STRIFE IN FAR EAST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 255, 9 August 1937, Page 5

STRIFE IN FAR EAST.

JAPANESE ENTER PEIPING. CHINESE POPULACE IMPASSIVE. (United Press Association —Copyright.! (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.j PEIPING, August 8. Four thousand Japanese troops with full war equipment marched into 1 Peiping and occupied the main. Chinese barracks in the Temple of Heaven. Thousands of Chinese- lined the streets and impassively watched the. column go by. The column was preceded by cavalry squadrons, accompanied by 15 tanks, 10 heavy'guns, and eight supply lorries. JAPANESE EVACUATE HANKOW (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) HANKOW, August 8. The Japanese evacuated the concession hauling down their flag and removing their defences. The Chinese civil authorities took over the administration. CHINESE ADVANCE ON HANKOW. FOREIGNERS WARNED TO LEAVE. TOKIO, August 6. Fear is expressed that 10,000 Chinese who are advancing on Hankow will attack the Japanese concession, where a state of emergency has been proclaimed. Japanese marines barricaded and wired the concession. Foreigners have been -warned to leave immediately. THE JAPANESE SURPRISED. ATTACK IN TORRENTIAL RAIN. PEIPING, August 6. The Japanese military authorities declare that the threatening attitude of the Chinese regarding to the PeipingSuiyan railway is making the situation worse. It is estimated that nearly 45,000 are converging on the Peiping.Tientsin area, the advanced troops being within sight of Peiping. It is reported that the Chinese, attacking in torrential rain, surprised the Japanese and recaptured Lianehanghsien, an importance railway-centre. HUGE JAPANESE VOTE. SUM OF £24,000,000 PASSED. , TOKIO, Aughst 7. The House of Peers passed a supplementary estimate of £24,000,000 for expenditure on the North Chinese expedition, ■> RAINS STOP MOVEMENTS. ’ * LONDON, August 7. A message from Hankow states that the Japanese Government .has ordered the withdrawal of its forces from Hankow because of the fear of serious hostilities. The Chinese authorities are taking over the administration of . the Japanese Concession, which civilians have already evacuated. A Peiping message states that rains have halted military movements in North China, The Japanese control strategic points on the railways north, east, and west of Peiping.

ARMED ACTION NO SOLUTION. JAPANESE MINISTER’S STATEMENT. LONDON, August 7. The Tokio correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the statement in the Diet of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr K. Hirota) that Japan must deal sympathetically with Nanking’s claims in any North China settlement, has aroused great interest. He also declared that not all Chinese entertained anti-Japanese sentiments, and added that if Communist activity in China could be curbed a peaceful settlement was still possible. “China needs something from Japan, and Japan needs something from China,” he said. “Armed action he said would not solve the problem.”