WAR DECLARED

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20258, 29 July 1937, Page 9

WAR DECLARED

PEKING BOMBARDED ACTION BY JAPAN. NAVY READY TO CO-OPERATE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, July 27. Despatches from Toklo state that the spokesman of the Japanese Foreign Office, Mr Tatsuo Kawal, has formally announced that Japan, having abandoned hope of a peaceful arrangement, will proceed with a military settlement of the dispute In North China.

The Minister of the Navy, Admiral Mltsubasa Yonal, has announced that the Navy Is standing by ready to co-operate with the military operations. These consist of a full-scale attack on Peking. From three sides simultaneously a etorm of shells is being poured on the city.

Colonel Matsul, envoy of LieutenantGeneral Katsuki, commander of the Japanese troops in North China, informed General Sung Cheh-yuan, commander of the Chinese troops in the north, that Japan had Anally been forced to take independent action. The envoy added that the insincerity of the Chinese, evidence of which was given by their treacherously firing on the Japanese troops at the western gate of Peking, was an unforgivable insult.

General Cheh-yuan, however, had already rejected the Japanese ultimatum.

Earlier messages from Peking stated that two Japanese air squadrons werq carrying out punitive bombing raids south and west of Peking, notably at Nanyuan, where the 38th Division of Chinese troops was reported to have been routed.