FOOCHOW BOMBED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1939, Page 7

FOOCHOW BOMBED

BRITISH NAVAL PARTY LANDED PROTECTION OF LIVES AND PROPERTY. AMERICAN MISSION OFFICE DESTROYED. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 30. Renter’s correspondent in Shanghai reports tluit 36 British Bluejackets landed in the treaty port "t Foochow from 11.M.5. Grasshopper to project British lives and property. Chinese reports state that Japanese planes are heavily bombing the centre of the city. Bombs destroyed the offices of the American Foreign Missions in Foochow. There were no casualties. Twenty-six warships are concentrated off the city. The naval spokesman at Tokio said that the operations against Foochow and Wenchow were not aimed against legitimate trade by foreigners. Both were strongly fortified, despite the fact that they were treaty ports.. Japan was aiming to destroy Chinese bases' and tighten the blockade.

BLOCKADE POSTPONED COMPLIANCE WITH BRITISH REQUEST. EVACUATION OF NATIONALS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) , TOKIO, June 30. The blockade of Foochow has been postponed for a few days in compliance with a British request to be permitted to evacuate nationals. CHINESE PORTS QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. NON-COMMITTAL REPLIES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 30. In the House of Commons Mr Noel Baker asked Mr Chamberlain about Japanese action in Swatow in preventing the British ships Seistan and Kwangtung from entering the port, and in occupying Butterfield Swires’ wharf and hauling down the British flag, and also about the declaration of the Japanese commander in Tientsin that the blockade of the Concession was to be intensified. The Foreign Under-Secretary (Mr R. A. Butler), who replied, said: "These two ships did not call at Swatow on the advice of the local British naval authorities. Obstructions have been placed in the neighbourhood of Butterfield Swires’ wharf, but it has not been occupied. The Foreign Secretry’s reports do not confirm accounts of the hauling down of the British flag there, or of the statement attributed to the Japanese commander at Tientsin.” Mr Baker then asked if Mr Butler had seen the statement that booms had been placed across the ports of Foochow and Wenchow and that the Japanese in Tientsin stated that the Concession would be completely closed from Saturday. Mr Butler “I have seen reports in the Press, but Lord Halifax has no, official confirmation of the situation described by Mr Baker at Foochow and Wenchow. On the subject of Tientsin, as the House is aware, negotiations are to start in Tokio and I have nothing at present to add to the statements which Mr Chamberlain made on the subject.” Mr A. Henderson: “Was it not well understood that while these negotiations were taking place there should be some relaxation rather than an intensification of the blockade?” Mr Butler: “Yes, but as I said we have no official confirmation of the statement attributed to the Japanese military commander.” ATTACK ON SWATOW JAPANESE DROP BOMBS. AMERICAN SCHOOL HIT. (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) '■> SWATOW, June 30. Japanese planes bombed the city, hitting the American Union High School. No Americans were killed. The Chinese casualties are unknown.