JAPAN’S DETERMINATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20280, 24 August 1937, Page 7

JAPAN’S DETERMINATION.

NO FOREIGN INTERVENTION, NOT SYMPATHETIC TO BRITISH PROPOSALS PROTECTION OF FOREIGN LIVES AND PROPERTY (Official Wireless.) (Received August 24, li a.m.) RUGBY, August 23.

The British Government is still without any reply from the Japanese and Chinese Governments to the suggestion made for the restoration of the situation in Shanghai, which, according to to-day’s telegrams, continues to deteriorate. The reactions to the British proposals in semi-official circles in Tokio appear to have been'unsympathetic, which has caused disappointment here. On the Japanese side it has been strongly emphasised that Japan will not tolerate foreign intervention, but it is pointed out that the British project does not in any sense imply intervention and is merely a request to both sides to withdraw from an area in which foreign interests are heavily involved.

In Nanking, although there has been no official reply, the reaction is understood to have been on the whole favourable and this fact has been noted with satisfaction.

To Secure Isolation The proposals for mutually agreed withdrawals of forces not in conflict from the Shanghai zone were made with a view to securing isolation from warlike operations of the Internation.il Settlement, where many countries, and Britain in an outstanding measure, have very large financial, commercial and industrial interests, and where a large foreign population resides. The Britisli authorities are providing protection for their nationals against attack, but so long as hostilities are actively pursued around the concessions there can be no assurance against accidental death or injury. The precaution is being taken, therefore, of evacuating women and children, whose temporary absence will not cause great inconvenience. Statement by Ministers The authors of a story, which received some circulation, that there be a discussion of the evacuation of all British civilians from Shanghai, would seem to have overlooked the categorical statement by Ministers, after the.r meeting last Thursday, that they had decided to take all possible measures to protect the safety of British people In the Settlement and to protect British interests there. TERRIBLE HAVOC. EXTENSIVE ARTILLERY DUEL. LANDING OF REINFORCEMENTS. CHANCE FOR DECISIVE BLOW. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copj right SHANGHAI, August 23. An intense artillery duel marked the successful landing of 50,000 Japanese reinforcements. A Japanese spokesman said: ‘‘ln view of the provocative Chinese attitude we have a chance now to deal a decisive blow before there is any possibility of their strategic withdrawal. We hope the Shanghai area will be cleared of hostilities shortly.” The Japanese assert that they facM seven Chinese divisions, four of which belonged to the first line, in this morning’s general attack, which has not affected the Japanese lines anywhere. The Idumo has returned from Woosung and taken up a new position half a mile downstream from the Japanese Consulate. It is estimated that 250 people were killed by two shells of unknown origin, which struck the seven-storeyed British department store known as “ Sinceres.” Terrible havoc was caused. Mangled bodies are everywhere. All windows within a radius of a mile were shattered. Ambulance officers, police, troops and Boy fc'cout-s are recovering the dead and succouring the injured. War Correspondents Injured. A third shell struck the United States Navy warehouse. Fortunately it did not explode. The injured included Messrs Bellingham and Abend, two correspondents of the New York Times. The Japanese reinforcements arc already in action, seizing the terminus of the military highway from Woosung. As a flanking move on Peking, tile Japanese all day unavailingly attacked the Hankow Pass. The Japanese claim to have captured all the strategic points north of the Yung ting River, and also lo be iu occupation of Kalgan. TOKIO, August 23. The Domei Agency quotes a Japanese naval communique as affirming that the disaster at. the British depart- , mental store known as Sinceres was ; due to bombs from Chinese planes. I Officials of the Shanghai municipal ■ council also declare llial Ihe damage was caused by a bomb, not a shell. Three hundred bodies were conveyed in ten motor lorries. THE CATTLE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS IN MANCIIUKUO I JOINT COMPANY FORMED United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received August 2». 11 a.m.) TOKIO, August 23. The Manchuria Development Company ami Ihe South Manchurian Mailway Company have joinlly organised llm Manchuria Caltle Company, with a I capital of 5.000,000 von. ol' whirl- I lie Manchukuo Government is subscribing half, l'or the purpose of e si, ah Us bin * the cattle industry m Manchukuo

BRITISH WARSHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS DISPOSITION OF THE VESSELS (Official Wireless.) (Received Aug. 24 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 23 The Admiralty announce British warships in Chinese waters as follows : At Shanghai: The cruiser Danae and the escort vessel Falmouth. At Woo-sung: The flotilla leader Duncan, the destroyer Duchess, and the escort vessel Grimsby. At Butu Island: The cruisers Cumberland and Suffolk, and the destroyer Delight. At Tsingtao: The aircraft carrier Eagle and the destroyer Dainty. At Wei-hai-wei: The submarine depot ship Medway, the mine-layer Adventure, the destroyer Westcott, and the escort vessel Folkestone. At Chefoo: The destroyer Diana. At Chin Wang-tao: The destroyer Defender. At Taku: The escort vessel Sandwich. At Nanking: The cruiser Capetown. A GRAVE SITUATION. CONCERN IN BRITAIN. MINISTERS TO 'CONFER. EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 22. Owing to the gravity of the situation at Shanghai, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, will return to London to-morrow from Scotland, where ho has been spending a holiday. He will confer with the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, and other members of the Cabinet. Plans for the evacuation of the entire British civilian population of Shanghai, namely, 9237 will be considered by the Cabinet. There are

Commander-In-Chief of the Japanese Troops in North China. sufficient men-of-war and liners In Shanghai harbour to accomplish this. The presence of civilians in the heart of the war zone seriously embarrasses tlie naval and military authorities in arranging lo protect. the British settlement, with its Li 00,000.000 worth of property, from fires, shells and bombs. Satisfactory replies have been received from oilier nations, except Japan, to tlie British proposal io form an international force to protect the settlement,. Mr. Chamberlain is to report fully on Hie situation to His Majesty at Balmoral at Hie end of next week. SYMPATHY IN GERMANY. JAPAN'S AIMS IN CHINA. FIGHT AGAINST BOLSHEVISM. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright BERLIN, August 22. The Press sympathises with Japan’s (Continued in next column.)

Bolshevism in North China, whir mission far exceeds the sphere <» Japan's immediate national interests. The Chinese Ambassador made re presentation lo Ihe Foreign nffie about the tone of Ihe reports of th .Sino-Japanese hostilities iu the tier