ZERO HOUR

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

ZERO HOUR

AT NOON TO-DAY. ANNOUNCEMENT BY JAPAN. MAY BLOW UP PEKING GATES. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received July 29, 11 atm.) PEKING, July ,28. The firing died down at midnight. The Japanese military spokesman said : “ Zero hour will be noon tomorrow. We may have to blow up the gates of Peking.” NANKING, July 28. The Chinese claim to have captured 300 Japanese planes at Fengtai, which were still packed in transport crates. TOKIO, July 28.

The British Charge d’Affaires called on the Foreign Minister, who gave an assurance that every effort will be made not to endanger the lives and property of foreigners in Peking.

FIGHTING IN PEKING. BRITISH REPRESENTATIONS. AMBASSADORS INTERVIEWED. (Official Wireless.) (Received July 29, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 28. Tlie Foreign Secretary, Mr Anthony Eden, saw both the Chinese and tl\e United States Ambassadors and discussed the Far Eastern situation with them. In the House of Commons, in answering a question, he said that urgent representations had been made in Tokio against the fighting in Peking itself. FEW FOREIGN TROOPS. LOCATED AT PEKING. ONLY 200 BRITISH. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received July 29, 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. The foreign forces in Peking consist of 200 Lancashire Fusiliers, 500 American marines, 250 French and 100 Italian troops. The Japanese Embassy guard has been greatly augmented. There were 20,000 Japanese troops in the Peking and Tientsin areas on July 25. CHINESE CLAIMS. MESSAGE FROM NANKING. SIGNS OF JAPANESE RALLY. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received July 29, 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 28. The Nanking Government has cabled the Chinese Embassy in London that Chinese troops have recovered possession of Leng-Fang and driven out the Japanese from Tunchow, where they captured three tanks and hoped shortly to dominate the autonomous area of Ilopei, of which Tungchow is the capital. The Chinese declare that they captured seven bombers when they took the Chao-Chiateng Aerodrome, southward of Peking. Signs of an effective Japanese rally are perceptible, however, In the Chinese admission that the Japanese re-occupied Fengtai after a counterattack lasting seven hours. They also doggedly counter-attacked Leng-Fang. Telegrams from Chinese overseas, which are deluging tlie Government, urge resistance to the death, and promise unlimited money supplies.