1938-01-25 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 25, 1938.

HEAVY

FELT AT

SHELLFIRE CASTLE

PEAK

Japanese Cruisers Reported Bombarding Nam Tau

SOVIET GUARDS

SHOT DOWN ON BORDER

Moscow, To-day.

An official statement issued last night states that a clash has occurred

thonian frontier guards.

ATTACK ON CHINESE JAPANESE

TERRITORY JUST BEYOND BORDER

EXPLANATION DE SHAI BAN

Shanghai, To-day.

The whole of the north-western corner of the New Territories, in the Castle Peak and Deep Bay districts, was shaking this morning to the con- A Japanese spokesman to-day cussion of heavy shellfire or bombing in nearby said that transportation of goods to Chinese territory.

areas south of the Creek is banned

between Soviet and Es-While no authoritative information was available for two days, because "some per- at the time of going to press, the shelling was sons have taken advantage of the believed to be taking place in the vicinity of simplified regulations effected by Nam Tau, the peninsula on the Chinese side of the Japanese,

The statement says that two Es- thonian "frontier violators" cross- ed over the ice on sledges into Rus- sia and were 750 metres across the frontier in Soviet territory when they were stopped by frontier guards.

Without warning the guards were suddenly fired on by Esthonian frontier guards from a distance of about 100 metres, and two were killed.

Deep Bay.

The nature of the bombardment,! the "China Mail" was informed, was suggestive rather of heavy shell-fire by. naval craft, lying off Nam Tau rather than of bombing by aircraft,

The sound was distinctly audible at Castle Peak, commencing at about 10.10 a.m. and continuing for some time afterwards.

It is

other

STRONG PROTEST The Soviet Minister in Reval, says the statement, has lodged 2

understood from strong protest to the Esthonian Government, with the demand that sources that two Japanese cruisers those guilty be punished in exem- were seen earlier in the morning plary manner and that an indemni- in the vicinity." fication be paid to the families of the dead frontier guards.-Trans- Ocean.

REUTER'S STORY

Moscow, To-day. Exemplary punishment of the guilty and appropriate compensa- tion for the victims' families are demanded in a strong Soviet diplo matic protest to the Esthonian Gov- ernment, following a frontier in- cident near Lake Peipus.

The shelling of Chinese territory beyond Castle Peak has stopped, according to a report from the New Terri- tories.

It is established that the bombardment was carried out by cruisers and not from planes.

M. LITVINOFF GOING TO GENEVA

Geneva, To-day.

Soviet version of the incident is that two Soviet frontier guards found a party of Esthonians, who had crossed the frontier, one and a half miles into Soviet territory.

While guards were pursuing the The Soviet Foreign Commissar, trespassers, Esthonian guards from M. Maxim Litvinoff, will represent Esthonian territory fired-at the the Kremlin at the League Council guards, killing both.

meeting.

As the incident only occurred M. Litvinoff had originally decid- yesterday, the diplomatic action isled not to attend the meeting.

unusually swift-Reuter.

Trans-Ocean.

Tokyo Minister's Speeches Taken With Salt

London, To-day.

CHINA'S

CHANCE OF AID

London, To-day. The Geneva correspondent of "The Times," in reference to the - League Council meeting on Jan. 26, says that the Chinese Govern- ment's appeal figures on the Council's agenda but it seems un- likely that

of the Committee Twenty-Three will be summoned.

The only concerted help which can be expected for China, says the correspondent, is humanitar- ian-Reuter.

CHINESE BID TO RECAPTURE TSINING

Hankow, To-day.

The Chinese are attempting to advance on Tsining from three sides.

Certain bodies of Chinese troops are said to be within ten kilo- metres of Tsining, which is now held by a force of about 10,000 Japanese.

North

the_Tientsin-Pukow Railway line yesterday all was quiet,

"This brought about irregulari- ties making it necessary to re- vise regulations. Permission for free removal of foreign-owned goods, effective on and after Jan. 14, has not been respected and some persons have removed goods not belonging to them, causing great embarrassment to the legi timate owners who are filing complaints against such miscon- duct." -Reuter.

HSU SHIH-YING DENIES NEW PEACE OFFER

Shanghai, To-day.

The Chinese Ambassador in Tokyo, Mr. Hau Shih-ying, the Chinese Consul în Osaka, and five secretaries, recalled to China, ar- rived in Shanghai yesterday on the “Empress of Asia" together with 80 other Chinese residents in Japan.

Mr. Hsu remained on board the liner, on which he is going to Hong Kong, and thence to Hankow by plane or rail.

Members of the Ambassador's entourage denied that the Japans ese Government had given Mr. Hau Fighting has recommenced south four conditions of peace compris. of the Railway but the positions on ing Japan's minimum demands for both sides are roughly unchanged. him to deliver to Hankow-Trans-

-Trans-Ocean.

Ocean.

The newspapers give great prominence to Mr. Koki Those who know....

Hirota's speech in the Diet, most of them re- porting it verbatim.

The Japanese Foreign Minister is personally res- pected, but the general feeling, as described by one critic, is that the Japanese army invents its policy in China as it goes along.

The News Chronicle” says that "The Western na- tions may be excused for taking the Japanese Ministers' speeches with a pinch of salt.

The actions of the Japanese ernment's Inancial policy receives forces in China speak louder wide attention, though the re- than the words of Mr. Hirota in sults of this criticism, except pos- the Diet!

sibly for the critics themselves,

The boldness of members of are not considered likely to be the Diet in criticising the Gov-important yet. Reuter-

Insist on

EWO

Jardines-Tel. 303IL