SERIOUS FIGHTING

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20258, 29 July 1937, Page 10

SERIOUS FIGHTING

PEACE EFFORTS FAIL. JAPANESE AGGRESSION. PROVOCATIVE INCIDENTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Associ&tlon.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Chinese Consnl has received the following cable from Nanking:— The Chinese authorities at Peiping had decided this afternoon to reject the Japanese demand for the withdrawal of the units of the 29th Army from Peiping and the vicinity within a specified time. The Japanese military presented an ultimatum yesterday demanding firstly, that the units of the 37th Divivision at the Lukouchiao area retire to Changsintien before noon to-day and, secondly, that other units of the same division Inside Peiping and Hsiyuan retire westward to the Yangting river before Wednesday noon and, thirdly, Immediately after evacuation of these areas the whole’ of the 37th Division must withdraw to Pacting.

Major Conflict Imminent.

Aocordlng to the latest Information reoeived serious fighting ocourred on the outskirts of Peiping and all along the railway between Peiping and Tientsin. Though details are at present unavailable North China seems on the eve of a major conflict.

The Chinese foreign spokesman ! stated that although responsibility for the outbreak of the Lukouchiao in- , cident does not rest with China: the Chinese Government is anxious to preserve peace in East Asia and conI sistently strived for a pacific settlei ment through regular diplomatic channels. The Chinese Foreign Minister repeatedly proposed a definite area to be fixed for the mutual withdrawal of troops. Unfortunately, Japan not only refused to accept the Chinese proposals but persisted in sending large reinforcements to : North China. Meantime, a settlement was agreed upon by the local Chinese military authorities. The central Government raised no objections to the terms of - settlement, which are not fundamentally Inconsistent with the position It has taken.

Ohlnese Forbearance. i The Chinese Government's extreme forbearance in endeavouring to prei serve peace must be plain to all ob- ! servers. lOn the other hand, Japan not ’ only failed to withdraw her troops ! but continued to send heavy rein--1 forcements Into the Peiping and Tientsin area.

On the night of July 25 Japanese troops made an unprovoked attack on Ihe Chinese garrison at Langang during which a large number of Japanese bombing planes were brought into action.

The Japanese further presented impossible demands lo the Chinese I local authorities and staged a rapid j succession of provocative acts on the I outskirts of Peiping.

| All these clearly Indicate that the Japanese are bent on aggravating the present crisis with a ! view to achieving their cinlster designs on North China.

China has exhausted her efforts for peace and responsibility for future developments in North China rests solely with Japan.

A further communication to t|ie Consul reads: —Chinese troops recaptured Fenlai and Langfang this morning. Figtiling is progressing in favour of the Chinese forces at the Tungchow sector. Two squadrons of Japanese planes raided Nanyuan and Peiping this morning, dropping bombs and propaganda leaflets. Stern Resistance. General Sung Chehyuan’s circular telegram received here this morning declares that continuous Japanese provocations compelled the Chinese forces to offer stern resistance for the sake of national existence. Since the commencement of general hostilities in ; the Peiping and Tienstin area yesteri day afternoon Chinese troops gained . the upper hand at all sectors. The j Fental base of the Japanese military operations recovered at 8.40 o’clock | and Langfang at nine o’clock this j morning. Japanese troops arc evacuating Tungchow, the seat of the 1 East Ilopai puppet regime, the caplure of which is imminent. | Eleven Japanese planes bombed Peiping and suburbs at 5.30 o'clock. | The exlent of Ihe damage is at present unaseerlainable. One Japanese bomber was shot down at Jasiyuan and seven were seized when the Chinese occupied the Chachilcng airfield southward of Peiping. NOT KIDNAPPED. THE JAPANESE SEAMAN. RETURNS FROM A SPREE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel Copyright. (Received July 29, 3.15 p.m.) SHANGHAI, July 28. ' The Japanese sailor, Miyazaki, has turned up. He was not kidnapped but went on a spree, during which he was seen in a Jance house by fellow sailors. upon which, fearing punishment, lie hid for two days. He then boarded ' a British steamer, but Jumped overboard, realising he was without a ticket, lie spent the night in the hills, after which he filing himself into the Yang-tsc-Kiang. from which a boatman : rescued him and handed him to ttic j Police. ! CHINESE VICTORIES. AUTHENTICITY DOUBTED. j ABSENCE OF CONFIRMATION. * United Pr*»*s Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright. | ( Received July 29. 3.15 p.m A LONDON, July 28. The absence of confirmation of Hie ' Chinese. ” successes.” combined with ' positive Japanese denials of them, has caused foreign circles lo doubt the authenticity of Chinese reports of victories.