JAPANESE ADVANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1933, Page 5

JAPANESE ADVANCE

BY 40,000 TROOPS

CHINESE DEFENCE STRONG

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegra ph—<Ju py rigut.j

•SHANGHAI, February 24

Pekin reports state that the Japanese offensive was actually begun, yesterday in spite of the fact that Japan’s ultimatum was not delivered to the Nanking Government until last night, when it was promptly rejected. The Japanese are using forty thousand troops, including ten thousand men from Mianchukuo.

The Japanese are striking from Chinchow area (which is on the Jehol province border, west of Mukden.)

The Chinese have established a strong line on the hills fronting- Cliaoy. ang (in Jehol, west of Chinchow) overlooking a valley along which the Japanese must pass to the city, which is their immediate objective, under artillery machine-gun fire.

It is -believed that the Chinese can hold up ihe Japanese advance for a very considerable time The Japanese Sixth Division', also .the Fourth Independent Cavalry Brigade have left Tunglaio (north-west of Mukden) iu a blinding snowstorm with the temperature ten degree's below freezing point, They are advancing into Jehol Province. They encountered a force of Chinese irregulars, whom ( they dispersed twenty miles south-west of Tunglaio.

It is believed that Kailu (in the north of Jehol Province) is their immediate objective..

ECONOMIC BLOCKADE OF JAPAN

DENIAL CTF ANY APPREHENSION

KOBE, February 24

The press of Japan is discussing the possibilities of an economic blockade of Japan/, though it is denying any apprehensions.

Washio, a well-known publicist, followed' Haoizewa, the editor of the Diplomat Review, in proclaiming that in the event of an economic boycott, Japan will’blockade all of China’s ports, thus monopolising the trade. The paper “Aeolii” demands the early formation of an economic ‘‘bloc” with Manchukuo for a. safeguard. The “Chugai Shogyo,” the commercial newspaper, declares that Japan’s withdrawal from the League of Nations does not mean hostility to the League, but a. return to Asia, of subservience to Anglo-Saxon ism. The paper “Hoclii,” quoting Admiral Osumi’s ball to the Japanese Navy 'to be ready, declares: “All Japan must answer the same call, and must prepare .to face the hardships which are the result of an economic blockade.”

The paper also denounces sugary optimism and luxurious indulgence. The “Nichi-Nichi” denounces the foreign attempts to discriminate between military and pnHic optimism in Japan. It says that the nation is unanimous.

allegiance TO manchukuo

CHINESE TROOPS TAKE STAND

TOKYO, February 24

At Tungliao on Thursday, ten thousand of Marshal Chang Hsueh. Liang’s voluinteeers at Lupei, under General Chang Kweilin, pledged allegiance to the Republic of Manchukuo. General Chang fOveilin has now been a Sub-Commander under General Chang Haipeng, who, is commanding the Manchukuo '.forces at Tungliao. ~

VICKERS COMPANY DENIAL

LONDON, February 24

The heads of the Vickers T Armstrong firm deny they are making tanks for japan, or that their works are fully occupied making munitions for the Far East.

attack follows bombardment heavy casualties result. (Received this day at 8.45 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 24. The Japanese attack opened in the earlv hours of the morning following a three day bombardment General Fangyulin< pf O°M, has ordered the withdrawal of Chinese fo”ce s from Peipiao and Is aiding which have been subjected to a severe aerial bombardment, and where, also a number of terrific onslaughts by the Japanese Manchukuo infantry resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The Chinese used machine guns with t . terrible advantage against the advnn- . t roo ns but eventually they retired when an aerial artillery bombardment • heavy losses to the defenders. C< Chinese official reports anticipate nnattack in the vicinity of Kdu, 0 ? / a large force of Manchukuo '' hC j arc concentrated. Military aeyojro°P Iwj been established at Ka,ln, I’ 1 ' 1 “""“‘V'jjjitme planes a;[lb Am. bombing * ,-] o ts. She also possesses erica-trnme gk . l]pd; foreign military a number S „tton, formerly ..feht-bandtetbe late Mnlt- ? wariord Chang Tseolin, unde Sjs" -f" jvfis 6rlgb,ally ostgbUshed

REAL OFFENSTBE NOT BEGUN. JAPAN MANOETJRING FOR POSITION. (Received Feb. 25th. at 10.30 a.in,.) PEKIN, February 24. The fate of Jeliol binges on the ability of the Chinese to liohl two strategic point- 1 , Cbihfeng, ninety-two miles northward from Chengtehfu, the provincial capital, and Lingyna.ii, evpiity-five miles eastward. According to military observers here, these are. the only two passes through the moifn tains, end they taro believed to be stoutly defended. The latest advices from the front indicate that there are no major developments, causing the belief that Japanese hitherto have merely been manouivring for position before scartincr the real offensive.