WANTON DESTRUCTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20261, 2 August 1937, Page 7

WANTON DESTRUCTION.

THE BOMBING OF TIENTSIN. CHINESE RESISTANCE STIFFENED. LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel, Copyright. LONDON, July 31. The Nanking correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says the bombing of Tientsin by the Japanese, especially the apparently wanton destruction of schools and universities, has merely stiffened the Central Government's determination to fight. Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek, President of China, In a strongly worded statement, made it clear that there was no prospect of a negotiated settlement except on the basis of absolute respect for Chinese sovereignty in North China. The Chinese military authorities are not revealing their actual plans, says the correspondent, but there is good reason to believe that the Nanking Government is going ahead grimly with preparations for what it regards as a life and death struggle, and when It hits It will hit hard. Another message from Tientsin states that the Japanese heavily bombarded the former Austrian concession district, scores of shells falling in the thickly-populated native area. No reason was given for the bombardment. A Japanese communique states that punitive measures are to be concluded to-night and whether a settlement is possible or not depends upon the cessation of the flow of Chinese troops to Hopei. It Is believed that the Japanese demands Include the suppression of antiJapanese movements throughout China and. the demilitarisation of Hopei. A MILITARY CATASTROPHE. PREDICTION BY TROTSKY. RUSSIA WILL AID CHINA. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. MEXICO CITY, July 31. The Russian exile, M. Leon Trotsky, predicted to-day that a Slno-Japanese conflict would hasten a military catastrophe and a social revolution in Japan. He expressed the opinion that Russia eventually would aid China. “MOPPING UP” OPERATIONS. ARTILLERY DUEL RESUMED. PROSPECTS FOR PEACE. United Presj Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright. TO KUO, July 31. The situation in North China is re- , ported lo bo quiet apart from "mopping up” operations. It is claimed that tiie main body of the Chinese 291 h Army was driven to | the Yung-lung River in scattered J bodies. The Chinese, however, are i still active and an artillery duel lias l been resinned at Tientsin. Three hundred Japanese residents were attacked at Tungehow. The Chinese troops remaining in Peking were disarmed and that city Japan is still confident that peace will be secured. Official circles say! that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek is 100 intelligent lo desire u conflict.