlement. The Corps is expected to complain to the Japanese authorities of an infringement of the rights of the Settlement. It is believed that the Japanese are intending to establish the right of independent arrests. Britain is directly concerned, because the hotel is owned by Mr Wingon, an Australian, employing many of British nationality. The hotel is registered at Hongkong, and is entitled to British protection. The Chinese were detained for an hour. The Japanese seized 200 junks moored within the British defence sector at Soochow Creek, and the Rising Sun flag was hoisted. The junks were towed from the sector and their occupants evicted. Several sank their junks to prevent capture. BOMBING OF WUHU. FORTY-TWO DEATHS. (Received Tuesday, 10.0 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Monday. It is revealed that forty-two persons were killed at Wuhu during the bombing, including 'twelve aboard the Tuckwo. The Japanese made a direct hit on the Union Jack painted on the roof of the Butterfield Swire Company at the Wuhu wharf. The Japanese spokesman insisted that thousands of Chinese troops were near the British vessels Tatung and Tuckwo, but this is denied by the British naval authorities. CHINESE RETREAT. PURSUED BY AEROPLANES. SHANGHAI, Monday. While messages from Nanking state that the boom of artillery is now clearly heard from the city, Japanese military authorities boast that the city will fall in five days or 15th December at the latest. The Chinese are reported to be retreating from Wuhu and are being mercilessly pursued by aeroplanes.