TIENTSIN BLOCKADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1939, Page 5

TIENTSIN BLOCKADE

INTENSIFICATION DENIED BY SPOKESMAN NEGOTIATIONS ON WAY TO TOKIO. CABLEGRAM FROM BRITISH GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, July 1. It. is reported from Tientsin that the situation there is easier, and the Japanese military spokesman is cited as denying the reported intention to tighten the restrictions —a step which he considered was unlikely during the Tokio negotiations, which may open shortly. The local advisers who are to participate on both sides in the discussions between the Japanese Foreign Minister and the British Ambassador are stated to be on their way to Tokio. The British Consulate at Tientsin yesterday informed British subjects resident in the concession that the Consul, Mr Jamieson, had received a cable from Whitehall requesting the continuance of care in the direction of avoiding exposure to any indignities for the next few days. The cable asks Britons to refrain from passing the barriers except on occasions of necessity, and says it is absolutely imperative that they should observe this instruction. WEEK-LONG BATTLE CHINESE GUERILLAS ACTIVE. SHANGHAI. July 2. Reports from Peking state that 25,000 men are stated to be involved in a week-long battle between Japanese regulars and Chinese guerillas east of Tinghsien, on the Kinghan railway. Streams of Japanese wounded are pouring back from the battle line. Guerillas are busy on the railway lines in the Peking area. Travellers state that there were two. wrecks last week. ANOTHER INSULT ' ENGLISHMAN STRIPPED AT BARRIER. FACE SLAPPED WITH PASSPORT. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) TIENTSIN, July 2. An Englishman, Mr John Anderson, was stripped 'naked at the Concession barrier. A Japanese snatched his passport, with which he slapped Mr Anderson across the face.