COST OF WAR.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20488, 5 March 1932, Page 15

COST OF WAR.

HEAVY CASUALTIES.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE LOSSES. DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. (CKITXD PRESS ASSOCIATION —f IHCT4IO TILKGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Pieceived March 4th, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI,' March 3. The city breathed a sight of relief over the cessation of hostilities. A month's war has cost thousands of killed and wounded, and an enormous loss of Chinese and foreign property. The outcome of the round-table conference depends on whether the Japanese undertake the withdrawal of their troops from the Shanghai area. A Tokyo message released here states that the withdrawal of the Japanese troops will take place in three stages. In the meantime, the Japanese forces will continue to maintain peace and order where they are situated. The Shanghai municipal police have resumed duty in the city. It is semi-officially reported that the round-table conference will consist -if the Japanese Minister, Mr Shigemitsu, Admiral Nomura, Major-General Tashiro, and Mr Matsuoka, a well-known Japanese.

China will be represented by Dr. Wellington Koo, former Ambassador in London, and Mr Quotaichi, the former Commissioner of Foreign Affairs at Shanghai. The British, French, Amercian, and Italian Minister will also participate.

THE SITUATION REVIEWED. A HOPEFUL VIEW. TRIBUTES «TO BRITISH MEDIATORS. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIREbESi.) RUGBY, March 3. A situation of somo complexity exists regarding the actual position at Shanghai. When, at Geneva, the League Assembly met this evening, the Chinese delegate, Dr. Yen, declared that • the negotiations for an armistice had broken down. The Japanese delegate, Mi" Matsudaira, spoke immediately afterwards,' and read a telegram stating that the Japanese military and naval commanders .had signed an order for all their troops to halt on their present positions and cease fighting, provided the Chinese took similar action.

In the House of Commons the Japanese order to cease hostilities from 2 p.m. was announced. « Shanghai Press messages state that the further meeting arranged between the Japanese and Chinese authorities did not take place, but the commander! of the Chinese 10th Army is reported to have ordered a cessation of hostilities as from to-night. Some slight firing by the Chinese from their new positions occurred during the day, but it is possible that this may have resulted from the confusion consequent on the rapid developments of the last few liours. Peace Efforts. A hopeful view of the situation was taken by Captain R. A. Eden (UnderSecretary of Foreign Affairs) in the House of Commons. He recalled that the proposals made for the cessation of hostilities were forwarded to the Chinese and Japanese Governments by their authorities in Shanghai, and the final reply from the Japanese Government was received in Shanghai' last night. On March Ist the representative at Nanking of the British Minister in China was informed by the Chinese Foreign Minister that the retirement of the Chinese troops was intended. This took place over the whole front yesterday. As a result of these events the Japanese authorities gave orders to cease hostilities as from 2 p.m. to-day. Admiral Sir Howard Kelly (commanding the China Station) informed the Chinese accordingly, and they, he understood, agreed to issue similar orders. A further conference is to take place on H.M.S. Kent. Captain Eden added that while these efforts were being made at Shanghai the League Council was in no way relaxing its efforts for the further liquidation of the situation, and there were good grounds' for anticipating: a satisfactory. solution. The House of Commons paid tribute to the efforts of Sir Miles Lampson (British Minister in . China) and Sir Howard Kelly, at Shanghai, and Sir John Simon (Foreign Minister) at Geneva, for their peace efforts, and cheered a reference by Captain Eden to "the welcome and invaluable co-opera-tion by the United States with the Powers represented on the League Council."

Chinese Explanation. At the meeting of the League of Nations Assembly this evening, Dr. Ten, Chinese delegate, in declaring that the armistice , negotiations, had broken down, attributed this to the failure of the Japanese to carry out the proposals agreed upon at- the meeting on Sir' Howard Kelly's flagship on February 28th, The Chinese troops had been.withdrawn on the strength of that agreement. . - He read the ; terms of the Japanese reply, dated to-day, which set out conditions, imposing ,the terms of a conqueror, which China could not accept, lie appealed to the Assembly to establish an armistice, in conformity with the terms reached aboard the British flagship, and in conformity with the spirit of the League .Covenant. Mr Matsudiara (Japan), having read the terms' of his telegram ordering the Japanese troops to cease fighting, contended that, his country was justified: in every action taken during the Far Eastern trouble,. and again declared. that she harboured na territorial designs. ELATION AT GENEVA. . ' GENEVA, March 3, With the announcement of Japan's cease-fire 1 order :eon.fr6nting thorn at the breakfast-table, the special ChineseJapanese Assembly delegates met wreathed in smiles. It was significant, that the whole of America's disarmament delegates were seated in the diplomatists' gallery, ,

CHINESE RE-ATTACK. JAPAN DEPLORES NEWS. (Received March 4th, 11.15 p.m.) TOKYO, March 4. Tokyo deplores the news about the reopening of hostilities after the "cease fire" had been ordered. ; The Chinese rc-attacked this morning. Details are anxiously awaited. It is hoped that the attack was purely local and that it will not-develop into further fighting.'' ANTI-JAPANESE MOVEMENT. PROTEST TO AMERICA.' (Received' March 4th, 9.15 p.m.) TOKYO, March 4. Officials ' regretfully note the ' antiJapanese movement in America organised by Mr Chester Howell (a journalist engaged in foreign travel and writing for newspaper syndicates), and others, which is disturbing the amity between Japan and the United States, and tendin r r further to inflame Japanese- public opinion, which is already sensitive to American antagonism. - • The Government therefore is. taking precautions to prevent reactionary reprisals. The police guard on the American Embassy lias been doubled.

A STAMPEDE.

CHINESE AND FOREIGN ...' REFUGEES. return to ruined homes. (Received March 4th, 11-.50 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Marqh 4. There was a regular stamped© this morning of returning refugees. Thousands of foreigners and Chinese,- using every, available conveyance, commenced, a trek from the Hongk?w aiid DixweJi road areas. The problem, of their return is actually greater than their evacuation, everyone endeavouring to the originally prohibited zones at the sarrie time. ' Traffic on every road is **Although, fighting has been officially cancelled, there are still several slight skirmishes a considerable distance frpm Hhanflin i. The Chinese, and Japanese in the vicinity of the 20-kilometre zone are playing hide-and-seek along the Japanese main defence lines, though the main body of Chinese are concentrated .at Qiiinsan. , . There were heartrending-scenes when the advance party of Chinese refugees returned to the' northern .district- and found nothing- except ruins where their homes once stood. ' . . •••'• Chnpei is still closed under military. control, but the municipal authorities are devising a system of policingo permit the Japanese to return to-taeir 'bases. Parts of Chapei are still in flames, and probably will require dynamiting to prevent the spread .ot hres. ■ The Japanese Consulate - that iresh Japanese troops are being sent to relieve those which participated in the hostilities, and also to assiofc in the reconstruction of the devastated regions, pending a satisfactory outcome of the Peace Conference..

JAPANESE DEMANDS. CHINESE REJECTION REPORTED. (Received March sth; 1.5 a.m.) LONDON,. March 4. It. is- reported from Nanking-that the Chinese Foreign -Minister- is informing Admiral Sir Howard Kelly that China cannot accept the Japanese demands. •