WAR IN THE EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1932, Page 5

WAR IN THE EAST

CHINA’S FIRM STAND

VIEWS BY BRITAIN.

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

SHANGHAI, Februavr 19

Commander of the Chinese Nineteenth itoute Army, General Tsai, definitely rejected the Japanese demands. He claimed that the Chinese peop.e cannot accept such a disiionoiirable means of averting the crisis.

General Tsai 'said: “1 am fighting for the rights of the nation, which has too long been trampled beneath tlm heels of foreign Powers. Jf I and my men die defending what is the Chinese people’s heritage, we shall at least know that we have done what others have feared to attempt.”

It is now practically impossible to reach the Chinese Headquarters, as the roads are mined, and there are trenches, while the bridges are destroyed.

CHINESE TAKE OFFENSIVE

JAPS HEAVILY BOMBARDED

LONDON, February 19

A telegram from Slialifehai States tlmt without waiting ' for the expiin tif the JupAlilfiS ultimatum, the Chinese early this morning took till' initiative, and intensively bombarded Japanese positions. Some shells fell in tlm British quarter of the settlement, one wrecking the upper room of the Savoy Hoetl Chinese shells last night dropped behind Astor House, in the Broadway district, smashing windows and doing other extensive damage, in the International Settlement. Fortunately the curfew prevented injuries, the streets being deserted.

KEEN BRITISH INTEREST

GRAVE VIEW OF ACTION. RUGBY, February 18.

The acute interest with which the Commons is watching events in the Far East, was shown again to -day. when Sir J. Simon gave members the latest information in his possession.

After referring with regret, to the two British naval ratings killed yesterday by shells which, from their direction, seemed almost certain to have been fired by Chinese guns, Sir J. Simon said the British Minister sent a note to the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, calling attention to the episode, requesting strict instructions to be issued by the Chinese military authorities concerned, with a view to preventing any possible recurrence of such incidents, and reminding him that the British Government must, in this unfortunate conflict between China and Japan, hold each side responsible for ally loss of British life and property that may he caused by the respective armed forces. Keferring to tlm meeting, this morn, fng, between the Chinese and Japanese military authorities, which he mentioned had been largely brought about by Sir Miles Lampson in the hope that a cessation of hostilities might be arranged, Sir J. Simon said that the

House would regret the Latest press messages indicated that an -agreement was not secured. The latest news from Geneva was that Japan had raised certain legal points in connection with the Chinese request for the reference of the dispute from the Council to the Assembly. These had been referred by the Council to a committee of jurists. who were expected to report today. He anticipated that the Chinese application would then he dealt with by the Council without delay. When the Shanghai situation was mentioned in the Lords, this evening, Lord Hailsham, War Secretary, expressing the grave concern of the Government, said that what had happened was very difficult to reconcile with the provisions of the Pact of Paris or the League Covenant. While co-operating in all peace efforts, the Government had kept the closest possible touch with the American Government, and their colleagues on the League Council. The reported failure of the meeting today, between the Japanese and Chinese, was to be greatly regretted, and there seemed serious risk of a recommencement of hostilities. Such a failure was not going to discourage the Government in peace efforts. Pie asked for restraint to be exercised in expressions of opinion as to where the responsibility lay for the situation, until full opportunity was given the Council or the Assembly of the League to determine the issues.

THE LEAGUE ASSEMBLY. GENEVA, February 18. The Jurists’ Committee upheld the Council’s thesis, supporting the Chinese applicaf ions for the convocation of the Assembly. JAPANESE fv FRONT LINE.

CHINESE RE.J !'<"'<• ULTIMATUM

SHANGHAI. February 19

Thousands of Japanese equipped with every modern warfare weapon are marching into lines stretching from the Settlement boundaries to the mouth of Whnngnpoo river, near Woosung.

Chinese ofhei.'tl circles aiwouce an answer rejecting the ultimatum, uas handed to the Japanese authorities tonight. According to a statement hv Lieut.General Eyed a to foreign press correspondents, Chinese must commence their withdrawal at 7 a.in. to-morrow.

otherwise the Japanese ope an offensive. Uyeda assured the press that foreign interests were completely safe in their hands. He further declared it was riot the intention of Japanese to pursue the Chinese beyond the twenty kilometres zone, where the Japanese front line would be established

URGENT MEETING OF COUNCIL

GENEVA. February 19

A Committee of twelve are summoning an urgent meeting of Council this afternoon to consider the situation at Shanghai, and convene a special meeting of the Assembly.

AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE.

BEHIND SHANGHAI TROUBLE.

SHANGHAI, February 19

Wang Oliai Wei, the spokesman of the Nanking Government, re-iterated Hie previous statement of the National Government, that, while determiend to resist tlie Japanese invasion, they will neither declare war, nor sever diplomatic relations with Japan.

ALL HOPES BLASTED

SHANGHAI AWAITING FIGHTING

SHANGHAI. February 19

Wang intimated that the presold Japanese aggressive movement at Shanghai was planned for the purpose of distracting the world’s attention from Manchuria, where the Japanese consolidated their positions and arranged for an independent State under Japanese direction. This virtually has been achieved helore the League ol V'tinti- M'.nclnirian in vest igation arlives, thereby presenting a lait accorn- | pii.

.Mayor Wn characterised the Japanese actions as “brutal murder of mir people” ; adding I bet Ihe Government v ere prepared to bear Hi- full re-pmu silii'ity of iejecting the Japanese demands.

All hopes of averting hostilities aro liow blasted and the worst fears ot foreign observers are apparently ie.ilised.

All fronts are comparatively ipiiet n| present, hut Shanghai expects to perience the worst fighting in its history some time to-day.