SOUTHERNERS SMASHED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 351, 11 May 1928, Page 1

SOUTHERNERS SMASHED

CLASH WITH JAPANESE BRIGADE MORE STREET-FIGHTING IN TSINANFU FOREIGN MINISTER WARNS NATIONS OF PERIL THE situation in China is still one of peril and uncertainty. Heavy defeat was suffered by the main force of the Southerners, in a clash with a Japanese brigade movinsr from Dairen to Tsinanfu. s Attempts are being made to stir up war by inflaming the Chinese civilians against the Japanese; and the Nationalist Minister of Foreign Affairs says his Government cannot be held responsible if there is a native reaction against the foreigners. All friendly nations are asked to stand by the Nationalist Government in this crisis. (United P. A. —By Telegraph CopyrightJ (Australian Press Association.)

Reed. noon. SHANGHAI, Thurs. Dispatches from Tsinanfu this morning state that General Toyama’s mixed brigade from Dairen, en route to Tsinanfu, clashed with the main force of the Southerners near Kuotien. The Chinese were heavily defeated. The Japanese casualties were slight

do not suggest anything in the nature of what might be called true warfare.

Japan’s activities correspond with with those of Britain at Shanghai. Her aim is solely to enforce respect for her nationals and to protect them against Chinese attacks. Indeed it is believed that most of the attacks were perpetrated by bandit gangs similar to those which were responsible for the attack upon British nationals at Nanking rather than that they represent any particular Chinese faction. In an authoritative statement to political writers this afternoon about the situation a diplomatic official said: “Japan to-day can in no way be regarded as an aggressive nation. She has suffered from a succession of setbacks in recent years, politically, financially and by earthquake. The Japanese are now too much concerned in endeavouring to readjust their own affairs to worry about other countries. Japan is essentially a peaceful nation to which peace is a most vital problem. “There is actually no political conflict with the Chinese. Moreover no nations have been working in China against Japanese interests. It Is true that there has been considerable economic competition. There is everything to suggest that whatever action Japan may take in China it will be taken to ensure peace rather than to break it.”

The Southerners retreated, and flghting continues. Street fighting has been resumed in Tsinanfu. Following attempts to disarm the Southerners remaining in the city, the Japanese bombarded the vailed section of the Tsinanfu native quarter, which was occupied by a few thousand Southerners, who refused to disarm. They later withheld their fire, not desiring to harm innocent civilians, and sent airplanes to scatter handbills inside the walls, advising a surrender. The troops responded to the appeal of the citizens and are now disarming. Following the arrival of reinforcements the Japanese troops are occupying strategic positions throughout Tsinanfu, and are gradually securing control of the situation. Seventeen vessels, ranging from 1,500 to 8,000 tons, have been chartered to transport the Nagoya Division to Shantung. It is reported that orders have been given to the Northerners to suspend hostilities, pending a settlement of the Tsinanfu affair. Meanwhile, the student element is clamouring for the Nationalist Government to declare war on Japan, and Is endeavouring to stir up the populace to acts of violence. Consequently the local Japanese commander has advised the Chinese authorities that in order to protect the Japanese Nationals in the event of trouble he will not hesitate to dispatch troops outside the International settlement, and occupy strategic positions like the British did last year.