99
604
REGRETS
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS &
October 29, 1937
October 29, 1937
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
605
(Daily Press, October 26, 1937)
When the Japanese shot the British Ambassador they were profuse in their apologies. In- deed. their expressions of regret seemed to border on the sincere. Then they machine-gunned auto- nobiles from the British Embassy and admitted their error with a Trankness that showed refreshing signs of child-like simplicity. They commanded British ships to halt, boarded them, searched them, apologised for the incon venience they had caused-and that was ali there was to it.
Their latest faux pas has been frought with tragic circunt- stances. Japanese airmen flew over an area which their Govern- ment had promised not to fly over, swooped to within talking distance almost of the people on the ground and deliberately shot and killed a British soldier who was performing his lawful duties. Once again the Japanese were promptness personified in the matter of expressing regrets.
no
But regrets will not bring a dead man back to life and amount of elaborate excuses will suffice to pardon a breach of an undertaking known to the world to the effect that Japanese war planes would not fly over that sacroscant zone.
What next? You can twist the lion's tail a certain amount. but give it just one little twist too much and look out!
Japanese bombers' diabolical handiwork at Sunkiang railway station on September 8, when a refugee train was attacked. Note the two human bodies blasted up to the trees.
(Continued from previous Column) | (Continued from previous Column) There have been $0 many afford sufficient justification for appenings in which the Japan the combined forces of the Bri- ese have been involved that it tish Empire blowing the com- were best to make a careful bined forces of the Japanese selection and from that selectio Empire plumb to hell. If Bri- hase a major premise.
tain or America, for that matter. had taken as much offence at every insulting and hurtful action of the Japanese against their Governments and their nationals as Japan was pleased to take against certain minor acts by certain irresponsible Chinese, then Japan would to-day be tak- ing not merely tastes but whole bucket-fulls of her own metallic medicine.
What could be more appro- priate to the present occasion than the happening at Lukuo- chiao which occurred the evening of July 7?
on
That happening
was the "'incident' which started the spark which started the Sino- -Japanese conflagration. The basic facts of that happening are very simple; namely, that the However, that unruffled calm Japanese troops were indulging which characterises most things in nocturnal exercises of a mili- British in the diplomatic sphere tary kind and the Chinese troops still prevails, and it is not for were on guard close at hand. A one moment anticipated that any shot was fired, by whom and impetuousity in this instance will from what side nobody has yet alter the even tenor of Britain's been able to state definitely, and diplomatic ways. Accepting this that started a lot of other shots. inevitability in as philosophical a
The Japanese subsequently re- manner as is possible under cir-ported two killed and launched a cumstances which, to say the very least in the mildest langu- age, are nothing short of exas- perating, it is improving to the mind though not exactly in- spiring to the body, to contem- plate the attitude of the Japanese in certain comparatively recent happenings.
(Continued na next falumu)
punitive expedition to "chastise" the "outrageous" Chinese.
If that happening was deemed sufficient by the Japanese to start a war of aggression against China, then what the Japanese have done to Britishers and British property during the past three months should surely (Continued on next Column)
In their forbearance have Bri- rain and America shown their gigantic strength.
There is a delicate point which. we feel, must be faced. For how long will Britain remain silent under these repeated out- rages. ? The delicate point is this, namely, that the longer she suffers in silence the more does her prestige suffer and that of her nationals.
If Japan is desirous of em- broiling Western nations in a Far Eastern war of devastatingly colossal proportions, then she is certainly going the right way about this wrong thing.
Then regrets, even Japanese regrets, can be of no avail.
•
Ruin followed in the wake of Japanese bombing planes which rained disaster on helpless civilian refugees
at South Station, Shanghai, on September 3.
JEAN
BATTEN
Was
(Continued from previous Column) | (Continued from previous ('olumn) bewilderment, at what has been hours 15 minutes. Her most achieved since. To the pioneers notable flight Hopping off from Port Darwin
a record- of long distance flights, solo breaking dash across the South on October 19, Miss Jean Batten, the famous New Zealand avia-flights and record-breaking flights, Atlantic from Dakar to Brazil in trix, landed at Lympne on Octo- due praise is accorded. The re- November, 1935, her time being
She broke the record for cent flight of the Russian aviators
from Moscow Australia-England
over the storm- flight.
beaten face of the North Pole to hitherto held by Harry Broad- bent, by fourteen hours and nine minutes. Her achievement merits is yet the highest praise and another magnificent example of conquest of the air by the fair
ber 24. the
sex.
When one looks back on the history of aviation and recalls that in 1890 the first machine to leave the ground, piloted by a Frenchman Clement Ader. flew for only 54 yards, one heaves a sigh of amazement. almost (Continued on next Column)
America, stands out as one of the greatest air journeys of modern times. Last year, in October. Miss Batten broke the solo record flight from England to Australia by 23 hours 17 minutes. Leav ing England on October 5 the intrepid airwoman landed at Port Darwin on October 11. In 1934. Aving in a five-year-old Moth. Miss Batter completed a similar journey in 14 days 23 hours. Tu November, 1935, she flew from ympre to Port Natal in 61
(Continued on next Columu)
13 hours 15 minutes, compared with the previous record of 16 hours. In the course of her
flights, Miss Batten has flown over the Tasman Sea, a distance of 1,300 Timor Sea on her latest record. Having
miles, and across the
added this new air triumph to her already formi- dable laurels Miss Batten is perhaps planning another record- breaking dash between England and some place or the other, or may be she will be content to rest awhile Whatever may be her future plans, for the present achievement we say. well done. Miss Batten !
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