CHINA AND JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1932, Page 6

CHINA AND JAPAN

ANOTHER JAP BOMBARDMENT.

CHINESE TROOPS RETREAT.

("United Press Association. —By Electrlo Telegraph.—Copyright.]

(Received this day at 11.15 a.in.) SHANGHAI, February 3

A battle is raging between the Chinese and Japanese in the Chapel and Hongkow areas, indicating that there i.s no intention on either side to withdrawn until satisfactory safeguards are forthcoming.

Commencing at eleven o’clock this morning, the Japanese opened an intensive naval bombardment on the 'Woosung forts, a.t- the mouth of the river leading to Shanghai. The Chinese replied hut reports state that the forts have been silenced.

The Japanese have now occupied them, while the Chinese defenders, numbering approximately a thousand, are reported to be 'in full retreat towards ‘Shanghai. Additional Anierican-British reinforcements arrived to-day, and the American cruiser, Houston, ‘was passing up the river during the forts' bombardment.

Brigadier Fleming has informed the •Japanese' tt-ha-t it 'is imperative that they withdraw from the Settlement proper, Into the extra settlement territory, and the Japanese are reported to have agreed.

Nanking has unconditionally agreed to the joint foreign proposals for the suspension of hostilities. Japan agrees to all the proposals except the la.st: '“The settlement of the dispute to be on the \Jiasis of the covenant of the League of Nations, and the Kellogg anti-war pact.”

JAPAN’S ATTITUDE

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT

TOKYO, February 3

In an exclusive Interview with the United Press’Association, Count Inukai to-dav outlined the Japanese position.‘(1) Shanghai incident, and Manchurian affair entirely separate matters.

(2) Both are due to a similar cause, “violent Chinese military attacks.” (3) Japanese did not drop bombs on the Chinese city of Shanghai or International 'Settlement.

He declared the attack was directed exclusively against the attacking Chinese army.”

Also, the tension between Japanese and Chinese at Shanghai in the presence of overwhelming 'Chinese forces outside the cijty sadly resulted in a crescendo of riots and atrocities. The Japanese were in terror of their lives.

(4) Chinese without pip vocation attacked marines in force, after giving definite assurances for the future to the Japanese. feels’ the boycott of Japanese iin China is contrary to her treaty on commerce. “The boycott is universal throughout China, and is enforced by terrorists, exercised by the party in control and countenanced with tact and encouragement by the Government. It 'is not a spontaneous popular movement.”

Count Inukai concluded. —“Japan infinitely deplores the occurrences which have been 'forced on her by Chinese militarism. She has already lost precious; lives in Shanghai and Manchuria. Appreciating sincerely the American devotion to the cause of peace and certain American and European public’s well known sense of fairness, they will recognise that peace is not endangered by the acts ol Japan but by the inconsiderate precipitancy of the armies of China. ’’