CHINESE TURMOIL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1928, Page 3

CHINESE TURMOIL

JAPS AND SOUTHERNERS CLASH. (Received tins day at 12.25 p.m.) Australian Press Assn.—United Service SHANGHAI, May 10. Despatches from Tsinanfu state General Tuvalu's mixed brigade from Dairen, en route to Tsinanfu, clashed with the main force of Southerners near Kuotien. The latter were heavily defeated. Japanese' casualties were slight. The Southerners retreated, but fighting is continuing.

Street lighting was resumed at Tsinanfu following on attempts to disarm southerners remaining in the city. Japanese bombarded the walled section of Tsinanfu native quarter, which" was occupied by a few thousand Southerners, who refused to disarm. Later they with-held the fire, not desiring to harm innocent civilians, and sent aeroplanes to scatter hand-bills inside the walls, advising surrender. The troops responded to the appeal and citizens are now disarming them.

Following the arrival of reinforcements Japanese .troops arc occupying strategic positions throughout Tsinanfu, and gradually securing control of the situation.

Seventeen vessels, ranging from fifteen hundred to eight thousand tons, have been chartered to transport Nagoya division to Shantung. It is reported that orders have been given to Northerners to suspend hostilities, pending a settlement of the Tsinanfu affair. Meanwhile the student . element clamouring for the Nationalist Government to declare it was Japan 'endeavouring to stir up the populace to acts of violence, consequently the local Japanese Commander advised the Chinese authorities that in order to protect Nationals in the event of trouble lie would not hesitate to despatch troops outside the international settlement and occupy strategic positions lilco the British did last year.

CHINESE N ATI ONALIST STATEMENT. SHANGHAI, May 1C Huangfu (Nationalist Minister n< Foreign Affairs) interviewed, stated Dr Wu would proceed from Paris to Washington immediately with a request for American intervention in Shangtung to prevent further trampling on China’s sovereign rights. He asserted that the landing of Japanese troops on Chinese soil outside the concessions was an unpardonable breach of the terms of the ’Washington Conference, and the Chinese were prepared to resist to the utmost in the event of the failure by friendly nations to mediate. He realised there were two sides to the question and still time to settle wtihout further bloodshed. He further stated that in the event of Japanese extending military activities outside the settlement they would not he sisted by Nationalists, but as additional evidence of Japanese aggression it would be taken into the final accounting. The Nationalists were not responsible lor possible native reaction and warned other nationalities of the possibility of anti-Japanese feeling among the Chinese masses turning against all foreigners in the event of a tardy settlement of the dispute. There already were indications that temper at Shanghai and other centres was in this direction. He appealed to all friendly nations to stand by the Nationalists ol China in the present crisis, which was not sought, and not prompted by us. There arc Chinese reports that a truce has beep reached between the South and North.