1937-07-28 — Page 1

Page

O.K. SAUCE TO-DAY'S WEATHER FORECAST West and South-West

Cloudy, Showery.

Suprecis Court

Hongkong Daily Press.

Registered as a Newspaper at the General ·

Served in the best places

Post Office in the United Kingdom

ESTABLISHED 1857

General Manager

VISION FOR SALE !'

says pour optician, and where your refractive error left you otherwise blind you can now see. Why demand an impossible. cheap sale where the goods and services must necess sarily be of the highest ?

An advertisement Lavogi Nr X. Lazena. Optielag

6. Padder,

No. 24627. #62**** ⠀±+A&*£T HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1937. # E##я**** Price

CHINESE

Far Eastern Forces

CHINA AND

JAPAN.

FIGHTING STRENGTH

COMPARED

The present controversy between China and Japan must raise in many minds the question of what military, naval, and air resources would be available to either side in the event of a final break and how these forces might be expect- ed to fare in action, writes the Nanking correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian.”

From a purely numerical stand- pomt, of course, the Chinese would have A tremendous advantage with a total of about 160 divisions. as compared with only 17 divisions

on the Japanese de, though the latter would be in a position greatly to increase their forces From reserves in an emergency.

At the moment the Chinese" na- tional forces. comprising about 1.500,000 men. are distributed roughly as follows:--North China, 18 divisions: North-west provinces. z=22-divlatons; West: China, 11 divis

stons; South-west provinces, 5 divisions South China, 22 divisions; Central China: 28 divisions. At least one-fourth of these units must be written off as being of doubtful allegiance to the Central Government, however, aid of the balance only a relatively small proportion perhaps 150,000 could be properly equipped accord- Ing to modern standards, despite General Chiang Kai-shek's stren- ...uous., efforts during the past year

or two to build up supplies.

(Continued on Page 3)

BUDDY EKINS QUE TO-DAY

Mr. Buddy Ekins, the well-known newspaperman who last year made

a race round, the world; is due to arrive here this afternoon aboard the Pan-American Airways Clipper from Manila. Mr. Ekins is on his

way to Shanghai.

"Keep Your

Far

In his weekly broadcast on world affairs relayed from Daventry last night, Mr. R. V. Hodson dealt with the Sino-Japanese situation.

Single Copy, 10 cts. Per Month, $3.

BATTALION ANNIHILATED

Startling Report From War Zone

Ruthless Japanese Reprisals

Abortive Attempt

To Localise Crisis

NANKING PRESENTS UNITED FRONT

Tientsin, July 27,

1:

A Japanese military spokesman interviewed at 3.15 p.m. quoted an unofficial and unconfirmed. report that Chinese troops were moving out from Lukouchiao and Papaoshan in any way they can. It is pointed out that the second and more important part of the ultimatum expires at noon tomorrow and it is confirmed that a Chinese battalion at Tungchow which resisted disarming has been annihilated. peiping: "chinese AND JAPANESE TROOPS CLASHED this afternoon at Nanyuan, five miles SOUTH OF PEIPING. TROOPS OF THE 38TH DIVISION WENT TO THE SCENE TO REINFORCE THEIR COM. RADES. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE GOVERNMENT TROOPS WHO ENTERED HOPEI WILL BE PLACED UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL SUNG CHEH YUAN WHICH CHINESE CIRCLES CONTEND CONFIRMSA GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S STATEMENT THAT THE CENTRAL TROOPS AND 29TH ARMY WILL FIGHT"- |_ SIDE BY SIDE IN THE EVENT OF HOSTILITIES.

ابه

MEANWHILE GENERAL SUNG CHEH-YUAN IS REPORTED TO HAVE ISSUED A PROCLAMATION THAT HE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE UNREASONABLE DEMANDS. E

TIENTSIN: ALL NEGOTIATIONS TO LOCALISE THE LANGFANG AFFAIR HAVE CEASED AS THE CHINESE DECIDED THAT THE JAPANESE PROPOSALS ARE NOT DISCUSSABLE IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUED ARRIVAL OF JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS. JAPANESE AIRCRAFT IN TIENTSIN WERE DOUBLED BY THE ARRIVAL TO-DAY OF THIRTY MORE PLANES.

AFTER A NIGHT OF FEVERISH PREPARATIONS THE JAPANESE CONCESSION THIS MORNING PRE SENTED A WARLIKE APPEARANCE WITH SANDBAGS, WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS AND ARMED GUARDS IN THE STREETS BORDERING THE JAPANESE AREA AND CITY AND JAPANESE BUND WAS SEALED UP BY TROOPS WHILE THE FERRY SERVICE WAS STOPPED AND THE IRON GATE CLOSED.

TIENTSIN; THIS MORNING TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED, JAPANESE MILITARY TRUCKS AND TEAMS ALONE BEING PERMITTED, RICKSHAWS WERE FORBIDDEN AND PEDESTRIANS AS "WELL AS TRAM PASSENGERS WERE SUBJECTED TO SEARCH.

CHINESE POLICE IN THE JAPANESE AREA ARE NOT CARRYING FISTOLS JAPANESE TROOPS ARE CONTROLLING THE AREA BETWEEN THE STATION AND THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE.

SHANGHAI: UP TO 4 PM THERE WAS NO NEWS FROM ANY SOURCE WHETHER THE 17TH DIVISION HAS COMPLIED WITH THE JAPANESE ULTIMATUM. - MEANWHILE BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE HUNDRED TROOPS BELONGING TO THE 29TH ARMY GARRISON IN TUNGCHOW, FIFTEEN MILES EAST OF PEIPING ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED WHEN THEY RESISTED AN ATTEMPT TO DISARM THEM. EFFECTIVELY BOMBED THE CHINESE CONCENTRATIONS AS THE TROOPS BELOW MACHINE GUNNED, THESE SECTIONS.

Eyes On The East"

JAPANESE PLANES CIRCLE PEIPING

PEIPING: AFTER A CONFERENCE BETWEEN CHINESE AND JAPANESE_OFFICIALS ON THE SCENE OF YESTERDAY'S CLASH, THE JAPANESE TROOPS WHO WERE TRAPPED IN THE TEMPLE WERE ESCORTED TO THEIR BARRACKS IN PEIPING THIS MORNING. THOSE OUTSIDE THE CITY WITHDREW IN THE DIRECTION OF FENGTAL JAPANESE PLANES ARE CONSTANTLY CIRCLING PEIFING, OTHERWISE ALL IS QUIET. JAPANESE CASUALTIES IN THE LANGFANG FIGHTING IS GIVEN OFFICIALLY AS FOUR KILLED AND SEVEN INJURED.

WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT FROM SUNG

NANKING; IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT GENERAL SUNG CHEH-YUAN INSISTS ON THE RIGHT TO STATION TROOPS IN LUKUOCHAO AND OTHER AREAS » WHICH. FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE MAY BE EVACUATED BY THE 37TH DIVISION. HE ALSO INSISTS ON THE RIGHT TO STATION TROOPS ALONG THE EAILWAY BETWEEN PRIPING AND TIENTSIN. ⠀⠀ GENERAL HSIUNG 'PING, VICE CHIEF OF THE CHINESE GENERAL STAFF. EXPRESSES THE OPINION THAT SUNG CHEH-YUAN WILL NOT YIELD TO THE UNREASONABLE JAPANESE DEMANDS AND WHOLE- HEARTEDLY SUPPORTS GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S STATEMENT OF JULY 19

EIGHT CHINESE KILLED IN EXPLOSION

Blanfu incident some six or eight months ago, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek lost a certain amount of prestige but since then he had re- Mr. Hodson stated that in his coveted it all and at the present broadcast two months ago he said, moment had closer relationship "Keep your eyes on the Far East" with the Communists forces in and made note of the fact that China who had become much more the Communists had recently Nationalist. This followed the po agreed to come under the National Hcy of Russia who had also chang- Government. Japan's politicaled from Communist to Nationalist. situation was moving, he said then, and he was right.

The second chapter of the act, Mr. Hodson asked what had said Mr. Hodson, which was hay- Nariking to do with the Coming very great effect on the munists from Russia? After deal-Bino-Japanese situation was the ing with the Lakuochião incident, public opinion of Great Britain of July 8, Mr. Hodson stated that and the United States. Mr. An- the 37th_Division at Wanping was thony Eden, Foreign Secretary, had an old Communist division. Why given his best advice to the Chin- were the Japanese and why was ese and Japanese Ambassadors. ⠀ Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of ready to act so quickly?.

| State, had said, "The constant in-1 But, said Mr. Hodson, with the terest of the United States in the Peiping: The spokesman at the

PRECAUTIONARY Japanese Army nothing succeeds maintenance of peace in the Far Japanese Embassy prescribed an like success especially at the pre- East is of the greatest importance order for Japanese nationals to sent moment when the Russian The United States, aspect to the concentrate in the Legation Quar- Army was under a cloud.

Far East was quite different to ter as a precautionary measure in At the same time the Japanese that towards Europe. Army had, to, be taken care of por

case the 27th Division re-acted ticaly,

Japan had stated that they violently to the Japanese ultima- When the

wished for peace in Asia with

tum wet the Manchuria and China as they Hopel-Chahar area they would be wanted to stop Communist activ protecting an exposed strategie

ities in Asia.

Japanese

Hank against Russia, he added.

Mr. Hodson wain-lined that

Dealing with China's point of China holds the key to the present ew. Mr. Hodson said that in the situation:

TIENTSIN:" AFTER THE FIGHTING AT LANGFANG THE JAPANESE GARRISON AT PEITSANG AND YANGTSUN TOOK OVER THE RAILWAY STATION, THE PAOANTUI REGIMENT STOOD- BY ALL NIGHT LONG IN THE CHINESE CITY AND PREVENTED JAPANESE ARMOURED CARS FROM PATROLLING THE CITY WHEREUPON THE CARS DROVE ALONG THE ROAD AROUND THERE THE PAQANTUI REGIMENT WERE THIS MORNING ISSUED WITH HAND GRENADES AND EXTRA ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION. EIGHT. CHINESE WERE INJURED IN A BOMB EXPLOSION IN THE JAPANESE ALEA LAST NIGHT, CHINESE CIRULES STATE THAT THE BOMB WAS, AC- CIDENTALLY DROPPED FROM A JAPANESE TRUCK LOADED WITH MUNITIONS REUTER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE

OBJECTION TO FILM

Berlin Jul

the

The Chinese Embassy has renew-

Foreign Once regarding the forth

d its representations to

coming release of the film, "Alarm

Boxer rising and which, in the latest Sino-Japanese situation and in Peking. which deals with the tive Yuan with respect to the Chinese view, does not, show China other national problems. in a favourable light

It is understood that the atten- tion of Dr. Herman Goebbels will be called to China's view

Reuter, C

CHIANG CONFERS WITH...

"SUN" FO

Shanghai, July Za

Mr Sun Fo, President

to-morrow for the South for s President Bun will sail from here

visit. He will go to Macao to celebrate the birthday of his mother and later will proceed to Canton

confer with officials there on the diplomatic altuation.

i

JAPANESE AIRCRAFT

Japan Blames China

BUT PREMIER HOPES FOR SETTLEMENT

Tokyo, July 27.

In the Diet to-day the War Min- ister, Mr. Sugiyama stated that the Japanese garrison in North China had decided to take punitive operations against the Chinese there and that the War Office in Tokyo were taking similar. mea sures. They blamed the Chinese for the present tense situation.

Prince Konove, the Prime Minis ter, said that troops were sent to North China to preserve the peace and he hoped the self-discipline of the Chinese Government and peo ple would make possible adjustment of the situation.

re-

Mr. Hirota said that the situa tion in North China was such that' an untoward outbreak was possible at any moment and he hoped the Chinese authorities would deavour, to

€21-

settle the situation which was attributed to anti- Japanese movements. He said the Japanese Government were bock- ig & settlement of the dispute on

Speaking on other foreign mat- tera, M. Hirota deplored the clashes on the Manchukuo-Soviet border and stated that two com- missioners from both sides would be appointed to de-mark the frontier and settle the disputes.

He added the hope for a speedy readjustment of Anglo-Japanese relations in the Far East.—

Router.

NEWS INDEX

Amusements

Cables

.Page 5.

.Page. 6, 8, 8. .Page 12, 13.. Page 2.

.......................... Page 4.

Finance Leading Article Local Diary Mall Notices Radio Programmes Shipping Sport ....... The Services-

Page 16.

Page 4.

Page 15.

„Page 10,

..Page 7,

Appeal To U.S. To

Prevent European War

New York, July 27,

THE WEATHER

A report issued by the Royal Observatory states that 1.78 inches of rain was recorded during the 24 hours ended at 10 am. yester day, bringing, the year's total since. January 1. to 50.48, tnches against an average of 50.73 inches.

Monday's maximum temperature was 92 degs, with a night mum of 79. Yesterday at 10 am. the temperature was 84 deg The maximum temperature sterday

An appeal to the United States Government to take an “influential part with the democracies Of Europe in order to prevent a European war was made to-day by the "New York Times." CAM

Decrying the Spanish war and a threat of a European outbreak, the "New York Times says that the "democracies are powerful enough to dictate terms before the day of a European outbreak arrives It is only necessary that they stand to gether and if only they instat on terms just to their potential enemies as well sa themselves Here is a task for democratic was 88 degs, this reading being statesmanship wherein our own taken at 3 pm. Government without danger or RATON GAR loss of prestige can have an in- Auential part-Ilouter.

THE DOLLAR

TT ON NEW YORK: 30-1/4- ET. ON LONDON: 14 2.19/224.

London Silver Market

(From Our Own Correspondent) London, July 27 London aliver prices, to-day were Mr. Lang Han-cho, secretary-down 1/18 for "Spot" and 1/8 for Legislative Yuan, arrived here this general of the Legislative Yuan Forward, as follow was consuited morning from Nanking

General Kal-shek. President of the Exeu-

tive

member of the Central Execu

Committee, will accompany Spot (Continued on Fage 9.)

Forward

U.S. PRAISE FOR GEORGE VI

King Britain Wants"

Admiration for King George VL was expressed by Mr. James W. Gerard, head of the United States delegation to the Coronation, when he returbed to New York in the Italian liner Rex,

"He is a great fellow Mr Gerard said to reporters He the same kind of man that his kang 2016 July 27 father was which te

20-1/18 20 kind of King the British people

want t