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China Mail
STABLISHED 1845.
No. 28,018
HONG KONG, SATURDAY, JANUARY, 1932.
TRUCE IS NOW BEING OBSERVED
AT THE NORTHERN PORT
THE JAPANESE GIVE THEIR VERSION
TO-DAY'S DOLLAR — The closing rate of the dollar on demand, to-day' was 1/4 18/16..
PRICE $3.00 Per Month.
'KENT” ORDERED TO CHINA.
tyre of
unique construction built for those who
prefer superlative quality-
FORT
Fort DUNLOP
>The Tyre Incomparable
Batavia, Yesterday. H.M. cruiser "Kant" has been ordered to China, and leaves here to- morrow. Reuter.
U.S. NAVAL ORDERS.
יו
Washington Yesterday.
OF HOW AND WHY TROUBLE STARTED postpone her scheduled drydocking at Manila in view of the developments
THE LEAGUE COUNCIL IN SESSION
BARON SATO'S ARGUMENT TO POSTPONE CONSIDERATION OF CHINA'S DEMANDS COUNTERED.
Rugby, Yesterday.
British and American Consuls-General in Shanghai to-day interviewed Chinese and Japanese Military Authorities and arranged for a cessation of fighting to come into effect at 8 p.m., local time.
The latest reports received indicate that the truce is being observed, and that, in the small hours of Saturday morning, conditions continued· comparatively quiet.
Fighting in Chapei hetween Japanese and Chinese soldiery had con tinued for many hours throughout last night and to - day, and dorsaler able loss of life has occurred.
JAPANESE VERSION.
The Japanese version of the clash is that, when occupying positions assigned to them under a Settlement defence scheme, they were attacked both by Chinese Regulars and armed men in plain clothes.
They, thereupon, took extremely drastic action, and newspaper re- ports state that many bombs were dropped and fires started in the popu lous native area of Chapei, north of the Western District of the Interna- tional Settlement.
The North Railway Station was bombed, and its stated that a bomb also fell in the French Concession killing five people..
These events naturally had repercussions on the Settlement, to which hordes of refugees made their way, including, it is stated, parties of Chinese soldiers. The Settlement Defence Force were, however; able to maintain complete control of a difficult situation.
Although conditionsof extreme tension continue, there are hopes that a renewal of fighting will be avoided, and Consular Officials are directing efforts to this end.
BRITISH AND U.S. REPRESENTATIONS TO JAPAN.
The Houston, flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, has been ordered to
in the Far East.
It is now stated that only three out of the four destroyers from Manila, ordered to proceed to China will be stationed at Shanghai; the fourth is to join the Yangtse patrol. Reuter's American Service.
SUMMARY OF FAR EASTERN NEWS SINCE THE "CHINA MAIL" WENT TO PRESS YESTERDAY.
The aerial bombardment of Chapel was intensified towards noon, yesterday; especial ate. tention being paid to the railway station, one wing of which has been demolished.
A Chinese armoured train was chased out of the station by a Japanese 'plane. There is no news of the fate of the train
Six huge conflagrations are raging in Chapes. The Commercial Press has been destroyed, and North Station gain di Another fire is threatening the Settlement.
Japanese, I General has exp
its are on their way to Shanghai, and, whereas, the Japanese Consul- This Government that the present forces are inadequate, and in this he the Japanese military attache in Shanghai, the naval authorities appear to
be satisfied that they will be able to cope with the situation unaided.
Two aircraft carriers, three cruiters and four destroyers are on their way from Japan' to Shanghai.
In the fighting, there have occurred, of course, many fatalities on both sides, but just now it
is impossible to estimate the nuimber. Many wounded are now in hospitals.
The crows of British naval vessels at Hankow bave been recalled to their ships. The Japanese Concession at Hankow is being strongly fortified, and Japanese warships in the harbour have been got ready for action.
Britain and the United States are making representations to Japan on the subject of intervention in "the International Settlement without consulting the Powers.
It is understood that Britain has represented to Japan that her action at Shanghai has gone beyond the immediate needs of the situation.
$
China has now officially invoked Articles X and XV of the League Covenant, and there- by has placed, the Conner m a very embarrassing position.
The Soviet has Hady refused a Japanese request for use of the Chinese Eastern Railway in order to despatch troops to Har bin.
LORD READING.
Now Reported Out of Danger.
Cairo, Yesterday. Lord Reading, who has been ill here for some little while, and whose condition of health, at one time,
As already reported, the Bri- hope was expressed that no ac- has been informed of this and gave rise to some anxiety, is now tish and American Governments tion would be taken by the invited to take similar action at reported to be out of danger.-
Japanese within the Settle Tokyo. Press messages from, Reuter. bave been conferring upon the ment without prior con- Washington indicate that the in-
Vienna, Yesterday. Shanghai situation, and the Bri- sultation with other Govern- vitation has been accepted. The The Austrian Cabinet has been tish Government has made a comments concerned, and inquiring French and Italian Governments, reconstituted under Dr. Buresch, munication to the Japanese Gov- ments at Shanghai.
regarding the recent develop also, were made aware, of course, who takes over the Foreign Mini-
of the course adopted by the Bri-stry in place of Hur Schober. ernment thereon in which the The American Government tish Government.
Seven of the portfolios remain. the same as before.---Reuter.
BARON SATO'S ARGUMENTS COUNTERED.
At the League Council at Geneva to-day, the Japanese delegates, Baron Sato, adduced many legal arguments why the Council should post- pone consideration of the Chinese demand for an examination of the Sino- Japanese dispute under Articles X and XV of the Covenant;
These arguments were countered by others put forward by the Chair- man, M. Paul Boncour, who was supported in so doing by every member of the Council,
The Secretary-General was instructed to propose at to-morrow's meeting the best means of obtaining reliable information regarding events. in Shanghai, and, it is generally believed, this will take the form of the immediate appointment of a Commission of Enquiry there to examine the situation on the spot.
LEAGUE MESSAGE TO DISPUTANTS.
M. Boncour has requested both the Japanese and Chinese delegates to telegraph to their Governments an expression of the painful impres- sion caused at Geneva and urging them to take all possible steps to pre- vent further loss of life and the commission of any act which might be irreparable..
SIR JOHN SIMON.
Rugby, Yesterday.
MR MCKENNA ON BRITISH INDUSTRY.
'VARSITY STUDENT'S ALLEGED SUICIDE.
Found Dead in House
in Pokfulam.
POISONING ?
In & Police report læssed to-day, it is alleged that Foong Mo-chée, aged 23 years, a student of the Hong Kong University, living at St. John's Hall, dommitted suicide yesterday.
He was found on the second floor of 35, Pokfulam Road, suffer. Ing from the effects of poisoning, ' the nature of which is unknown. He was rushed to the hospital, Where he died shortly after admis- sion.
THE GIANT. CUNARDER.
Negotiations for A Loan.
TO CONTINUE WORK.
(Reuter's Special Service.)
London, Yesterday."
It is rumoured that the Canard Company is negotiating for finan cial qaalstance from the Pruden- tial Assurance Company to enable resumption of building of the giant liner, work on which was recently suspended on the Clyde.
The Prudential, it is believed, have considerable interest in the Cunard, and it has been a matter of conjecture for some time whe-, ther they would lend a hand to the Company in connection with the building of the liner:
GIRL CUDDLES COBRA.
'Carried 7ft. Snake To Show To*
Her Parents:
(Reuter's Special Service.) The Foreign Secretary, Sir John
London, Yesterday. Simon, who has been confined to
Prospects of industry bed with influenza, has had to ponterally more encouraging than a to see her carrying a cobra more"
pone his departure for Geneva.- British Wireless Service.
FRESH AND FAIR.
The Royal Observatory's re- port issued to-day states:--
A new anti-cyclone has form- ed over S.E. Mongolia.
"Forecast: N. E. winda, fresh, fair.
SHANGHAI SENIOR NAVAL OFFICER'S
REPORT.
The following messages have been received from the Senior Naval Officer at Shanghai. They were despatched from Shanghai Yesterday.
DESULTORY FIRING.
are
The parents of a girl at Middle- genberg (South Africa) were alarmed
year ago, declared Mr. McKenna thanTft. in length, part of its at the annual general meeting of coils wound round her body, and Its the Midland Bank to-day.
head lying comfortably in bar hands
He added that Government's pro- (reports the Central News from posals for a general tariff certain-Capetown). ly would ensure the balancing of the budget and even provide a suri plus.
The snake was found to be asleep.. Care had to be taken not to awaken it while it was released from the giręs body and killed.
So far as British trade was con- cerned the outlook was, undoubt The girl had seen the, snake lying edly, brighter now. We had es- still on the ground: Not knowing tablished independence of the con- fte deadliness she picked it up to tinued decline of gold prices. show her father and mother,
BRITISH NAVAI. MOVEMENTS. H.M.S. Suffolk left Hong Kong for Shanghai at 7 a.m. to-day. It is understood that the Kent is proceeding to Shanghai from Batavia.
TRUCE ONLY IN THEORY.
Shanghai, To-day,
Shanghai North Railway Station destroyed by It is learned that an Armistice does exist —in fire from incendiary bombs. At 4 p.m. yesterday theory, but a tour of the Settlement, bordering the Chinese were still in possession of the Station. Chapei, was enough to demonstrate to anyone that The Japanese in the vicinity of the Station are en- the truce is not effective. trenched, and desultory fire is being kept up, but There is no attacking at present (3.00 a.m.), no attempt at advancement is being made at the but the sound of continuous firing shows it is ob- moment. The Japanese are reported to have work- vious that snipers are very active with rifles and ed round to the North and cut the Nanking line. machine-guns, doing their best to pick off each WOOSUNG FORTS TO FIRE ON JAPANESE other in the glare of the fires in Chapei.
VESSELS.
NEWSPAPERMEN UNDER FIRE.
It is reported that Customs employees at Woo- A car containing News Correspondents inves– sung have been ordered to Shanghai as the Woo-tigating the Armistice ventured near the scene of sung Forts intend to fire at all Japanese ships en- the battle only to meet with a hail of bullets which fortunately were wildly aimed. There were no All is quiet on the Western front.
casualties.
The delegates were asked to add that the Council had the matter intering or leaving the harbour. hand and would not rise until it was settled.
BRITISH PREMIER'S CONDEMNATION.
London, Yesterday.
The state of things at Shanghai is deplorable, said Mr. Ramsay Mac- Donald in a speech at Se aliam to-day,
He added, "apart from details of diplomacy, I express without re- serve, the moral and rational regrets of everybody that such events should happen. I do not take sides, but the experience is most disappointing..
Reuter
TRUCE
Owing to the intervention of the British and U.S. Consuls-General, the Chinese and Japanese have agreed to a truce commecing at 8 pm. to- night (Friday),. It is doubtful how long it will be obser
Intermittent ring is still going on in the North Szechuen Road and Hong Kew Police Station District
From the Settlement it appears that, where there were six large conflagrations in Chapei yes terday afternoon they are now all, more or less. merged, resulting in an immense destructive field of fire
The Settlement border defences report all quiet, and if there is no further attac daylight, it is hoped that a truce may be implement- ed, and an end put to the orgy of death and tion Reuters Pacific Service.