CHINESE CITY SHELLED

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1931, Page 5

CHINESE CITY SHELLED

BY JAP FORCES.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

SHANGHAI, September 19. Mukden telegrams report that Jap anese troops are now shelling the Chinese quarter of the city of Mukden the capital of Manchuria, a.so'Mukden arsenal and the Chinese Military

Barracks. Eighty deaths were reported in one camp alone, by midnight. Captain Nakamura, who was attached to the Japanese Manchuria Military Forces, disappeared several weeks ago. Evidence of investigators sug<gests that he was murdered in Chinese territory. His is a similar case to that of John Thorn burn, a young Britain, who disappared near Shanghai! last June. The Japanese made efforts to secure" satisfaction, but fai’cd, and their present outbreaks are believed .to be the Japanese taking reprisals. The Japanese civil authorities de- . clare that they are unable to prevent their soldiers from firing and it is assumed that they are entirely out of hand. The firing is continuing. Shells are falling every ten minutes altd this Without any reply from the Chinese. The latter have been ordered by Marshall Chang Hseuhlituig, the Manchurian W-nr Lord who is Vice-*Com-mander of the. Chinese Nationalist Army, to the arms at the depots, and not to retliate. The Japanese are now reported to be attacking Tungtaiving, to the northwards, they having seized the Chinese Chief-of-Staff, General Yung Chen. JAPS SEIZE MUKDEN. ■ TOKIO, September 18. There was serious fighting at Mukden last night, when Japanese railway guards found Chinese soldiers damaging tracks with explosives. The Japanese troops' have bombarded Mukden and they occupied the city at three o’clock this (Friday) morning. Seventy or eighty Chinese soldiers are reported killed. The Japanese have now taken complete charge of the city. CONCERTRATNG at MUKDEN. SHANGHAI, September 19. The Japanese are now in comp’ete control of the situation at Mukden, following on the arrival of nine additional companies of infantry from nearby Japanese garrisons. Tli'e Japanese are how controlling entire SoUtli MliiiChtlHan railway zone. The Japanese" are flooding the Muk--1 den area with troops,

All of the Legations and Consulates are being heavily protected 'against eventualities.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. f. WATCHING CRISIS. ' GENEVA, September 20. The League of Nations is close. ? watching the ; Chino-Japanese crisis, which has coincided with the opening of the CounciUsession. The Chinese delegate informed the League Council that the Chinese are not responsible for the Mukden incident. Yoshiawa, the Japanese delegate, promised that Japan would do her utmost to avoid complications President Lerouv said that the League Council hoped that a pacific adjustment would be found.

JAP RESERVISTS. SHANGHAI, September 20. Tlie Japanese reservists in China, have been , ordered to report at the nearest station ... ( ' Japanese military forces from all parts of Korea, Manchuria, Kwantung and from ..the leased territory of Port Arthur, are entraining for Mukden! A crack military- flying squadron froip Pingyang is already, en route..' CLASH NORTH OF MUKDEN. I '■ SHANGHAI, September 20. An official statement, issued from the Kwangtung Garrison headquarters states that clashes tbok place last night', and that they were caused as the result of a section of the South Manchurian Railway being torn up by Chinese troop s , near Peitayang, a northern suburb of Mukden. JAPAN’S VAST INTERESTS. SHANGHAI, September 20. There is ino doubting the Mukden sit- ' uation is frought with the direst possibilities. Any additional incident may precipitate renewed hostilities, by which Japan may occupy, the whole of Manchuria and the protection of the vast interests therein, may involve other Nations, notably Russia. Japan now - occupies Mukden, Antung, Cliangobung and New Chang. All the important stations are the property of the Mukden railways. She is landing troops to Tsingtao, while naval vessels are guarding strategic points on the Manchuria waterways, Tt is confident, ly hoped that the Mukden occupation is merely demonstration of the Japanese military to enforce a settlement of three hundred outstanding Sino-Japan-ese problems, which the Chinose have Repeatedly ignored, If*-';'' V

SITUATION QUIETER. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) SHANGHAI, September 20. Despite reassurances from Tokyo and other Japanese official sources that the Mukden affair will be treated as a “local incident,” reports continue to announce the occupation of G'nin--2 ese towns, railway stations, banks, and telegraphs by Ja pa neve t.oops. There is a growing feeling t::at Nippon intends holding Manchuria pend ng a settlement of the capital and Nal anuira and other outstanding Chi noJaps n ese questions. The destroyed portion of the south Manchurian railway is reported to be repaired to normal services. 'The restored situation is considerably quieter. ORDER WITIN THREE DAYS. SHANGHAI, September 29. A Mukden report states :—Order will be restored in the city within three days provided there is no further incident. A statement from the Foreign Office iii Tokyo points out the seriousness of the situation. “Japan will not hesitate to settle the matter by force of arms but that is a measure to be taken only after the failure of dip’omatie proceedings. There are hopes for a speedy satisfactory settlement of the trouble.” China lodged an appeal to the League of Nations. The total casualties of week-end hostilities is unknown but it is believed to be more than two hundred. GOVT. MEASURES. TO AVOID HOSTILITIES UNAVAILING. SHANGHAI, September 20. Despite frantic Government measures to avoid further hostilities, the Chinese army is moving from Kirin towards Changchun which is held by a small Japanese detachment causing ■reinforcements to be rushed along railways. Panic reigns among Japanese at Fushun where the Chinese have trained artillefy on the city, threatening bombardment. Japanese destroyers have moved on Chefoo, Hangkow and Tsingtao to protect nationals. Marine are guarding streets in Jap anese area. SHANGHAI, September 20. China, lodged a second protest in the afternoon demanding immediate withdrawal. Despite the Chinese declarations a refusal to fight, an official Jananese report states:—Sixty-three Japanese soldiers were killed and 119 wounded. Japan officially announces her intention of the establishment of a military administration in occupied areas until outstanding questions are set tied. Marshall Slmng Hseukliang declared that China will refuse to he drawn into ail a fined conflict with Japan. A surprise attack on ‘Mukden and the subsequent occupation of various places itl Manchuria by Japanese army constitutes an act of war a,s unwarranted ns unprecedented. The attack was launched when China was in the throes of calamity, caused by catastrophic floods, Communism and civil war. TOKYO, September 20. Yesterday’s urgent Cabinet meeting emphasised the Government’s determination not to allow the Manchurian trim, ble to extend. They insisted that the War Office has countermanded the orders for the movement of troops from Korea. t