CHINESE FORCE Wiped Out By Japanese Troops

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 163, 28 July 1937, Page 5

CHINESE FORCE Wiped Out By Japanese Troops

-Press A«sn.-

ULTIMATUM EXPIRES No Action Likely Untii To-day PUNITIVE MEASURES

IBs Telefcrapb-

-Copyright. )

(Received 28, 10.30 a.m.) TIENTSIN, July 27, It is stated that Japanese troops, assisted by military jplanes, almost wiped out a force ©f 80 Chinese at Tung Ohow, who reiisted an attempt to disarm them. The Japanese ultimatum demanding* the withdrawal of the Thirty-seventh Division has expired. As telegraph and telephone communication has been severed there is no news of Peiping's reply, but it is believed to be a refusal. The Japanese Legation at Peiping has ordered all nationals into the refuge of the Embassy quarter. l Japanese soldiers are repOrted to have arrived at Chongping, an important railway junction north ©f Peiping and thus control all the .ailways leading to the city. The japanese Government in a elatement deelares it has no territorial designs on North China and yrili not interfere with foreign interests. The British authorities at Peiping have advised nationals to spend the night in the legation qnarter. A Tientsin message states that the Japanese spokesman explained it was nnlikely Japan would take action 'as a result of the ultimatum before to-morrow. The Japanese War Minister made a statement that garrisons ip North China had decided upon punitive measures of self defenee against Chinese troops. The War Offiee decided to take corresponding measures.