Resumed Shelling is Answer to Powers' Request

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 197, 6 September 1937, Page 7

Resumed Shelling is Answer to Powers' Request

— Press Press Association-

FRESH OFFENSIVE BEGINS IN NORTH CHINA

(By Telegrapii-

— Copyriglit) .

(Received 6, 11.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Sept. 5. Resumption by the Japanese of their shelling of the Chinese positions and prompt retaliation by the Chinese is the sole reply to the Powers' request for withdrawal of the Chinese and Japanese forces from the vicinity of the Foreign Settlement. A Tientsin message says that the Japanese have launched a new offensive in North China, the objective being the Chinese conecntrations at Shantung. 'The foreign admirals and consnls, in a joint Note, requested the Chinese to withdraw their troops a mile inland from Pootung, and asked the Japanese to move their warships a mile. downstream. The Chinese referred the request to Nanking. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Shanghai points ont that withdrawal by the Chinese is impossible unless the Japanese warships evacuate the foreign arcas, which they are using as a military base. They are also bombarding the Chinese from anehorages adjacent to warsliips bclonging to Britain, America and France, which should force the Japanese to depart, he adds. The Japanese spokcsman was similarly non-compliant, emphasising that Ja"pan was merely using its own area to defend Japanese lives and property. The only solution, he dcclared, was to drive all armed Chinese from Shanghai. Further severe Japanese air-bombing at Chapci and huge fires at Hongkew were the chicf incidents at Shanghai yesterday. Several bombs fell in the International Settlement, one con8iderably damaging the Shanghai Racing Club's premises, thus violating the earlier Japanese plcdge that bomb-carriers would not traverse* the Settlement. Other bombs were droppcd close to the Ulster Rifles' headquarters. For this Japan apologised. . Bombs also fell close to the headquarters of the American marincs. A Tokio message says it is diselosed that a destroyer flotilla bombarded Amoy and pnt the forts and aerodrome out of action. A Tokio message reports that the Japanese have established an antonomous Government of Chahar at Kalgan, which was recently captured.