APPEAL FOR PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1938, Page 7

APPEAL FOR PEACE

ISSUED BY PEKING PUPPET GOVERNMENT REGARDED AS INSPIRED BY JAPAN. MAY BE EVIDENCE OF DESIRE FOR PEACE. By Telegraph. —Press Association, Copyright. LONDON, June 20. The Peking correspondent of "The Times” reports that special interest attaches to the strong appeal for peace issued over the weekend by the Japanese puppet Government at Peking, because, if it was not Japanese-in-spired, it obviously has warm official Japanese support and approval. The appeal dilates on the “sacrifices of the Japanese and the sufferings of the Chinese” in the past year, and declares that it will take a century to recover from the war. It urges General Chiang Kai-shek to acknowledge defeat and cease fighting, and asks the Hankow leaders to join in the puppet Government. The appeal is interpreted in some quarters as evidence that the Japanese are anxious to end the war, which is drawing them deeply into the interior at an ever-increasing cost of men and money. CHINESE SUCCESSES. LANDINGS BY JAPANESE REPULSED. The following cablegram has been received by the Chinese Consul from Hankow: — “Our abandonment of Tungchen, between Anking and Shuchen, and Lukiang, south of Hofei, has now turned out to our advantage. “Under cover of bombardment by their warships, Japanese troops landed at Wushaka and Chowkamiao, on the south bank of the Yangtse River, but after severe fighting they were forced to return to their boats. The south bank of the river has now been cleared of enemy troops. “On June 16 three enemy bombing planes bombed existing gaps in the dikes at Chaokow and Yangchiao, and widened them by more than 200 metres. We have ordered workmen to fill these gaps, and instructed the vicechairman of the relief committee to inspect the flood areas and to give immediate relief to the sufferers.”