CHINESE COLLAPSE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 248, 31 July 1937, Page 7

CHINESE COLLAPSE

FUGITIVES IN THE NORTH. JAPANESE BOMBING TIENTSIN. DESTROYING NANKING UNIVERSITY. (United Press Association—Copyright..) (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) TIENTSIN, July 30. The Chinese resistance in North China has collapsed. Survivors of the 29th Army and 38th Division are fleeing to Paotingfu. The Japanese dominate the whole of Hopei. They have disarmed the Chinese police and have accorded personal protection to General Li Wen-tien. They are completing the destruction of Nanking University and are bombing Tientsin and the neighbouring villages. They captured the Chinese gunboat. Haiyen off Taku.. The Japanese are forcing prisoners to kowtow three times to the Japanese flag. - ' EVACUATION OF FOREIGNERS. POWERS SEEK AN ARMISTICE. JAPANESE PLANS AT PEIPING. \ NEW YORK, July 29. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” states that it is reliably reported that the United States and other foreign Governments are endeavouring to negotiate an armistio for four or five days in North China to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners. It is felt that the fighting is too intense for dependence on Japanese surances that cities with, foreign quarters will not be bombarded. Senator K. Pittman (chairman of Jhe Senate Foreign Relations Committee), defending the committee’s refusal to invoke the Neutrality Act, pointed out that it would probably be used by Japan as a pretext for blockading all Chinese ports without the formality of declaring war. According to a Tokio message, the Foreign Office spokesman (Mr Tatsuo Kawai) stated that since the Japanese army had established control of the Peiping and Tientsin region, the Chinese inhabitants were likely to organise themselves into local peace-pre-servation bodies which would be in contact with the Japanese and which the Japanese were ready to aid. “In due course,” added Mr Kawai, “such organisations may well develop .into an autonomou s administration. ’ ’ j BOMBARDMENT OF TIENTSIN. ACT OF SELF-DEFENCE! CLAIMED. PEIPING, July 30. The Japanese are completely in control of Peiping and Tientsin and are at present mopping up the outskirts. They have captured the port of .Tientsin at the mouth of the Pai-ho River. A message from Tientsin states that Chinese, troops are reported to have attacked the Japanese concession after an artillery duel lasting some hours. A statement has been issued that in consequence of previous attacks the Japanese forces had no choice but to bomb Tientsin in self-defence. Casualties in the actual fighting are estimated at 309 Japanese and 1200 Chinese. PEIPING ENCIRCLED. ENTRY NOT INTENDED. LONDON, July 30. A joint message from British newspaper correspondents in Peiping confirm reports of the, withdrawal of the defeated Chinese 29th Army froni Peiping to Changsintien, and of the displacement of the Chinese administration by an emergency government. The message adds: The Japanese army encircles Peiping, but it is stated that it does not intend to enter the city, which is quiet except for Japanese gunfire to prevent Chinese concentrating on Changsintien. SAFETY OF BRITISH NATIONALS. APPEALS TO BOTH SIDES. LONDON, July 29. Referring to the Far Eastern situation, the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said in the House of Commons that fighting, accompanied by artillery fire and aerial bombing of varying intensity, continued all day yesterday round Peiping. Japanese aeroplanes were active outside the city. Most of the British subjects bad availed themselves of the opportunity to take shelter in the Legation quarter, and most of thorn wore now billeted in the British Embassy. General Sung Cheh-yuon had been asked to issue strict orders to the Chine military and police to ensure the safety of persons and property of foreign nationals inside the city. I understand that the Japanese Government and the local Japanese military authorities have given a certain assurance in respect to the safety of British nationals in Peiping,” added Mr Eden. “His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires has also emphasised to the Japanese Government the serious nature of the situation and the grave dangers inherent in it.” Mr Eden agreed with the Leader of the Labour Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) in emphasising the seriousness of the situation, but he added that, so

far as lie was aware, no Government had asked for the referring of the matter to the League of Nations. Mr Eden spoke of the extreme regret with which the British Government regarded the developments, m view of the hopes it had entertained for the improvement of Far Eastern relations generally, an improvement which could not materialise so long as the present conditions continued. British Official Wireless. TWO AMERICANS WOUNDED CHINESE DENY DELIBERATE ACT WELLINGTON, This Day. Part of a cablegram received by tbe Chinese Consul reads: “The gendarmes at Tungchow revolted against Yin Jukeng, and Chinese troops entered the city, the Japanese retreating toward Sliihho. Striav' bullets hit two American marines when shots were exchanged between Chinese soldiers and Japanese plain-clothesmen in Morrison Street at Peiping this afternoon. “Japanese reports suggested that the Chinese deliberately attacked the Americans, which is ridiculous.”