HANGCHOW DEFENCE
SCHEME
Linpuchen Bombed
Hangchow. Dec. 17: In view of persistent reports of an imminent Japanese attack Chekiang mill- tary authorities have drawn up s comprehensive scheme for the de- fence of Hangchow,
Chinese forces on the Kashing- Hangchow Railway and at points around Hangchow Have been in- structed to make adequate pre- Egrations against an offensive..
Besides repairing the damaged track between Kashing and Sich- ktao on the Kashing-Hangchow Rällway and rushing reinforce- ments and arms and ammunition to Kashing and other points in the vicinity, the Japanese are re- ported to be constructing an air- feld on the south bank of Talhu Lake. This indicates that they will make extensive use of their airplanes on the impending attack ́on Hangehow.
Machi 3. Here
SOUTH ASKED TO PREPARE
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1937.
APPEAL TO CHINESE
TO SUPPORT NEW GOVERNMENT!
Shanghai, Dec. 17.
A message from Tientsin states that the whole-hearted support of the so-called Provisional Govern- ment in Peiping was urged in a a proclamation issued by General Count "Taraucht. Commander-in Chief of the Japanese forces in North China.
Shanghai, Dec. 17. Generulissimo Chiang Kai-shek has ordered General Yu Han-mou, Paciication Commissioner of Kwangtung to make all prepara- tions to defend Kwangtung · in
Tarauchi, asked the people of view of the presistent rumours
North China to "follow to new that the Japanese will attempt to
government orders for the main- make a landing In South China.tenance of peace, root out those Reuter
JAPANESE. IN ANKING
who obstruct the new regime's sound development, and pin their faith on the Japanese army.
The proclamation threatened quick punishment "to those who disturb the mind of the population by spreading groundless rumours."
57
Hankow. Dec. 17. Japanese troops which crossed the Yangtze near Hohsien have-Reuter advanced to the north-east to- wards Chuchow on the Tsinpukow Tallway. Meanwhile the Japan- ese troops which crossed at Chin- klang are reported to have
and Yangchow, cupled Kiangpu 03
the famous city on the Grand Canal
Hangchow, Dec. 17: 81aoshan, Linpuchen and Chuk
the Chektang-Klangs! Railway respec- tively 8, 23 and 65 kilometres from the south bank of the Chlentang River were subjected to further bombings by Japanese planes yés- terday morning.
Three planes released a number of bombs on the railway stations at each place. Linpuchen station is believed to have suffered the greatest damage as 21 missiles were dropped, whilst a number of telegraph poles and wires at Chuki station were damaged. The damage at Stadthan has not been ascertained.
Central Nron.
FALL" OF YANGCHOW CONFIRMED
Hsuchow, Dec. 17: Reports re- ceived here confirmed the fall of Yangchow on the north back of the Yangtze River,
It is revealed that one Japanese column landed on the north bank opposite to Chinktang and 20- other column at Tsingkiang on the north bank opposite to Klang- yin. They pushed simultaneously to Yangehow and stormed the city, However, after they captured Yangchow, they have been unable to advance further as a result of stubborn resistance put up by a numerically larger Chinese force concentrated north of Yangchow.
Falling to push further north- ward, the Japanese are said to be contemplating a Danting move- ment on Chuchow on the Tien- tsin-Pukow Rallway. No £ghting took place on the railway to-day. Chinese and Japanese are still holding positions at Wuy!. Chuan- chiao and Luho Central Neura
at
Hsiennumlao
ENTRY IN NANKING
#
Bhanghal, Dec. 17. Prince Asaka, Commander of the Japanese troops which cap- tured Nanking General Matsui and Vice-Admiral Hasegawa this afternoon made 1 triumphant entry into Nanking along a route from the Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum to the Chungshanmen. East Gate, The route was one and half kilo- metre long and was lined with Military and Japanese troops. naval aeroplanes, in formation, circled
over Nanking. and the official celebrations were held at the former headquarters of the Chinese Government.- Reuter.
OC-
Three Japanese warships steam- ed up to Anking. the capital of Anhwet and exchanged fire with the shore batteries.-
Reuter
COURT OF INQUIRY
Shanghai, Dec. 17.
An official Court of Inquiry into been the Panay bombing has opened. The Judge Advocate is Lieutenant C. J. Whiting who boarded the Oahu at Woosung and is examining the witnesses as the ship is steaming up the. Whang- poo.
Reater
MORE JAPANESE THREATS
Hankow, Dec. 17.
CONGRESS GOLD MEDAL
Bestowed On Famous Explorer
Lincoln "Ellsworth Washington, Dec. 17: President
Franklin D. Roosevelt to-day be- stowed the Congress Gold Medal on Lincoin Ellsworth for his An-
Japanese planes dropped leaflets on Nanchang, capital of Kiangst.
"tarctic explorations during 1935. threatening to wipe out the city raids. the populace are hurriedly claimed 3,500 square miles of land from the air. Expecting intensive
During the expedition Ellsworth evacuating and all roads leading for the United States. from the city are choked with fleeing refugees with their meagre belongings.- Reuter.
JAPANESE FUEL STORAGE AFTRE
sinan. Dec. 17: The Japanese storage for airplane fuel at Tientsin was afire on the 'night of December 15, a report received here states.
Beuter's Bulletin Service.
SYDNEY CLASH
Police And Members Of Ship's Crew
F
Sydney. Dec. 17: Police and workers clashed when 200 mem- "bers of the crew of the liner The damage is not yet ascer-Auckland went on strike after a tainable.--- Center). Neros.
JAPANESE PROTEST
TO SOVIET Tokyo, Dec. 17: The Japanese Government has protested to the Soviet authorities against the ar- rest of seven Japanese in March and has demanded the Immediate release of their nationals- Reuter
י
Bulletin SerOLES
NEW MOTOR ROADS
demand for the dismissal of one of the ship's officers had been refused.
་ ་་
The strike was settled and the
liner sailed for New Zealand- Reuter's Bulletin Service.
JAPANESE ATTACKS IN SHANTUNG REPULSED Tsinan. Dec. 17: Japanese troops at Yucheng., 51 kilometres north of Tsinan. recently split up Into three columns to attack Po ping, Jenping and Changtatùn on the left flank of the Tientsin-
PANAY WAS NOT
MACHINE- GUNNED
DECLARES JAPANESE
SPOKESMAN
Japanese Forces Not Out Of Control
Tokyo. Dec. 17: The Panay was salling alone with no other ships in the vicinity-this was among.. the statements made by a Foreign Ofice spokesman during a press conference to-day. Questioned, the spokesman added that there were some 12 or 13 Chinese junks some distance from the Panay." He fat- Japanese surface denied that & craft machine-gunned the Panay. declaring categorically that Japanese craft was in the vicinity. He thought the Panay took three hours to sink.
Asked when the Japanese replies to the Anglo-American notes, were likely to be ready, he said that the Japanese note apologising for the incidents was handed over before the note from the United States was presented. Whether some other note will be given or a sub- stantial answer necessary was not yet decided as the first Japanese "notë might be satisfactory.”“
Asked whether the remarks re- garding the American note applied equally to the British note he re- plied "Whether a satisfactory an- swer has been given is not yet de- cided." He said he was not quali- ned to state whether any answer would be given to President Roose- velt's message to the Emperor.
Asked whether he wished to comment on the foreign press criticism that the Japanese forces in China were out of control, he forcefully replied that the Japan- ese forces in China were under complete control of their com-
manders who were under com- mand of Imperial Headquarters.---
GERMAN SHIPOWNER
CHARGED WITH TREASON
Berlin, Dec. 17: A German ship- owner in Hamburg has been charged with treason and break- ing the foreign currency lawa. The prosecutor demanded Д sen- tence of five years' imprisonment, a. heavy ane and the loss of civil rights for four years.-- Reuter's Bulletin Service.
ARAB TO DIE
For Carrying Revolver
Jerusalem. Dec. 17: Three Arabs
killed and were
one seriously wounded when troops encountered an Arab gang in the hills
Hear Tulkaram. There were no casual- tles among the troops. Sharp fighting is in progress. A Military Court in Jerusalem has sentenced an Arab to death for carrying a revolver.-
tenter's Bulletin Service.
ALLSOPP'S BEER
We regret having to announce that, owing to un- precedented demand, our stocks of Allsopp's British Pilsener Beer in pint bottles are, temporarily exhausted.
Quarts will, however, be obtainable until our next shipment of pints arrives from England next week.
CALDBECK, MACGREGOR & CO., LTD.
2, Chater Road.
M. Potemkin, the Soviet-Russian
Ambassador in Paris, who several
Tel. 20075.
THE
HONG KONG
PENINSULA HOTEL;
HONGKONG HOȚel; REPULSE BAY HOTL;
&
SHANGHAI
ASTOR HOUSE; PALACE HOTEL;
HOTELS
LIMITED.
in amodiation with the Grand Hotel des Wagons Lits, Paking.
4.
times has been mentioned as M KEEP COOL, SAYS KING AND QUEEN
Litvinov's successor "as Secretary.
Foreign
FRENCH FREIGHTER
ATTACKED
By Spanish Warship
Tangier, Dec. 18: The French freighter Sydney wirelessed follows "Attacked by Spanish war- ship one
of mile south west Europa Point. We've gone towards Ceuta and want help from British destroyer.”— Router.
15
a
MERELY QUESTIONED Gibraltar. Dec. 17: The Naval authorities state that the Sydney was not attacked but was merely stopped and questioned by Insur- gent trawlers. No British warship went to her assistance and it is
GRASS CUTTER KILLED It was stated yesterday understood the Sydney "continued that a 45-year old grass cutter, on her voyage
British
Pukow Railway in north Shan- Ching Yuk. of Ma Tin Village, tung, it is leamed from military New Territories, has been killed cireles.
in the New Territories by shapnel
IN GERMANY Berlin, Dec. 17: Eight sections of new motor roads in Germany have been opened covering 1,200 miles. This is about a quarter of the proposed motor roads to be
regular troops with the help of constructed throughout the coun-Chinese mobile units, and retreat-
leuter's Bulletin Service.
try-
Picture shows
Soochow, September 21, Japanese bombed the station in Soo- chow killing over 300 men, women and children. clothes and parcels strewn all over the place.
However, they were repulsed yesterday at all points by Chinese
ed to Nanyu, a point between Kao- tang and Jenping. Chinese forces have started an enveloping move- ment on them.
from a shell fired by the Royal Artillery, in the vicinity of Tai Lam Village.
The shell exploded near the man while he was cutting grass in a prohibited area. "
The body is now lying in the
An attack on Chinese positions Kowloon Mortuary. near Tamingfu in south Hopel by over 3,400 Japanese troops from Chaocheng on the west Shantung border was also repulsed by the Chinese forces yesterday.
The Chinese at Tsiyang on the north bank of the Yellow River Have become panicky as a result of the alleged slaughter of 400 civilians for unknown reasons. They are fleeing from the town.-- Central News,
BUDGE AND MAKO DEFEATED
Australia Leads In Unofficial, Test
Sydney, Dec. 17: Australia is leading the United States by two matches to one. In the unofficial Lawn Tennis Tést. To-day, Adrian Quist and John Bromwich, of Aus- tralia, defeated Donald Budge and Gene Mako, the Wimbledon cham- plons, in four sets, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
IL
Quist was outstanding at the net- Reuter's Bulletin Service.
-MB, LIU WEN-TAO
Rome, Dec. 17: It is learned
WITHDRAWAL OF DEFENDERS
Hankow, Dec. 17. The three last Chinese divisions Nanking have which defended fought their way through 80 miles of Japanese-occupied territory, to Kwangteh in Antwel, where they have formed 2 Junction with Chinese troops, according to in- formation received at military headquarters.
In view of the Japanese occupa- that the Chinese Ambassador, Mr. tion of Pakow which cut off their Lau Wen-tao. will leave for China | retreat northward, the Chinese next month—"
Heuter a
troops, comprising the 59th Divi- slon, commanded by General Yu Chi-shih, the 27th Division, com- imanded by "General Wang Ching, and the 88th Division, commanded. by General Sun Yuan-liang, it is stated, decided to fight their way through to Kwangteh overland.
Headed and flanked by tanks and armoured cars, the Chinese forces opened the south gate of Nanking and battled their way through the Japanese lines on the Nanking and Hangehow highway to Molingkwang, and from thence to Kwangteh, sudering heavy casualties en route, but finally reaching their destination.
Meanwhile much anxiety is felt for the fate of the last batch of defenders which tought a Teur- guard action inside of Nanking until December 13 in order to cover the withdrawal of the main Mr. W. MacKenzie King. Priina body of Chinese forces across the Minister of Canada, celebrated his | Yangtsze.-- 63rd birthday yesterday.
Reuter
FIRST LORD
Duff-Cooper On Danger
Of War Fever
Says Britain Re-Arming For Peace
London, Dec. 18, Referring to the Nanking in- cident in a speech delivered in London to-day, Mr. A. Duff-Cooper, First Lord of the Admiralty, said they all deplored the fearful oc- currences of last week-end when innocent neutrals were killed and wounded.
"They were sent to their death. and it could only have been due to the inaptitude or indiscipline of the troops which fired on them"
he said.
Referring to the Japanese apology. Mr. Duff-Cooper said that he thought Britain, should accept a full apology and then hope that the necessary steps would indeed be taken to prevent a repetition of such a disaster, remembering that it was not the frat sater of this kind which had taken place since the hostili tles began.
In times of war, fever possessed not only those engaged in it, but witnesses to. It. Therefore it was wise to be careful in such a time to say and do nothing which was likely to send up the temperature on either side.
After reference to the Italian withdrawal from the League, and the increased reliance placed on the British Empire, Mr. Duff- Cooper stated: "Any country whieh underrates the strength of the British navy will be making a. mistake which may prove fatal- to Its happiness. If there are any nations and I do not say there are-which may seek to ""schlere their purpose by the use of force and the policy of war, those na tions are watching our re-arma- ment with fear and trepidation, because they know we are re- arming in the cause of peace." Reuter
RIOT LEADER GAOLED
Trinidad, Dec. 17: The leader of the riot in Trinidad in June last has been sentenced to two years' hard labour. for sedition.- Reuter's Bulletin Service,
IN CAR CRASH
London, Deg. 16.
When the King and Queen were returning from the theatre to-night, the royal car calḥded with
small private car in Trafalgar Square. Nobody was hurt and the damage caused was sight. The royal car proceeded after a few minutes. Keuter.
CUBAN FAMILIES® GET FREE LAND
cl.
Havana, Dec. 15. The Cuban Government has de- cided to distribute unoccupied Gov- ernment land to 60,000 poor families, each of which will be given 33 acres.
This is part of a three-year economic plan and will make an acceptable Christmas present to the poor, as they will be allowed to oe- cupy the land immediately. fleuter.
LECTURE
beld at
the
Chinese
Mr. Percy Chen delivered * splendid address at last night's meeting of the English Discussion Group, YMCA. A large number of people attended and Mr. Chen's speech, which lasted for about an hour, was warmly applanded.
•
KUNMING-HANOI AIR
SERVICE INAUGURATED Kunming, Dec. 17: The Ka- ming-Hanoi air service was in- augurated this morning when a Earsala plaze left here for Hanot
-Ontral News.
..Marshal Smixty-Ryds, the streng" -man ̈fn · Poland – and opil
successor.