CHINA’S STAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 249, 2 August 1937, Page 5

CHINA’S STAND

LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE. DEFENCE OF SOVEREIGNTY. THE JAPANESE DEMANDS. (United Press .Issociation—Copyright.) LONDON, August 1. A message from Nanking says the president of the Chinese Executive Council (Marshal Chiang Kai-shek), in a. strongly-worded statement, made it clear that there was no prospect of a negotiated settlement except on the basis of absolute respect for Chinese sovereignty in North China. The Chinese military authorities are not revealing their actual plans, but there is good reason to believe that the Nanking Government is going ahead grimly with preparations for what it regards as a life-and-death struggle, and that when it hits it will hit hard. A Tokio message reports that Japanese aeroplanes bombed four Chinese troop trains and set fire to the Paoting railway station. Japanese scouting aeroplanes report that 25 Chinese troop trains are travelling north on the Hankoy-Peiping and Tientsin-Pukow railways. The War Office for the fighting on Thursday and Friday indicate that 78 were killed and 197 wounded.

The newspaper “Nichi Nichi” says the Government is appropriating an additional £18,000,000 to deal tvith the Chinese situation.

The Minister for War (General Sugiyama) declares that Japan is making the fullest preparations for the worst. The Government is permitting foreign vessels to participate in coastal trade in order to alleviate the shortage ol cargo space created by the Chinese operations. A Japanese communique states that the punitive measures will be concluded to-night. Whether a settlement is possible depends on the cessation of the flow of Chinese troops into Hopei. It is believed the Japanese demands include the suppression bf anti-Japanese movements throughout China, and the demilitarisation of Hopei.

TIENTSIN ARTILLERY DUEL. JAPAN CONFIDENT OF PEACE. V TOKIO, July 31. The situation is reported to be quiet. Apart from mopping-up operations, it is claimed that the main body of the Chinese 29th Army has been driven back to the Yung-tung River. Scattered bodies of Chinese, however, are still active. ,

The artillery duel was resumed at Tientsin. Three hundred Japanese residents attacked Tung-chow. The Chinese troops remaining in Peiping have been disarmed, and the city continues quiet. Japan is still confident of peace. Of ficial circles declare that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek is too intelligent to desire a conflict.

A message from Tientsin says the Japanese heavily bombarded the former Austrian Concession district, scores of shells falling in the thickly-popu-lated native area. No reason is given for the bombardment. A message from Nanking, however, says the Japanese military spokesman declares that the bombing of the Austrian Concession was carried out . in an attempt to dislodge snipers. ONLY GROUND FOR PEACE. RETIREMENT OF THE JAPANESE. NANKING, August 1. “It is absurd for Japan to talk of peace while the Japanese occupy Chinese territory,” declared the Chinese spokesman to-day. “Peace is only possible if the Japanese return to the positions occupied prior to the Liukouchiao incident and restore the Chinese administration in Peiping and Tientsin.” The Chinese anticipate that the present lull only presages further Japanese offensives and probably a. drive toward Panting, where the 29th Army is reorganising. The Chinese estimate that the Japanese attack on Tientsin caused 700 civilian deaths and the destruction of 1000 houses and public buildings, chiefly by aerial bombing. Corpses of humans and animals are piled up in the streets, and looting has broken out. Hundreds of Chinese refugees are attempting to enter • the foreign concessions, which are tightening their regulations. The Japanese are sand-bagging the northern end of the International Bridge, facing the barricades of the French.settlement, with which a. serious dispute has arisen. The French Consul (M. Charles Lepisier) accuses the Japanese of cutting the communications of the French Concession with its military base, and also of machinegunning a French detachment, wounding a sergeant, whom the Japanese pievented from receiving medical attention for six hours, and inflicting various indignities. General Sung Clieh-yuan telegraphed the Central Government holding himself responsible for the situation and tendering his resignation and asking ’for punishment. The Government did not accede to his wishes, hut urged him to continue to load his troops against the Japanese. The Chinese have rejected the Japanese demand to evacuate Swatow.