Chinese Converge on Japanese Area in Shanghai

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 177, 13 August 1937, Page 5

Chinese Converge on Japanese Area in Shanghai

-Fer Press Assoeiation-

THREAT TO FOREIGN CONCESSIONS

(By Telogiapli—

-Cupyright)

(Reeeived 13, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. ' "The outbreak of hostilities on a war scale is inevitable, ' ' deelared an official of the Japanese Embassy at Lon&on. A few hours later a message was reeeived at Loadon from Nanking giving a statement from the Chinese Foreign Office: "China has no alternative but to act in self-defence and resist nggression. The responsibility for fnture developments rests entirely with Japan." Shanghai expects that Japan 's next step, following tiie reftisal of the Chinese to withdraw troops from the Shanghai area will be an ultimatum, followed in the event of a repeated refusal by bombardment from warships or an air attack, Reports from Japan indicate that a most serious view is taken in Tokio where the hdinisters for War, Navy, and Foreign Affairs conferred at the Premier's residence, after which the War Minister summoned Army chiefs to discuss the dQGisioii which will be taken in conference. Thc Emperor gave an audience to' the War Minister. CabiH(t is holtiing an emergency meeting to-morrow morning. • - The Domei News Agency reports that Chinese troops are converging on the Japanese section of Shanghai and fighting* is inevitable. Shanghai reports a dramatic development at the meeting of the International Truce Commission, when the Chinese representatives said they could not gnarantee the inviolability of

ihe International Settlement and repeated the charge made in 1932 that the Japanese used the settlement as a base for their operations. The International Settlement 's defence force consists of 950 British troops, 1050 American marines, 600 French Anna- ' mite troops, and 1900 volunteers supported by the cruiser H.M.S. Danae, the flotilla-leader Duncan, three Freneh and two American warships. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's 88th Division, stationed along the Shanghai railway, is moving towards Shanghai. Eussian volunteers to-night closed Shanghai 's 15 gates and manned five blockhouses west of the Japanese Hongkew district/ Chinese blocked the lower Yangtse river with obsolete ships and removed navigation marks with the object of preventing Japaflese naval movements. Five more Japanese destroyers and transports with a thousand troops have arrived. The Japanese now oceupy Nankow. The Chinese fled to the hills from which they will be difficult to dislodge. v