IN PEIPING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 244, 27 July 1937, Page 5

IN PEIPING

ENTRY BY JAPANESE, STRONG FORCES PENETRATE. CONTROL OF STREET OBTAINED. NOW 300 YARDS FROM GATE. AN ULTIMATUM TO CHINESE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) PEKIN, July 26. The Japanese have occupied Lanfang and the Chinese are retreating toward Huantsun. After fighting in the Wanping area, strong forces of Japanese, marching on the Changyimen Gate, entered Peiping, after resistance, and are now controlling the street inside, 300 yards from the gate. A Nanking message states that a representative of the Chinese 29th Army reports that 500 Chinese were killed at Langfang. According to a Shanghai message, Sung Cheh-yuan is reported to have ordered the 38th Division to counterattack to-night and recapture Langfang. . . > . It is reported from Tokio that the Domei Agency says that LieutenantGeneral Katsuki, commanding in North China, sent an ultimatum to Sung Cheh-yuan, demanding the withdrawal of all troops in the Peiping area by noon on "Wednesday. 20 JAPANESE KILLED. BLOWN UP BY HAND GRENADES. AFTER ADMISSION BY ORDER. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) PEIPING, July 26. Just before telephone communication was cut off a, serious affray was reported inside the gates, where three lorries were admitted by order of the Mayor and blown up by hand grenades. Twenty were killed. SERIOUS ENCOUNTER. JAPANESE PURSUE CHINESE. HEAVY CASUALTIES REPORTED. TIENTSIN, July 26. Japanese and Chinese troops clashed at Lang-fang. A squadron of Japanese aeroplanes bombarded the Chinese barracks. A communique issued in Tokio says the Chinese attacked the Japanese who were repairing telegraph wires, wounding five. The communique adds that the fighting is continuing. A message from Tokio says the Japanese garrison announces that the Chinese are heavily reinforcing their troops at Lang-fang. A strong protest has been handed to Mr Sung Che-yua.n (Governor of Hopei Province), naming the 113th Brigade and the 38th Division of che Chinese Army as the aggressors. The Japanese are at present making a counter-attack. A Peiping message reports that the Japanese have occupied Lang-fang and the Chinese are retreating toward Huan-tsun. The Japanese are in pursuit and are attempting to outflank the Chinese. In addition to attacking the Japanese who were mending telegraph wires, the Chinese fired on a troop train, inflicting many casualties. The Japanese returned the fire. A Nanking message says Mr Sung Che-yuan telegraphed the Central Government stating that he had ordered the 29th Army to resist. It is considered that this is the gravest renewal of hostilities and that a crisis is again inevitable. The Japanese authorities at Tientsin announced that they were determined to carry out thorough punitive operations. Heavy casualties are reported in tho renewed fighting in the Lang-Fang area. Japanese aeroplanes are again attacking the Chinese, who are stiffly resisting.