FURIOUS FIGHTING AT TSINAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 349, 9 May 1928, Page 1

FURIOUS FIGHTING AT TSINAN

The Rising Sun

CHINESE ATTACKERS REPULSED PANIC-STRICKEN TOWNSPEOPLE IN FLIGHT FIERCE fighting has again broken out between the Southern Chinese troops and the Japanese at Tsinan. The situation is grave. It amounts to war, without a formal declaration by either side. Hostilities were renewed after a Chinese breach of faith. Chinese civilians are fleeing to the outlying districts. Missionaries are reported to be safe.

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A.—United Service)

Reed. 9.5 a.m. SHANGHAI, Tues. An official Japanese message from Tsinanfu says fighting recommenced on Tuesday, following the refusal of the Chinese to accept the Japanese demands, which are reported to involve punishment of the commanders of the troops responsible for the outrages, disarming of the soldiers in the area controlled by the Japanese, cessation of the demonstrations of hostility against the Japanese, and also the withdrawal of Chinese troops within seven miles of each side of the Tsinan-Tsingtao railway. The Chinese refused to agree, and commenced offensive measures. The Japanese replied, and a battle raged throughout the morning. The Chinese attacking the railway zone in great numbers, were repulsed with heavy artil lery. An international train, with 70 foreign refugees from Tsinanfu, is awaited at Tsingtao this evening. It will stop at all railway stations. » • I Telegraph and Chiang Kai-shek telephone offices Chinese General in the vicinity of issimo. Tsinanfu are occupied by Japanese troops. An additional 18,000 Japanese troops have been ordered to be dispatched to the Tsingtao war base.

The situation amounts to war without a formal declaration of war by either side. The new hostilities commenced after the penetration of the Japanese lines of sentries by a party of Southern Chinese. The latter commenced looting and the hostilities spread to several points of the city. Finally the majority of the opposing forces were engaged. The Southerners are reported to be 100,000 strong and the Japanese are outnumbered by 20 to one. Reinforcements en route will bring their total to 13,000. The artillery employed by the Japanese is directing its fire at the native quarter in Tsinan where the majority of the Southerners have been billeted. Chinese civilians have been warned to evacuate the city and are fleeing panic-stricken to the outlying districts.

JAPANESE NERVOUS MORE TROOPS MOBILISED CAUTIOUS POLICY STILL (Australian P.A.—United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. TOKYO, Tuesday. The Prime Minister, Baron Tanaka, is conferring with the Ambassadors of Britain, America, France and Italy, acquainting them with the situation at Shantung. They are discussing the protection of all the foreigners in North China. The Nagoya Division is mobilising. An official order to move may be issued <jn Saturday.

Official news from Tsinan is scanty, leaving the authorities highly nervous. Tsingtao reports that '7O British and Americans inland in Shantung are expected to reach that port to-night. A dispatch from Tientsin, China, to the newspaper “Asahi” reports a renewed attack at Tsinan. It says severe fighting continues and there are grave fears as to the result, as the Japanese are outnumbered. The communications between Tsinan Tsingtao, the eastern port cf Shantung, were working on the previous day, but now are again interrupted. The Japanese Cabinet lays stress upon the necessity for a cautious policy of protection of nationals, not a punitive policy. It is continuing its deliberations. Twenty transports for troops are in readiness and awaiting its decision, which is expected to-day. It is hoped that the news of the renewed hostilities is exaggerated, but

it is feared it is true. The War Office has received no advices. PROJECTION ONLY? QUESTION FOR JAPAN (United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON, Tues. Japan may shortly be asked to explain whether in its opinion the movement of Japanese troops into Shantung constitutes intervention. The State Department intimated today that under the 1922 Washington Nine-Power Treaty, which became effective in 1924, Japanese and other foreign Governments interested in China had agreed never to intervene except when it was necessary to protect nationals, and if Japan is only interested in the protection of her 12.000 nationals resident in Shantung

there will be no question o£ the intervention involved. The State Department announced that the United States would consider mediation between Japan and the Chinese Nationalists only on an invitation from both sides. MISSIONARIES SAFE Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The China Inland Missions says that 100 missionaries, ten of whom are Australians, are in refuge at Chefoo, from the north, and the interior. All are safe, nor are they likely to be endangered in the event of evacuation. The “Daily Express” says the Foreign Office suggests intervention by the League of Nations in China, and adds: “China and Japan are both members, and ought to be obliged to seek the League’s mediation before resorting to warlike measures.”