Japan's Objectives in China

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 19, 15 October 1937, Page 5

Japan's Objectives in China

-PresS Aasn,

OCCUPATION IN NORTH Decisive Victory At Shaiighai ■ FIGHTING UNABATED

(By Telpgraph

-Copyright. •

(Eeceived 15, 10.40 a.pi.) LONDON, Oct. 14. The offensive on the Shjaughai front continues unabated. Aeroplanes to-day gave the positions at Chapei a, terrific " straf ing," Shrapnel fell on the decks of British wiarships. ' A bomb fell within tlie International ■ Settlement, in the Markham toad, and destrpyed a tram. There wero at least 45 civilians killed. The Daily Telegrapt's Shanghai correspondent says that the objectives of the Japanese Army in China are now deeljared to be: — (1) The c omplete occupation of all territQry north of "the Yellow Eiver. (2) The occupation of Hainan Islands. (3) A decisive victory at Shanghai. The Japanese intend to achiove all three before the end of the year. Splinters from . a Japanese sheil struck tke United States flagship ^agusta this. morning, injuring an American sailor. The Japanese authorities have apologised. Shanghai reports state that the Japanese advance in North China is more successful than in the Shanghai area, but here again the weather may be an imporbaut factor. Snow is beginning to fall in Mongolna, and may soon bring the Suiyan campaign ot an end. The Japanese, however, hope to drive a wedge between Chinese Mongolia and China, proper, in order to eut communications between Cbina .and Eussia before the winter. During to-day's extensive bombing of Chapei a bomb fell 15 yards from a house mannoa Dy British troops and 6toye in the roof. There were no casualties. A protcst was promptly sent to the Japanese commander, who sent an officer to apoiogise. The Domei News Agency reports that New Zealand has prohibijed the export of scrap iron to Japan. The Japanese reports that Germans who have been acting as instructors to the Chinese armies have been recalled from China is officially denied. A message from Rome describes as untrue the Tokio report that Signor Mussolini has ordered Italian aviation instructors to discoutinue serviee with the Chinese Government.