JAP OFFENSIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1933, Page 5

JAP OFFENSIVE

v AIR BOMBARDMENT CHINESE TOWNS DEMOLISHED. (United Press Association—By ElectrL Telegraph—Copyright) - , SHANGHAI, February 23. Peking reports state that fighting h proceeding in Jehol-. ':>> The operations ar e continuing with a terrific aerial bombardment oJ Chaoyang. Nanking and Peipoo. These three towns are just inside the Jehol .border, on a branch lin e from the Mukdcn-Pekin railway. The air attacks are apparently aimed at th 0 destruction of cationsOnly the telegraph station at Chaoyang -is now remaining. It is believed that a general Japanese attack will commence to-morrow. M. Soon'g (Chinese Finance Minister) last .night, informed tha press that Marshal Chi-ang Iva.i Slick is preparing to enter th e fighi, -and that he will shortly assume the chairmanship of the (National Defence Committee, which includes every experienced military leader in th e country At Peking the authorities have no knowledge of pending ultimatums, and they declare - that if any ultimatum is presented, they will return it unopened to the sender, Other Shanghai reports state that both the .Chinese and the Japanese are ■enforcing a strict censorship, thus rendering it difficult to ascertain the true position at Jehol. Ther e is considerable apprehension in foreign circles here as Hie result of a .rumour that the Japanese Navy may b e compelled to enforce’a blockade, should the struggle develop into serous proportions. A Tokyo official document, which is given official prominence at Shanghai, sets out that, should any' countries attempt to enforce economic sanction.? against Japan, in such an eventuality the Japanese Imperial Navy is prepared to meet every emergency with evei’v means at its disposal. Referring to the .reports that certain of the .nations favoured an ai ms embargo, the Nanking Government’s Foreign Office spokesman declared that the embargo should be limited to Japan alone, sinc e China is acting, in self defence; while to prevent Chum from securing arms and supplies in the present struggle is tantamount to stabbing her in t-h e back. < A QUESTION OF EMBARGO. ; JAP NAVAL blockade danger fpf LONDON, February 23. Th e “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic corre-nondent gays'; A® America and other Powers have not , imposed any embargo, it would 'be futile for Britain to do so alone. 'Such an embargo would bit China' woiv, e than it would Japan, as China js not a manufacturing nation. Jipan has modern arsenals and munition factories. If the League of Nations recomfn Q nd,<* an embargo, it will have tn so o that the United States and flip Soviet adopt it. If an embargo should be restricted to Japan, it mav raise a difficult problem, as. probably, Japan would blockade the Chinese ports, and would claim the right to ceaivh ships for contraband. Britain could not •well challenge this view under her maritime law 7 , but America would be sure to do so, in view of America’s freedom of th e seas doctrine. BRITISH MUNITION FACTORIES. LARGF, .SUPPLIES TO JAPAN. •LONDON, February 22: The y.ickers-Max'im -Elswick Works ar« going twenty-four hours’ daily in making munitions and also tanks foi the Far E"st. V Big monthly -deliveries a r e , being made to- Japan. -- Since October the Vickers-Arm-strong Works at D-artford have been fully occupied marking -shells for Japan. (Referring to the matter or arms exportation, ° the “Daily Herald” says that one 'British firm alone has exported to the Far East within two months, over thirty .six mU’.'oc rifle cartridges. Another firm bar, sh, PP e one thousand machine guns. Japan has bought four thousand , tons of copper during the p-t■ fmt- ,^ Kll ight, mainly from the United S a CHINESE APPEAL. TO THE LEAGUE. (Received this day at 9.5 a.m ) SHANGHAI, February 26. Nanking ' despatches state that China will appeal to the League on Friday to exert international -force to prevent the wholesale slaughter of Lm. who are practMlv „na,™<l and unclothed. They quote Lowerkan, VoxMinister, who is reported to have stated he is not heggmg the League to help China, but to give it a chance J and prevert wholesale, indefinite ‘ slaughter being continued in. a erne hloody war, for which preparation # 9 re being made. North China wil £ k in the mme of Y—wty that r be stopped smehow. .If help does no come China Is prepared to make sac rifices. She has no illusions about tin f tnation he. " uaarm ed and unequipped.

JAPAN HEADY. KOBE, February 23. A Japanese agency wired that Japanese civilians have orders to evacuate Peking to Tientsin, whence women and children are to prepare to depart for home. Tokio is advising the leading Powers that the allied forces of Japan and Manchukuo are ready to commence operations. The drive is expected daily. Army authorities have confidence of success and have issued a warning of danger in Tientsin and Peking, owing to disorderly Chinese soldiery, when driven beyond the wall. TIGHTENING HER GRIP. japan in manchueia. IRON HAND AT HARBIN. LONDON, February 14. How the Japanese are dominating Harbin Manchuria, is emphasised by a special correspondent of the Manchester Guardian.” At least one cement guardhouse has been installed in front of the Japanese officers’ residences, says the writer. Military headquarters and institutions, commercial undertakings and Japanese houses in the suburbs are also protected by barbed-wire which covers the pavement and forces pedestrians on to the roadway. The.se precautions prove the hollowness of the Japanese contentions that tli's army wais despatched in response to “requests for protection from 30,000,000 people.” Indeed, as there are no Chinese troops in Harbin, the measures clearly are directed against the populace. The Japanese military control everything,. Jaoancse and Korean clerks have flooded the public offices, including the' post office, but- they are less efficient than the Chinese. The Jan an esc also are “reforming” the police, introducing Japanese, RusisiaT's and Manchukuoaiis. Already there are signs that the Japanese, by fortifying, points on the MukdeniShan gliaikwan Railway, are preparing for an early attack on .Tobol. Tt is expected also that the Japanese will endeavour to incorporate a maritime province within Manchukuo in order to control the Amur Diver, thus providing r water outlet to the sea for Manchuria ,and also offering fisheries. timber and mineral resources hitherto unexrtoited.