PEIPING LEFT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 247, 30 July 1937, Page 5

PEIPING LEFT

AFTER BOMBARDMENT. GOVERNMENT REMOVED. NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. THE CITY REMAINS QUIET. (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, July 29. Messages from Peiping declare that the Chinese abandoned Peiping after a Japanese bombardment, and retired to Paoting, 90 miles south of the city. General Chang Tze-chung (commander of the Chinese 38th Division), who is favourable to the Japanese, is left in control of the city, which is quiet. Japanes aeroplanes dropped pamphlets urging the citizens to return to their business. Japanese and Chinese representatives in Peiping are reported to be negotiating terms of peace. General Sung Oheh-yuan has delegated his powers for that purpose to General Chang Tzechung. The Chinese Government held an emergency meeting after the abandonment of Peiping, and-decided on new measures, the details of which are not disclosed. RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE. JOINT ADMINISTRATIVE BODY. AGAINST FOREIGN INTERVENTION. (Received This Day, 1:45 a.m.) PEIPING. July 29. Contrasting with virtual war at Tientsin, life in Peiping has returned to normal. The defence works have been pulled down and few soldiers are in evidence. A committee consisting of equal numbers of Chinese and Japanese has taken over the administration. The next steps are uncertain, but it is stated in Tokio that Japan will not tolerate foreign intervention. The Foreign Minister (Mr Hirota) told the Diet that England, America and Russia are well aware that Japan intends to seek settlement on the spot. The Prime Minister declared that Japan not only seeks a local settlement, but intends fundamentally to, readjust her relationship with China, as she desires the territorial integrity of China and is resolved to prevent foreign influence dominating her. The newspapers in Tokip express anxiety regarding Britain’s attitude. AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT. REPORTED ESTABLISHMENT. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 29. Messages from Peiping state that General Chang Tze-chung is reported to have established an autonomous Government in Peiping. CHINESE SEIZE LIGHTERS. FORMER CONCESSIONS OCCUPIED (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 29, The Chinese have occupied the former Austrian, Belgian and Russian concessions in Tientsin. They, seized lighters that were carrying Japanese troops and supplies and drank the beer included in the stocks. A SEAMAN’S ESCAPADE. SPREE THAT CAUSED FRICTION. SHANGHAI, July 28. Miyazaki, the missing Japanese seaman, has turned up. He was not kidnapped, but was on a “spree.” During this he was seen in a dance house by fellow-sailors, upon which, fearing punishment, he. hid for two days, and then boarded a British steamer, but jumped overboard, realising that he was without a ticket. He spent the night in the hills, after which he flung himself into the river Yanlctse Kiang, from which a, boatman rescued him, and handed him to the police. A cablegram dated July 25, stated: An ugly situation arose in Shanghai to-day after a quarrel between a group of Chinese an£ three Japanese seamen, which resulted in- the Chinese kidnapping in a car a Japanese named Miyazaki. Japanese armed troops immediately isolated and searched the Chinese quarter of Chapei, causing the a.larmed Chinese population to pour into the International Settlement for safety. THREE HUNDRED ’PLANES. CHINESE CLAIM CAPTURE. NANKING, July 28; The Chinese claim to have captured at Fengtai 300 Japanese ’planes still ■packed in transport crates.