VICTORY MARCH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 60, 3 December 1937, Page 5

VICTORY MARCH

-Prsss 4ssn.-

Japanese Forces at Shanghai BRUAIN SCORNFUL Spokesman Calls it "Childish Exhibition" ALARM AT TSINGiAO

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-Copyright.)

(Received 3, 10.35 a.mO LONDON Dec. 2. The Australian Associated Pxess diplomatic eorrespondent learns that Britain does not take seriously the Japanese "victory maTch" at Wuanghai. The Foreign Office spokesman deecribed it as a "childish exhibition." Britain, he said, would not attempt to prevent it but would confine her interest to minimising the riski of incidents. A Shanghai message says that, de■pite French attempts to dissuade them, the Japanese %gain assert that they will march. a complete regiment across the French Concession at Shanghai tomorrow. The intention, it is said, is primaTily to impress the Ghinese, The international authorities at Shanghai are taking elaborate precautions against incidents during to-day 's victory paxade, which will enter the International Settlement through the western defence sector, Members of the Durham, Regiment manning the sector were last night ro* moving the barbed-wire barricades across the entrance road. The Japanese troops participating in the parade, consisting _ of infantry, cavalry and artillery, will be escorted by aeroplanea. Colonel Telfer-Smollett, commander of the British troops in the Settlement, will drive over the route an hour bef ore the parade begins to gauge the temper of the crowd and assess the risk of incident. The possibility of Ghinese planes bombiug the parade as it forms up outside the western defence sector is not excluded. Meanwhile, the Ghinese are xnaking a iflesperate bid to stem the Japanese advanee in the Tanyang sector. A fierce battle is xaging. The Japanese Axmy spokesman made the surprising revelation that Chinese remnants wero still holding sections of the Kiangyin forts straddling the first boom across the Yangtse river 60 miles behind the Japanese vanguard. The forts are being bombed mercilessly. Fifteen hundred are reported to have been killcd and wounded during the last two days in Japanese Taids on Siaoshan. At Nanking, the Chinese claim that reinforcements recaptured Kwangteh and advanced 13 miles. At Port Tsingtao (Shantung pro.vince) the Chinese authorities are bordering on panie after rumours that the Japanese are contemplating the landing of troops there. Sbips have been ordered to be ready for immediate departure. The bahks are closed and outgoing British vessels are packed jrith refugees. v