Japan
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1932.
Between The Devil And The Deep Sea
MORE JAPANESE TROOPS FOR SHANGHAI?
“I WILL SEND ALL THE MEN REQUIRED"
STATEMENT BY WAR MINISTER.
FEAR OF BEING DRIVEN BACK BY
CHINESE
JAPANESE OFFENSIVE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY
CHINESE TROOPS CONCENTRATING
NEAR SHANGHAI
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
Tokyo, Feb. 16
"I will send all the men needed and withdraw as soon as the task is com- pleted. That is my policy”, the War Minister is quoted to have said in connection with the possibility of further reinforcements being re-
quired at Shanghai,
While it is still hoped that the present force will be sufficient to drive hack the - Nineteenth Army If It refuses to with. draw voluntarily, officials are clearly worried as they feel they are between the devil and the deep sea. »
On the one hand they recognise the « serious consequences if the Japanese mest with a' reverse through Insuffiċi. ency of munbers, while on the other hand they are anxious to avoid the despatch of further reinforcements, owing to financial difficulties and the Hablilty of Increasing apprehensions abroad.
Meantime, It is indicated that as the Japanese troops are unable to make a direct attack without endangering the International Settlement through "ärtil» lery fire they are likely to attempt an encircling movement, hoping thereby to compel the Chinese to withdraw through a threat to their line of retreat.
JAP, TROOPS DRIVEN INTO SETTLEMENT
THE CABLE SERVICE FROM SHANGHAL WAS INTER. RUPTED YESTERDAY EVENING BETWEEN 6 AND İL, AND MANY RUMOURS WERE CURRENT IN THE COLONY.
ACCORDING TO A CHINESE CABLE RECEIVED VIA CANTON, LARGE NUMBERS OF JAPANESE TROOPS WERE DRIVEN BY THE CHINESE INTO THE INTERNATIONAL. SETTLEMENT WHERE THEY WERE DISARMED BY THE BRITISH TROOPS,
A GRUESOME WELCOME
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
SHANGHAI, Feb. 10, 4.30 p.m. JAPANESE TROOPS ARRIVING BY THE LAST TRANS PORT TO REACH SHANGHAI HAD A MOST 'MELAN CHOLY INTRODUCTION TO THE WAR AS THEY STREAM. ED DOWN THE GANGWAY, IN FULL FIGHTING KIT, COFFINS, CONTAINING THE BODIES OF THEIR COM. RADES, WERE BEING. HOISTED ABROAD FOR SHIPMENT TO JAPAN.
THE PROCEEDINGS WERE WATCHED BY "TARS " ABOARD H.M.S. SUFFOLK, ONE OF WHICH EXPRESSED THE GENERAL SENTIMENT BY EXCLAIMING: "WE'D NEVER AVE DONE THAT.” -
3,500 CHINESE CASUALTIES. EMQUIRIES AT CHINESE HOSPITALS' IN THE SHANG. HAI AREA REVEAL THAT 3,500 CHINESE WAR CASUAL- TIES, BOTH SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS, HAVE BEEN ATTENDED SINCE MID-NIGHT JANUARY 28.
SHANGHAI IS AWAITING WITH NERVOUS EXPECT. ANCY FOR THE OFFENSIVE WHICH THE JAPANESE ARE EXPECTED TO LAUNCH ON THURSDAY MORNING.
WHILE THERE EVERY INDICATION THAT CHIANG KAI SHEK, WHO IS AT PRESENT AT NANKING, IS STRIV ING FOR A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT TO THE ADAMANT ATTITUDE OF JAPANESE MILITARY AUTHORITIES, PRES. SURE. BY THE MAJORITY OF THE LESS FAR-SIGHTED CHINESE LEADERS `IS FORCING" HIM "TO PREPARE FOR WAR, FOR WHICH REASON FIVE CHINESE ARMY CORPS ARE CONCENTRATING ON THE SHANGHAI-NANKING. RAILWAY AREA, WITH MARSHAL FENG YU HSIANG AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE FORCES IN THE FIELD.
100,000 CHINESE TROOPS WESTWARD OF SHANGHAI?
THE POSSIBILITY IS. VISUALISED THAT THE JAPAN. ESE FORCES, 20,000 STRONG, AFTER CAPTURING CHAPEL "MAY FIND THEMSELVES CONFRONTED BY 100,000 CHLA
NESE TROOPS WESTWARD OF SHANGHAI IN A COUN TRY IN WHICH THE JAPANESE ARE LIKELY TO BE HEAVILY HANDICAPPED BY THE ABSOLUTE LACK OF "ROADS AND FREQUENCY OF TIDAL CREEKS IMPEDING THEIR MOVEMENTS, WHILE THE LIGHTLY ARMED CHI NESE TROOPS WITH AN INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRY AND TREBLE THEIR NUMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO PUT UP A DESPERATE RESISTANCE AGAINST THE JAPANESE ADVANCE.
ULITMATUM ISSUED
BY JAPAN
CHINESE BLAMED FOR PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
(From. Our Own Correspondent.).
SHANGHAI, Feb. 16, 10.50:p.m.
ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON JAPANESE LIGHT ARTIL. LERY DISPERSED A CHINESE CAVALRY AND INFANTRY COLUMN SEEN MARCHING NORTH-EAST OF THE KIANG.. WAN FRONT.
AT FIVE O'CLOCK., FIELD PIECES ON BOTH SIDĖS WERE ENGAGED IN A DUEL WHICH CONTINUED WELL INTO THE EVENING.
PRESAGING A BIG OFFENSIVE, GENERAL UYEDA CONFERRED WITH ADMIRAL NOMURA ABOARD HIS "FLAGSHIP WITH A VIEW OF CO-ORDINATING ARMY
AND NAVY ACTIVITIES,
MR. MURAI, THE JAPANESE CONSUL GENERAL, HAS DISPATCHED A NOTE OF WARNING TO THE MAYOR OF GREATER SHANGHAI, REITERATING THE PREVIOUS DE. CLARATION THAT THE PRESENT CLASH IS DUE TO DELIBERATE ATTACKS OPENED UPON JAPANESE BLUE- JACKETS BY SNIPERS AND REGULARS ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 28, DESPITE THE CHINESE, PROMISE TO ABSTAIN. FROM ANTI-JAPANESE ACTIVITIES, AND THAT THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY DEVOLVES ON CHINESE SHOULDERS. THE LATTER ARE ALSO ACCUSED OF RE- PEATED BREACHES OF THE TRUCE. THE NOTE ENDS THUS: IF YOU WISH TO END THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT CHI- NESE REGULARS CEASE THEIR ATTACKS AND WITH- DRAW FROM THE AREA ADJOINING THE SETTLEMENT,!"
اب المدرسة
#
CHAPEI AGAIN BOMBARDED
[THROUGH ABU TEU'а AGENCY.]
SHANGHAI, Feb. -16. Al night long, the Japanese artillery at Hongkow Park and other places of vantage," bombard- ed the Chinese lines, the Chinese replying at times.
This morning, however, there was a further lu
Further Japanese troops are ex- posted to day bringing the total
every
been exerting himself in possible way, both by using, his good offices with the Chinese and Japanese authorities and by con.. Aultation with representatives of other Fowers including the United
agreement for the cemeation of the fighting.
Sir John Simon deeply regretted these efforts had not yet bonne fruit, but they were being continu
ed:
CHINA'S RIGHTSTM
CANTON FEARS LEAGUE ASSEMBLY
JAPANESE ATTACK
ELABORATE DEFENCES BEING ERECTED:
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
MEETING
NEW INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY JAPAN.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.
A
BEDSIDE
CONFERENCE
PREMIER DISOUSSES FOREIGN SITUATION
(Reuter's Special Service.)
LONDON, Feb. 18.
A special and important bedside conference on the foreign situation Ewen held at the nursing home where Mr. Ramsay MnoDonald. io Erecovering.
GENEVA, Feb. 19.
The Premier also had lengthy HOUR AND A HALF DIS. talks with Sir John Simon, Mr... THE COUNCIL, AFTER AN CUSSION, DECIDED IN PRIN Baldwin, Mr. Thomas and Lord CIPLE TO ADDRESS AN AP Hailshamn, who is shortly leaving. PEAL TO JAPAN TO REACH A PACIFIC SETTLEMENT WITH for Geneva CHINA.
The Council meets again a 6
CANTON, Feb. 16. In anticipation of a Japanese attack, Canton is rapidly assuming the appearance of an armed camp. Trenches are being dug around the city and steel-concrete dug-outs erected on all strategic points The northern line of defence ex. tends from the north side of White Cloud Mountain to Shekpai. Whampoa, some 12 miles onst of Canton, and is heavily guarded. An elaborate system of trenches, has also been constructed there Gen- eral. Chem. Tani Tong and his staff of officers went to Whampoa yester day on an inspection tour. Anti-
It is no understood that as an aircraft gune have been mounted appeal has now been made to a on top of White Cloud Mountain, special meeting of the "Assembly, the ravines of the hills at Wham the Counsil has decided it would pos and other places. A detach-be unnecessary to discuss the | ment of artillery was despatched to second repors from the Shanghai White Cloud Mountain last week, Commission, ne this could more, and is now encamped in the Cheng properly come before the Assembly. Sin and the Nan Yan Monasteries. The Japanese delegatioon has celebrities, charwomen, newboys, The martial appearance is the received instructions not to object sportsmen, flower girle, "typists, city is equally inked,
the A huge to
Assembly meeting on rampart, consisting of sand bags, is grounds of procedure, but to let darks and policemen packed St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street, to- being erected in front of the Can-events to take their course. ton Electric Power House, on the
day, to pay tribute to the meinory South Bund. The rampart in about
of the late Mr. Edgar Wallace, 12 feet thick and more than 20 feet
whose body is being brought to high. Over a hundred coolies have
England in the Berengaria been working under the direction of an army officer on it for the last ten days or more. The writer who visited it was told that there will bo & steel met covering the roof of the Power House to reader serial attack ineffective. The Canton Water Works at Tsang Po is simi larly protected. The local military puthorities are of the opinion that should Japan decide to bombard Canton which is not a sister a middle course. probable in view of what has taken of Twelve favoured the inclusion in
Several members of the Council Ca
place in Shanghai and elsewhere in the North, the electric power house the appent of a warning hased on and the city, water works.. being similar to the recent American Article X. of the Covenant and located on the river and thereforeNote, namely, that no territorial within reach of gunfire, will be first changes be recognised by the Coun- singled out for destruction.
p.m., when a decision will be taken. THE LATE MR. EDGAR upon the text of the appeal and whether the append can be made.
WALLACE
A public mooting of the Council is fixed for February 19, whom a decision in regard to the Special | MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD Assembly will be taken
AT ST. BRIDE'S
(THROUGH REUTER'A AGENCY.]
LONDON, Feb. 16. Peora, generals, editors, sta
MORE "PLANES FOR SHANGHAI
Ble John Simon's Idea.. The League's appeal to Japan for neace was originated by Sir John Simon, who considered that now the pence efforts of the four Towers So great was the crowd that' had resulted in nothing it would queues were formed outside the bo desirable. behalf of the League.
make an appeal on church.
The congregation included many Animated discussion resulted frem) whom Mr. Wallace had befricæded, some members advocating a strong and some were strange characters line, while others being in n more who might have stepped out of the conciliatory spirit.
pages of some of his 150 thrillers.
CREDIT EXTENSION BILL
PASSEDE
The Committee which will draft the appeal has been instructed to
,
cil.
#
AMERICA'S FINANCES
[zsuter's AMERICAN SERVICE)
11.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10: The House of Representatives this evening passed the Credit: Extension Bill.
IMPORTS DUTIES
BILL
- DEBATE IN HOUSE OF
COMMONS
Meeting Likely Next Week,
GENEVA, Feb. 15. A special meeting of the League The second squadron of Canton Assembly, called on the demand of States, with a view to securing an 'planes is now prepared and ex. / Mr, W. W. Ten the Chinesa dale
pects to hop off for Shangbai to Bate to the League of Natioon, in help to repel the Japanese armed now regarded as inevitable," alise
There is, of course, no foundation invasion, to-morrow morning, if weather permits. The local dying necessary to postpone the Disarmaa- for the suggestion, thakikamilles kon authorities are, alteady in receipt ment Conference, during the session of a wireless report of the set of the Assembly as there will be to 30,000, with the bluejackets
arrival at Shanghai of their first. and the marines already ashore,
saria squadron which left here o difficulty in holding plenary sesrioris of both the Disarmament during the early part of last week. Conference and the Amerubly, p= [BRITIKH WIEKLIMA SERVICE}, It is understood that the newly
The second squadron of Canton the same, time, arrived troops, are preparing, to
As to the Chinese appeal to the 'planes, numbering eight machines,
American quarter flatly deny route as the the rumour that the UnitedExceptional interest was display- LONDON, Feb. 15. enter the Chapei line as soon as League, Article XV, of the Coven-will take the same
will participate in the meeting fed in the House of Commons, dur ant provided that the dispute sub first on its way North," possible, in order to relieve the marines and bluejackots, who haveferred to the Assembly at the re
mitted to the Council shall be re- | $2,000,000 APPROPRIATED the League Assembly.
The Council of twelve met thing the debate on the Importe Duties Bill, which, with the pro- been on duty continuously for more quest of either party to the dis
FOR AIRCRAFT
afternoon and will probably meet
posals for dealing with agriculture than a fortnight.
General Chang Wai Cheung, again to morrow morning.
outlined last week, constitutes the pute, provided the request was Coromander of the Canton Air
main part of the Government's It is learned that the Japanese made within 14 days after the sub Force, is deeply convinced of the DISARMAMENT
echome for meeting the national have now landed sixteen tanks,mission of the dispute to the Coun war, and through his influence, the usefulness of places in time of ten of the large variety and six of
Canton, Government has appro- the "whippet type, all equipped
priated $2,000,000 for the purchase with quick-ring light ordnance
of 50 more 'planes from abroad; Captains Hu Kin Ya and Pu Shino JAPAN FEARS RESISTANCE
Ki, of the Canton Aviation Depart ment are, it is" learned, about to po abroad to buy these machines. The name of the foreign country with which the order will be placed has not been divulged.
社
TOKYO. Feb. 16.
The Minister for War, meeting members of the Press late last might, indicated that the despatch of further military reinforcements to, Shanghai might bo necessitated as it had been reported that the Nineteenth Roate Army was being strongly reinforced and persering a
stubborn resistance.
The War Minister, who subse quently saw Mr. Yoshizawa, the Foreign Minister, intimated to the Fress that the developmante of the next fow days would decide whe ther further reinforcements were necessary.
ANGLO-AMERICAN DISCUSSION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. It is noteworthy that the British Ambassador, Sir Bonald Lindsay, called at the State Department to day and exchanged newn of deve- lopments to the Far East with
several officials,
LITLLE CHANGE IN SHANGHAI POSITION (DRITION WIRELESS SERVICE]
Ruany, Feb. 15, Several questions relating to the Far Eastern situation were answer John Sinon, in the House of Com; ed by the Foreign Secretary, Bir mmons to-day.
eil. The Chinese representative made the request before the 14 days had expired and, consequent ly, if he so desired the dispute was.
WEATHER REPORT.
Yesterday's weather report, forecast and remarks, issued by the Royal Obsérvatory at „5,30- P., stated:-
A strong anti-cyclone remains central over N.E. China. The depression has deepened fur- ther and a passing into the Pacific
Local Forecast:-N.E; winds, fresh; fair.
automatically referred Assembly.
to
2
THE SITUATION IN INDIA
·
AN IMPROVEMENT REPORTED
[BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE.)
LONDON, Feb. 15.
CONFERENCE
FURTHER · VIEWS REVEALED
[BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE J
emergency.
Major Elliot, Financial Secre tary, moving the second reading, said the Government sought by this measure to correct the balance of payments, to check the depreciation of the pound, to secure the freedom of trade by offering advantages to other countries in return for advaze KuGuy, Feb. 1. tages they might give to Britain, The Disarmament Conference, at to have air instrument, to meet dis-a Geneva, WEA continued to-day, crimination against Britain, to en-“ when the first speaker was Befor courage the British people to secure Bosch, a former Argentine Minister a reasonable shure of their markets, of Foreign Affairs, who appealed and to fortify the financos of the for the abolition of land naval country by a not unduly high, but; and air forces, which by their widely spread revenue duty. nature were intended. for aggres
Fish Duty. sion
He also urged the Confer ence to draft a convention contain
The proposals in the report of ing articles to propent trading in the sub committee of Civil Research
appointed to investigate the dahing awor, material.
The Swiss President, M. Gindustry, include a recommendations Sir Saumel Hoare, Secretary of Motta, made a strong appeal to sit that the question of imposing re- State for India, stated in the House members of the League and to the strictions on the importation of of Commons to-day that Provincial United States to make use of the white fish, of which some threst Government reports indicated an Covenant of the League and the million pounds' worth are import- improvement in the Peshawar Dis- Paris Pact in a fried effort to re ed annually, should be considered tries and a very satisfactory ritus-store peace in the Far East. He by the Government in connection tion in other districts of the North supported all the methods of pro- with any steps taken to improve the West Frontier Province,
hibiting aggressive war and the use the balance of trade. Sustained improvement was re- of chemicals and bombing of civil- ported in the United Provinces,iam populations. confirming the view that agitation is now definitely on the decrave. There are indications that the apex MEAT TRADE WITH has been reached in several other Provinces, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, the Central Provinces and tha Punjab.
The Report to Counet by the officers appomied to investigate the causes and continuance of the dis pute, together with a subsequent report, which had now reached Geneva, formed part of the mate rial collected for consideration of the Counc
Another portion. of material would be statements by the parties to the dispute, and the Article provided that the Council may direct their publication. He would urge that the documents should be made publicly available at the earliest moment
The vory satisfactory situation in the Borahay Presidency and in Bombay City gives some indication of the improvement."
Generally there are very few instances of violence. The chief activity of Congress is now the Boycott The underground agita little cause for anxiety. tion continues but at prosent gives
NEW ZEALAND
EMPIRE
BROADCASTING
REGULAR PROGRAMMES THIS YEAR
FURITISH WIRELESS SERVICE3
FIFTY YEARS OF TRADE. CELEBRATED ON FEB. 15.
[ORITION WIRELESS (KRYIML)
Ruesy, Feb. 18,
Racer, Feb. 15, The jubiles of the New Zealand The: Postanaaber:Genoesă, in thes meat trade with Britain was cele House of Commons, said that the brated. yesterday, in Leondon and work of constructing a new, station in Wellington.
for Empire broadcasting war in On February 15, 1982, the steam-hand, and that the British Broad-
matter ware in the minds of all The gravity and urgency of the
members of the Council and he On the 13th, in the Tippersh He said that there had been trusted there would be better news District of Bengal, the police wers ship Dunedin cleared from Postpasting Corporation hoped to pros little change in the situation at without. much longer delay.
attacked and forced to fro. Three Chalmers with the first consign-vide a regular service from this Shanghai in the last few days ex- How wood the Assembly could persons were killed.
ment of 5,000 carcasses of froseri | station before the end of this your. cept for the arrival of Japanese meet and what it could do when The situation in Kashmir and meat for Britain, This proved to the scheme is being inanood aus reinforcementa,
it met, were questions demanding Fammu is much easier but the be the foundation of angolar ships of the Corporation revenus The British Minister in Chins careful consideration. The Council | reactions of the communal festing ments that last yese reached the | no question of overseas conscivations roached Shanghail last week and was still sitting and he hoped to in British India, especially in the record figure of over 30,000,000 car. would be razed until the sewke in socordance with instructions, has 1 return there as soon as possible. Punjab, are more marked,
We established:
CHASES.