DEATH FROM WOUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1939, Page 7

DEATH FROM WOUNDS

FATE OF BRITISH SUBJECT IN SHANGHAI SEQUEL TO STRIKE CLASH. JAPANESE ALLEGATION. (Independent Cable Service.) SHANGHAI, June 7. Air R. AL Tinkler, an employee in a British finishing mill in Pootung. who was wounded yesterday during a clash between mill strikers and .Japanese, died early today. The representative of the British United Press at Shanghai reveals that Mr Tinkler was wounded by the bayonet of a. Japanese marine. The Japanese allege that he fired on a Japanese officer at the Pootung mill.

WAVE OF INDIGNATION IN EUROPEAN COMMUNITY. INTENSIFIED BY JAPANESE STATEMENT. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) SHANGHAI, June 7. A wave of indignation has swept the European community here over the fatal bayoneting of Mr Tinkler, and the tension was not lessened by a statement by a spokesman at the Japanese Embassy, that Mr Tinkler’s action was: “a deliberate insult to Japan. I am surprised that he was not shot on the spot.” LABOUR RIOTING INSTIGATED BY JAPANESE. SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN BY BRITAIN. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received Thi e Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. Mr Tinkler was a former member of the Shanghai Municipal Police, and had been employed .in the Pootung mill for some years. Officials at Whitehall point out, that undoubtedly as a result of deliberate instigation by the Japanese, there had been considerable Labour agitation at the mill, causing an employees’ riot, so that finally on May 20 an armed British naval guard was stationed at “he mill, but a few days later assurances ..were given ..by the ..Japanese that British lives and property, which were imperilled through the fomented riots, would be adequately protected. This led to withdrawal of the naval guard. ’ Britain has protested to Tokio regarding the inadequate fulfilment of the Japanese undertaking to place an armed guard at the British mills in Pootung and points out that she seriously views the death of Mr Tinkler, who, it is confirmed, died from bayonet wounds. WILFUL STABBING DENItO, A Shanghai message says a Japanese naval spokesman alleges that Mr Tinkler was involved in the disorders and was disarmed by a Japanese marine. He tnen was surrounded by Japanese with fixed bayonets, when he may have come in contact with a bayonet, but it is denied that he was wilfully stabbed. A Japanese Embassy spokesman cited Mr Tinkler’s fate as an example of summary action against foreigners trespassing on Japanese rights and added that ■ anyone endangering the Japanese forces would be indefinitely detained, even executed. He admitted that, despite the British request, that Mr Tinkler be immediately handed over, this was done only after his death, 15 hours after the wounding. A Consulate spokesman expressed surprise • that Mr Tinkler was not shot and killed on the spot, after arrogantly pointing and firing a revolver at a Japanese.

ESPIONAGE CHARGE . MADE AGAINST BRITISH OFFICER. ACTION FOR KUOMINTANG ALLEGED. TIENTSIN, June 7. A Domei (Japanese) News Agency message from Kaigan, giving results of the examination of Lieut.-Colonel Spear, alleged that he was found hiding inside the Japanese lines and also that he was sending by a Chinese Communist a wireless message to the British authorities regarding the conditions inside the Japanese lines. It is claimed that Lieut.-Colonel Spear was gathering information on behalf of the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communists.

Lieut-Colonel Spear, a British attache. was arrested by the Japanese last week, as also was Lieut. Cooper, a language officer in an effort to reach him.

MISSION TO HONG KONG MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK A MEMBER. HONG KONG. June 7. Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, with the Australian, Mr W. H. Donald. (Advisor to the Chinese Government) and Chinese officials arrived today in a secret plane from the army headquarters. This was a signal for great Chinese political activity. Madame Chiang had frequent conferences with her brother, Mr T. V. Soong, director of the Bank of China.