BOMB THROWN at Japanese Launch

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 81, 29 December 1937, Page 7

BOMB THROWN at Japanese Launch

— Prc« Asen.— Copyrlght.)

NO CASUALTIES

Question oi Territorial Rights TENSION AT TSINGTAO

'By Telejraph

(Receivfid 29, 11.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Dee. 28. A hand grenade was thrown today from the Chekiang road bridge, within the British defence sector of the International Settlement, at a Japanese army launch In the Soochow Creek. There were no casualties. A Chinaman was arrested. The Japanese spokesman intimated that the Chinaman charged with the grenade-throwing will be subject to the new extraterritorial regulations, but inaamueh as the incident oeeurred at the Chekiang bridge, which is outside the atea to ■which the regulations applied, the spokesman was asked if they applied to the whole of Shanghai and also to foreigners. He replied that he was unable to say, but if it applied to foreigners, International law. and Japanese treaties with foreigners would be considered. Settlement police are preventing traffic crossing bridges epanning the Soochow Creek when Japanese army boats are passing. There is acute tension at Tsingtao, from where 45 Americans have been evacuated. Chinese banks are closed, shops shuttered and the streets deserted. The Chinese have blown up all bridges on the Tsinan-Tsingtao railway in an attempt to check the Japanese who, after the occupation of Tsinan, are pursuing the Chinese to Taian, and claim to be able to cut off the retreat of thp Chinese in the Tsingtao district, on which they are expected to avenge the burning of the Tsingtao cotton mills. ▲ cable published yesterday stated: The Japanese announce that foreigners living in territory in China occupied by the Japanese will no longer enjoy extraterritorial rights where offences against Japanese military law are committed. The announcement affects England, France, America, and other Powers, and follows the opening of- the areas north of Soochow Creek to foreigners, with the proviso that severe penalties, even death, will be imposed for subversive activities such as espionage, sabotage, the use of poison or bacteria, and interference with communications.