MIDNIGHT CLASH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 147, 9 July 1937, Page 5

MIDNIGHT CLASH

Japanese Troops Mistaken for Bandits SEVERE FIGHTING IN CHINA (Eeceived 9, 8.45 a.m.) TOKIO, July 8. According to Japanese reports from Peking, a battalion of General Sun-Che-Hyuan 's Twenty-ninth Eonte A rmy clashed at midnight with a battalion of Japanese troops carrying out night manoeuvres in the neighbourhood of Fengtai, toward which both sides rushed reinforcements. A severe engagement is reported to be progressing. The Nanking Government ordered the localisation of the Fetigtai incident. An armistice was declared at 10 o'clock and was later extended to noon, but it broke down owing to the non-with-drawal of Chinese troops whom the JaJpanese are now disarming in addition to occupying Lungwangmaio. The Chinese casualties are estimated at 200 and the Japanese ten. The Chinese explain that the trouble arose through their mistaking the Japanese for bandits who have been recently terrOrising Lungwangmaio. The clash occurred at Fengtai 20 miles from Peking. Tho Chinese troops have refused to withdraw from the bank of the Tungtung River across whieh they face Japanese forces who are deoionstrating with tanks and infantry in tho streets of Tiestsin. At Peiping martial law has been declared and negotiations with tho Japanese continue, but flghting haa been resumet? st Fengtai.