1937-12-10 — Page 1

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1937

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MATSUI'S ANSWER

AS

Chinese Attack On Large-Scale In Nanking Hills JAPANESE MAKE BID TO PEI CHUNG-HSI

TAKE TAIPINGMEN CHINA'S MAN OF

DECISION TO REJECT ULTIMATUM

Hankow, 155 p.m., To-day.

It is authoritatively learn- ed that at a meeting held this morning between the Mayor of Nanking, General Tang Sheng-chi, General Pei Chung-hsi and other mili- tary leaders, it was hesitatingly decided to reject the Matsui Ultimatum. Our Own Correspondent.

JAPANESE THREAT TO TSINGTAO

SLOWLY CLOSING IN

ON CITY WALLS

Shanghai, 1.50 p.m., To-day.

The long line of hills around Nanking are now the

THE MOMENT

Shanghai, To-day. With General Matsui's ultimatum, the Kwangsi War Lord who at the out- break of hostilities buri-

centre of some of the most savage fighting of ed the hatchet with Gen- Kai-shek the war, with Japanese and Chinese forces lockeral Chiang

and came to the fore as ed at close quarters, following a large-scale the second military com- counter-offensive into which Chinese troops mander in China, has be

come the man of the mo- rushed shortly after ten o'clock.

ment.

General Tang Sheng-chi, as gar-

A desperate battle for the mastery of the heights rison commander, is nominally in is now proceeding, except in the vicinity of the control of the city, but the actual Taiping and Kwong Wa gates to which the on- power is vested in General Pei Chung-hsi, the "Ironsides” com- rush of three Japanese brigades has been car-mander, General Chang Fah-kwei, ried.

The

Japanese commander, held up by the Chinese machine-gun Tsingtao, 1 p.m.To-day. stated that the Japanese were posts concealed in the hills.

It is, however, generally expected Admiral Shen Hung-lieh, the prepared to withhold the attack Mayor of Tsingtao, famous for until noon to-day, but the lull that the troops outside the city walls his social and educational re- which the Japanese troops had will receive orders by nightfall to forms in the city, and the local permitted had been seized by the withdraw to within the gates. (Continued on Page 24) military authorities have de Chinese as an opportunity for a clared their determination to re-series of attacks on the Japanese sist any Japanese invasion.

"

lines. They were, however, res- pecting their decision not to shell or bomb Nanking city itself until the hour of ultimatum was reached.

Fears are growing that Jap an's next. big-scale campaign will be waged in Shantung Province, and that a Japanese attempt to

Japanese military communiques capture Tsingtao would be one of the first stages in the opera-

state that progress has been made at several points, though the Chin- tions. -

jese are stubbornly Admiral Shen declared, in an interview with Reuter, "We shall defend Tsingtao to the last. Furthermore, any Japanese at-

NEARING

tempt to storm Tsingtao will be The Wakisuki, Ishii and Fuzi Bri- made as expensive as possible," gades claim to be within sight of adding the local situation is Kwang Wa Gate, while the Ono and heading "fast towards crisis as Sukigawa Brigades expect to reach the enveloping movement pro- Taiping Gate early this afternoon. ceeds."

No attempt will be made, how- ever, to storm the walls until de- All Chinese banks in Tsingtao finte orders are received. Our Own are keeping open and doing busi-Correspondent.

CITY CALM

ness as usual and shipping and other activities are continuing

as normally.

The higher Chinese officials are

HANKOW REPORTS

Hankow, 215 pan. To-day.

all remaining at their posts. telephone message from Nan- Some minor official have left king states that the thunder

to reductions in the ad battle appears to be approaching of Nanking, ministrative staff in Government closer to the south- departments. Reuter

but attacks elsewhere are still being i

and other pro-war generals.

General Pei Chung-hsi, who is regarded as the Generalissimo's logical successor, is believed to be responsible for stiffening the pre- viously flagging morale of the de- fenders.

On him, therefore, rests the momentous answer to General Matsur's challenge Reuter.

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