JAPAN TO "DEAL FATAL BLOW AT THE CHINESE ARMIES"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 194, 2 September 1937, Page 5

JAPAN TO "DEAL FATAL BLOW AT THE CHINESE ARMIES"

-Per Presa Association-

Operations Extended — "Self-Defence in Broader Sense"

(By Tolegraplx-

-Copyright).

(Received 2, 10.30 a.m.) TOKIO, Sept. 1% The Minister for War, General Sugiyama, told the Privy Copncil to-day that the Nanking'Government, in violation of the Umezoho, Yingchin and Doiharachin-Tehchun agreements, had inassed large forces on the Peipjng-Hankow and Tientsin-Pukow ftilways, threatening an invasion of Jehol. 1 For this action Japan was determined to abandon her pusfc poliey. and deal a fatal blow at the Chinese armies as punishment. Ifc is stated that the Japnese lost one aeroplane durjng the recent air raid on Canton, and shot down three machines. The Foreign Office spokesmun explajns that Canton was bombarded, and that military operations have been extended in Sonth China as "self-defence jn a breader sense." The Seiyukai Party will demand at the fprthcpming session pf the Diet a fnll inquiry intp the ebjectives ef the fighting in China, believing, in the absence ef a clear definition ef them, that the GQVprnment's financial and ecenemic pelicy will become imppssible, causing pepular unrest. It is efficially announeed that the Japanese Navy is extending its operations througliout China and will be instrumental in raiding all aerodromes and military establishments. The spokesman warned foreign shipping navigating the Yangtse-kiang Egtuary against crossing the patli of Japanese warships operating in formation, insmucli as they- were liable to be bombed by Chinese planes.