AT WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1932, Page 5

AT WAR

JAPANESE ATTACK HEAVY FIGHTING ALREADY THE VICINITY, OF SHANGHAI. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) ‘ SHANGHAI, January 28. The Japaneso have begun military operations against the Chinese at Shanghai. There has a.ready been heavy fighting at Chapei. , The city of Shanghai awakened this morning to the sounds of intermittent "Vide and machine-gun fire, with the boom of heavy guns at intervals, and the droning of aeroplanes. Tnere was a heavy blanket of fog. This probably saved Chapei from still further destruction, but the firing still continues in this area, where the Japanese are still meeting with a stubborn resistance. Following a short engagement, Japanese naval vessels have captured tlie Whoosong forts, at the entrance to the Wlmngpoo River, twelve miles il'onm Shangnai. Heavy gunfire was heard in the Settlement.

At about 3.10 p-lil,, on Thursday it /'•' was statedi Fighting had readied almost a war scale ip Chapei. The Chinese snipers are still hold l ing out against the , Japanese. It Is even reported that-Jhe Chinese snipers have surrounded a number of Japanese troops. Chapei is at present on fire in three places.

Tile Chinese within the International Settlement are becoming jranic stricken. The bankers have closed their institutions. > All of the Japanese mills have also dosed, thus throwing sixty thousand employees out of work. Tile resources of the Foreign Police are taxed to the utmost. GREAT BOMBING RAID. V ENORMOUS HAVOC DONE. SHANGHAI. January 28. On Thursday, four Japanes bomber planes were sent up to carry out probably the biggest bombing raid in China’s history. Thes e planes circled above the doomed area. They dropped “eggs” at intervals. At this time thousands of spectators on the rooftops of the International Settlement of Shanghai were fortunate enough « to obtain a “box seat” and they saw the familiar fountains of black debris rise. I Tlui Cliapei Rnihda.y ‘Station went up in smoke. The Commercial Press, the biggest Chinese organised printing works, also /rent up, They wei'e destroyed by fire. The Japanese learned that the Chinese had an armoured train within tbn railway station, which they decided to wipe gut, Canton, troops mobilising. 200 CHINESE KILLED. SHANGHAI, January 28. A 'Nanking message.. states that the ' Chinese 'Government apparently 'intend to offer, resistance. Reinfoiv-p----j ments of Cantonese have been mobilised, and have entrained lor Shanghai to-day. The 'Chinese -troops were in the J highest 'Spirits as they •trotted to the station, shouting patriotic slogans. The only available report as to the casualties records that .thirty Japanese and two hundred Chinese have been killed. * A Tokyo message states that the : aircraft carrier, Hosho, and the ISecond Destroyer Flotilla has left for Shanghai. Another Japanese cruiser, and four more destroyers with marines left iSascbo Naval Base for Shanghai today. •OTHER CITIES AIMED AT. THE JAPANESE OBJECTIVE. .. WASHINGTON, January 29. The United States Secretary. Mr 'Stimson, has asked Japan what are her intentions at Shanghai, but Mr Stimson has received no reply. It is believed that Japan is hoping to bring China to he-r-kneo(>. It is also believed now that Japan is intent on moving against both •Nanking and Hankow cities, the latter being far up ithe river Yangtze. U.S. WARSHIPS LEAVE. * OTHER VESSELS IX READINESS. NEW YORK,. January 28. The '"New York Himes's'’ Manila correspondent states : Following upon wild night rumours, in the in r'st of the Manila Carnival, which is row in fvJl swing. Admiral Taylor, o! the 'L’Onted States Fleet, ordered''full complements of n avals aboard the following fours American destroyers: Ihe ,'KdscHil, the Buhner, ':hc Haul Jones, and the Parrot. The four destroyers then left for 'Shanghai, at 9.30 o'clock this morning. Although ihe naval command doubts jif isuch move will be mpiired, all of the other American ships here are also prepared to proved (o 'Shanghai, A if necessary. There are two American destroyers Ithe Boric and the Truxtnn, already at 'Shanghai. It. is asserted lew'- that the Suit'd S'.itus Asiatic. Elm t has ik-vt bemi so weak in combined strength as if h mow, only one modern American slop L

being in the Far 'Eastern waters. She is nii<j ten thousand iton cruiser ‘'Houston,” which is at .Manila.

JAPAN THREATENS AMERICA

AGAINST PROPOSAL OF BOYCOTT.

WASHINGTON’, January 29. 'ln addition to the Shanghai crisis, the situation at Harbin is also regarded here as a serious one.

The To kin Government has raised object on to the publication her,? of the Manchurian correspondence. This objection has been ignored. In Congress Representative Bill h.s ‘Olxv ~/u u resolution looking to an economic boycott being undertaken by United ‘States against Japan. However, Is it eh a move, either by the United States or by Britain is regarded a s not being immediately in prospect. Moreover, word received from Toki-o has indicated that Japan is prepared m break off diplomatic relations in the event, of 'economic coercion of this nature occurring. 1

AMERICA’S POLICY

POSITIVE STATEMENT DELAYED

WASHINGTON, January 28.

An expression of the positive Ameri,c*.’in policy toward the Far -Eastern emergency is still waiting on the developments.

There luv-fe been discussions between Mi' BtinisiJh (United States Secretary) atid Ambassador Lindsay. There are indications ithnt Britain would co-op-erate with the United States in any steps that would bo necessary to protect the property of British and American nationals.

The 'State Department is still waiting far the British reply to inquiries ns to how far London /is prepared i.o go in' joint Anglo-American action.

The British countered with the query as ,'to how far the Unjted States would go, but Washington simply replied that it was .open to suggestions from 'London.

Pending a definite reply from Britain, tha officials have kept silent on the gemeral (situation, though they plainly considered that it was alarming.

(JAPANESE GOLD GOING TO U.S.A. WASHINGTON, January 28. The /United 'States Dapartment of Commerce has received a report that the .Yokohama Specie Bank is shipping 36 million yen in gold to the United States before the end of January. In ,:the midst of public speculation as to whether these Japanese funds would be used to purchase military supplies in America, a Senatorial resolution was introduced to forbid the exportation of arms or munitions from America to Japan or to China. JAPANESE STOCKS FALL. / Washington, January 29. Japanese bonds at New * York have dropped from one to four and a-half points GENEVA, January SP, Dcietor Yen, Chinese rcinesomaitive on the League of Nations, announces that China has invoked articles 10 to 15 of the League Covenant.

FORCES INSUFFICIENT,

POSITION BECOMING WORSE

TOKIO, January 29

A message from the Shanghai Con-sul-General, also one from the military attache intimate that the present forces are insufficient to- cope with the situation which is rapidly becoming worse, and urge the despatch of la. forces.

The Consul-General at Harbin reports that Soviet railway officials have ordered the destruction of the Sungari bridge to prevent the passage of Japanese troops.

BRITAIN’S REPLY TO U.S.A

LONDON

, January 29

In response to Washington's com munications, Britain lias made verbal representations, suggesting that the United States should co-operate with Britain in requesting Japan t.o take no action in the International Settlement without consulting the interested Governments. Britain is also asking Japan for information in connection with the recent developments at Shanghai.