1937-12-13 — Page 9

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1937.

STRONG CHINESE RESISTANCE OF JAPAN WON'T RISK

NANKING SURPRISES JAPANESE

ARMY SPOKESMAN ADMITS GREAT DIFFICULTY OF UNDERTAKING

ALL-NIGHT ATTACK FAILS TO BREAK DOWN STUBBORN DEFENCES

"SHANGHAI, DECEMBER 12. SOME JAPANESE TROOPS CROSSED THE NANKING AND WUHU AND ARE NOW ADVANCING TO PUKOW. THE SUCCESS OF SUCH AN OPERATION WILL COMPETELY ISOLATE THE CHINESE FORCES IN NANKING.

IT IS SEMI-OFFICIALLY REPORTED THAT YANGTSE AT A POINT BETWEEN

ALTHOUGH JAPAN IS CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF HER" TROOPS, NANKING CITY A JAPANESE ARMY SPOKESMAN ADMITTED THAT THE CAPTURE IS FAR FROM FALLEN. OF THE CITY IS BY NO MEANS AN EASY TASK AND SAID IT IS ENCIRCLED BY A WALL FIFTY FEET HIGH AND THIRTY-THREE FEET WIDE, AND A DEEP MOẠT SIXTY-SIX FEET WIDE.

Tokyo: It is considered here that the triumphal Japanese entry Inte Nanking has been postponed from Sunday, possibly to Monday. Lull in the news from Nanking is presumed to indicate that the Japanese attack is progressing slowly. Japanese troops operating south of Nanking are reported to be advancing rapidly on Pukow In order to cut of the last avenue of retreat from the capital. These troops are stated to have crossed the Yangtse under cover of darkness last night.

After all night machine-gun and artillery ducks, the Japanese forces launched 1 besleging Nanking

fresh attack at daybreak in an attempt to smash the Chinese re-

stance, whose unexpectedly strong "stand is making the Japanese task much more difficult and costly than anticipated. Reinforcements from points east of Nanking are being rushed to support the at- tackers,

A Japanese army spokesman ad- mitted that the Chinese were put- AC- ting up a bitter resistance. cording to Japanese reports, the troops who were reported to have crossed the Yangtse yesterday at a point between Nanking. and Wu- hu are making good progress in their attempt to reach Pukow. Success this morning would isolatë the Chinese defenders in Nanking and expose them to attack from the rear enter.

Japan Sends More Men

To Shansi

Renewed Operations Foreshadowed After Lull In North

a

reports reiterate Communist troops

still occupy the passes for sniping purposes and at times have wiped

out Nippon motor caravans.

On the

Italy Deserts League

MUSSOLINI. MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT

ROME, DECEMBER 12. SIGNOR MUSSOLINI HAS AN- NOUNCED THAT ITALY IS LEAVING THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

was made

CAPTURE OF HANKOW

Viscount. Ishii Quotes Napoleon's Moscow Tragedy

"BUT WILL REMAIN IN NANKING"

London, Dec. 12.

Viscount Ishii, in an interview with the “Sunday Times,” stated that Japan had no territorial aims in China or in respect of Chinese islands such as Haidan, and would continue to respect both the rights and interests of foreign Powers in China as long as those Powers maintained an attitude of strict neutrality. These were the two cardinal points of Japanese polley.

"I am convinced that with the fall of Nanking the Japanese armies will not pursue Chiang Kai-shek further into the interior of China To do so would be to court the disaster that befell Napoleon at Mosegw, out Japan must remain in occupation of Nanking until a settlement is reached with Chiang Kai-shek. The local Chinese" administrations will continue to be left in con- trol wherever they are willing to co-operate with Japan, but it Chiang Kai-shek refuses to come to terms the Japanese military occupation will have to be continued and funds will have to be raised by taxation to support the Army. I am sure that for the sake of China, not in his personal interests, Chiang will, be- fore long, be compelled to aus for peace."

A FRIENDLY CHINA Viscount Ishii added that Chiang Kal-shek had now established very close relations with Russia, but Russia could assist Chiang only by air as it would take months to convey Russian arms to Chungking.

"Without

ara

money Chiang was bound in time to give up the fght, but may remain as the spearhead of communism in China though I will not say he is a communist himself," said the Vis- court, Regarding Russia, Viscount Ishil admitted that here lay Japan's

arms

chief military preoccupation al- though he thought Russia's inter- nal dissensions at present prevent- ed her playing a strong hand in the Far East.

The announcement from the Balcony of the Palazzo Venezia to a cheering crowd of one hundred thousand. The Duce sald he was making an important anno- uncement for the bistory of "our Italy and our revolution." The good intentions of a certain government were drowned soon, as their dele-interest in China, Viscount Ishir gates entered into contact with the fatal surroundings of the Sanhedrin

told the "Sunday Times" service on of Geneva which was manoeuvred

foreign loans secured un' the cus- toms and land regulations dating

Questioned re foreign rights and

judicial to Italy. by hidden and shady sources, pre-back to 1842 on which the authority

In these, cunditions our presence

of the Shanghai Municipal Council rested, would continue to be res-

of

his mission here are obvious. The people here will not soon forget the shooting

Bir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, the killing of British soldiers who had not com- mitted any offence against Japan, the bombing of british ships en- gaged in peaceful" commerce, and the destruction of British property ashore.

The long view rather than the short one is taken on the chances of China maintaining her inde- pendence. It is still believed that

in the and Chinese nationalism

will emerge triumphant over mill- tary disaster."

The correspondent adds that the renewal of Japanese "assurance in respect of foreign rights and in- terests in China is welcomed here,

but it was felt that the proof of the padding is in the eating.*** Beulert

PUPPET STATES That Japan should have no ter- ritorial aims in China makes it ob- vious that she intends to create

at the door of Geneva is no longer pected by Japan. He added that puppet administrations after the

tolerable. Our doctrine, and the East Shansi narrow style and temperament of our sol- guage railway, the Japanese cap-diers have perished. The hour has tured three locomotives and, less approached when it is necessary to Linfen. Dec. 12: Large Japanese

than 100 cars. according to Japan- make a choice. Are we to remain reinforcements have arrived. ese returning from the area. The inside the League? Taiyuan, capital of Shansi, pre-regton. they said, is overrun with sumably for a renewed southward armed remnants of the Chinese invasion of Shansi, military ad- army. The remaining rolling stock vices reaching here to-day in- is behind the Chinese lines some- dicate.

where in South Shansi.- ". International News Agency.

Traffic on the Chengtal Railway has been resumed by the Japan- ese after the completion of repairs to the damaged track.-- Central NeAZER

DISGUISED GUERILLA

TROOPS

Linfen, Dec. 12: Disguised as coal-carriers, a party of Chinese guerilla troops altered into Halo- chen, southwest of Shouyeng on the Chengtal Railway and made a surprise attack on the Japanese troops stationed there recently inflicting a number of casualties on them and seizing many rifles. a report just received here reveals.

Central News.

CITY GATES CLOSED Linfen. Dec. 12: After suffering several reverses at the hands of Chinese mobile units. the Japan- ese troops at points around Sho-

ORGANISING IRREGULAR

TROOPS

There were shouts of “ng". Are we to go out? shouts of "yes".

NO PRESSURE "

The Duce said; We are mov- Ing forward and away without re- gret from a tottering temple where men do not work-for peace but for war. He emphatically denied that any pressure was put on Italy, to determine their. attitude. Our comrades of the axis Berlin-Tokyo have shown absolute discretion.

Linfen, Dec. 12: Upon the in- stigation of the Japanese, Wong Ying, notorious bandit chieftain, is recruiting able-bodied men at Tai-This is the truth. yuan to organise more "Mancha- kuo irregular units.

Two divisions of "Manchukuo": irregular troops under the com- mand of Li Shou-hsin have been sent to Paotao to reinforce the Japanese garrison there. Strong defence works have. structed outside the city gates.

Li himself has proceeded to Sul- yuan on an unknown mission.- Central Frus

been con-

STH ROUTE ARMY'

Sinslang, Honan, Dec. 12. Quiet reigns on the entire North

nese reports which state that the Japanese are busily engaged in setting up political administra-

The withdrawal of Italy from the League of Nations is an event

of great historical "Importance which has drawn the attention of the world and whose consequences for this that we shall abandon our cannot yet he foreseen. It is not

fundamental line of policy which aims at collaboration and peace.

halen, have been," withdrawn into China fronts, according to Chi-and the threatening voices which

ment of Japanese troops at An-

the city and barred the city gates, a military report states.

Attacked by Chinese mobile units from three sides, a detach- tions in occupied territory, and also in meeting the repeated at- chialiang in the vicinity of Sho- tacks of Chinese mobile units be- hslen suffered

than 300 longing to the 6th Route Army casualties and the loss of tarifes also under the command of Gen. and a number of horses a few | Sun Tien-ying. days ago. They were compelled to withdraw into the city together with other Japanese units. Central Ner

Tore

PING-HAN LULL

Pelping. Dec. 12. On the Peiping-Hankow Railway front Japan has contented herself with forming the "AutonomoUS Homan Provincial Government at Changteh, just south of the Hopel border. No military operations are reported in this sector at this time.

En Shansi Chinese reports claim

Japanese troops in South Shang, according to these same reports, have withdrawn to eastern Bhan- si and northern Shansi to protect the Pelping-Buiyuan, Peiping-Han- kow and Chengtai Railways. "

"JAPANESE HARASSED

The 8th Route Army, totalling be- tween. 50,000 and 60,000 men, are

PROUD BOAST The Duce said that during the last few days "we offered luminous proof by creating peace in the Adriatic (apparently referring to the Italo-Yugoslav understanding)

from time to have been raised time, and will perhaps be again raised from the flocks of great democracies leave us perfectly in- different. They can do nothing against a people like the Italians who are capable of any sacrifices. "We have the arms of aky, land and sea, numerous and tempered by two victorious wars, but above revolution which no force in the all we have the heroic spirit of world will ever be able to bend. -Reuter.

THE RESIGNATION

Rome, Dec. 12

KOWLOON

CANTON

RAILWAY

SPEEDY

ECONOMIC

NOTICE

The following trains are temporarily suspended until further notice:-

Morning Express`

Mid-day Fast Train

18.46 p.m.

Kowloon dep. Canton art.

8.96 a.m.

11.30 a.m.

4.06 p.m.

Canton dep. Kowloon arr

1.18 L.D.

1.10 p.m.

11.10 a.m.

4.30 p.m.

R. D. WALKER,

Manager Chief Engineer.

THE

HONG KONG

PENINSULA HOTEL;

HONGKONG HOTEL; REPULSE BAT HOTALJ

SHANGHAI

APTOR HOUSE; PALACE HOTEL;

HOTELS

LIMITED, ".

Ta nawoiation with the Grand Hotel des Wagona Lite, Peking.

adds the LIVE bombs USED IN REINFORCEMENTS

MANOEUVRES

pensive task and the inevitable Tsingtao, Dec. 12:. Live bombs aftermath of increased taxation, have been used by Japanese planes rising prices and probably loss of during air manoeuvres in the trade may prove an intolerable | suburbs of Tientsin in the last few burden."

days, a message. from Tentain

model of Manchukuo, the entire Chinese nation at pre-Sunday Times" Diplomatic Cor- "sent was hostile to Japan and Chinese merchants dared not trade respondent. This will be an ex- with Japanese, but he was top- vinced trade would revive with the establishment of peace.

Viscount tahi thought China might in the future change ner feelings towards Japan. Japan sole aim was to create a friendly China. This applied to all China.

▸

WARNING TO FRANCE Proceeding, Viscount Ishli said Japan had no legal grounds for asking the Powers not to sell sims to China. Since war had not beeu declared and belligerent rights had not been claimed, but France had been informed that if transit of arms through French Indo China continued, Japán might be com- pelled to bomb French railways running from Hanoi across the border northwards to Yunnan and eastward to Nanmug

"STILL PREMATURE”

With regard to Viscount ishli's states. ity." the diplomatic correspondent use of the phrase "strict neutral- | Central News.

states; "It is permissable to ask whether, in the event of Japan successfully setting up puppet ad- ministrations in Pelping. Tientsin, Shanghai

BEING SENT TO

TAIHU LAKE AREA

Hangchow, Dec. 12: More Chi- nese reinforcements are being sent from. Changhing to Washing on the south bank of Taihu Lakė, where the Chinese troops are closing in on the Japanese in an attempt to dislodge them..

";

It is estimated that about 10,000. Tokyo, Dec. 12.-

"Japanese troops are now" concen-"

Japanese troops in the Nanking which

Despite the victories of the trated on the Wushing front..

extends from Wushing area and the fact that the capture southward to Linghu. of the Chinese capital forms the Meanwhile, Chinese major objective, it is still pre-works in and around Eangchow for the nation to con- have been strengthened as a pre- caution against attack from the

mature'

and Nanking. which Great Britain would refuse to, re- cognise, Japan would consider this "strict neutrality" had been com→ promised. Important issues will be clude that the Sino-Japanese con- involved if Britain one day were Alct has reached the final stage. Japanese. faced with the question whether the Japanese or not to recognise further changes declare. in China when Chiang Kai-shek was still in control of Canton and the South. There is the, further The "Sunday Times' Diplomatic difficulty that recognition of terri- Correspondent states there is little torial changes must, so long as doubt Viscount Ishli was speaking Britain remains, at "Geneva, be at the interview with the full au- made within the framework of the thority of the Tokio Government: League.--- and adds that the difficulties of

SOVIET ELECTION SENSATION

Moscow, Dec. 12. A sensation has been caused by the news that M. Mezblank, deputy resident of the Council of Peoples Commissars, has been erased from the list of election canditates and replaced by M. Krenkel, wireless operator of the Soviet Arctis ex pedition, now on a drifting icefoe.

Router

! MILLION HUNANESE

WILL BE TRAINED

Three-Point War-Time Student Programme

Changsha, Dec. 12: One million people in Hunan will have under- gone war-time training within

army authorities | Central News, They voiced the hope, that the nation would not be "too much elated" over the victories in the Nanking direction.

Attention is drawn to the fact In Japan that the realisation of whole-hearted co-operation with the Chinese is one of her par- amount desires this will depend on the future strenuous efforts tí the Japanese nation.

The military authorities express- ed the desire that the people would nonour the souls of the war dead now enshrined in the Yasukunt Shrine and comfort the dick and wounded rather than indulge in celebrations. -Beuter“

nese

41

defence

CHINESE FORCES RECAPTURE TANGYI Tainan, Dec. 12: After two days" .occupation by the Japanese troops, Tangyi on the west Shang-

tung border was recaptured by the Chinese forces yesterday, a report just received here states.

Advancing from three directions the Chinese forces enveloped the city and engaged the Japanese in a bitter engagement. Sustaining heavy casualties, "the Japanese finally broke through the Chinese cordon and retreated to Kuan- hsien, west of Tangyi- Central News.

JAPANESE BOMBERS

half a year, if a programme just

· HAID· STAN: PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM CITY mapped out by the provincial au-

Bian, Dec. 12: Continuing to Ningpo, Dec. 12.

carry their raiding activities into Japanese air raids have driven the inland provinces, another fleet thorities is successfully carried out. the people from the city into the Newspapers and speakers from According to the programme, neighbouring rural district, Chi-launched an

of 12 Japanese heavy bombers radio stations throughout the 3,400 middle school students, and

unsuccessful attack country are urging a hundred per 400 college students will be select exodus from Ningpo began last

sources declare. A general on Bian late this afternoon. cent poll, extolling the Soviet sysed and subjected to a period of month when Japanese aircraft sighted heading for the Shensi Shortly after the planes were tem and emphasising M. Stalin's į war-time training. Afterwards made frequent raids on Cheklang. capital, Chinese pursuit planes

war urging a merciless

against tricts and municipalities to help near the East Gate is practically craft guns, opened barrage on the Fascism and Trotskysts.---Reuter. the local authorities in giving deserted as most people have gone invading machines. "After flying similar training to the masses. to the countryside and only a few

Such training, the programme provides, will have three phases, military training, spiritual training and productive training.— Ventent Hears

Count Clano sent a telegram to contributions to world peace and they will be sent to, different dis-The commercial district of Ningpo took to the air while the anti-air-

the

Secretary-General

of

the

League as follows: "Following the Council, I have to inform you that decisións of the Grand Fascist

as from, December 11, 1937. Italy the vicinity of the Liangtsekuan leaves the League of Nations."-

scattered amongst the Talhanshan mountains on the Hope, Honan, and Shans! · borders, and also in

passed.

話

Reuter

·JAPANESE AT CHANGTEH RESUME ATTACK Hainhsiang, Dec. 11: After a

Gen, Sun Tien-ying's troops, far-dung. Japanese columns have totalling 15,000 men, are scattered suffered serious setbacks below on the north and south banks of Taiyuanfu." The Japanese denied the Huto. River, also in the vicinity this claim strenuously but have of Hsintangmingkou. Shuhhiach-long Jull, the Japanese troops at been almost completely reticent wang and Shuntah. about Shanal developments since These Chinese

mobile

the

WAR DEBT TALKS

London, Dec. 12. Communications between American and British Govern- ments relating to British war debt were issued last night as a White Paper.

MORALE HIGH

Hankow, Dec. 12.

shops remain open-

Heuter.

NO. HOLIDAYS

Hankow, Dec. 12 In view of the present emer- gency, henceforth no holidays will be given for public functions in the various subordinate organs.

All offices

according to instructions issued by must function as usual on Sundays the Executive Yuan and other holidays

Reuter.

In acknowledging the American Changten on the Peiping-Hankow Secretary of States', notice of the How long the Chinese will be units. Raliway in north Honan have re- amounts due, Bir Ronald Lindsay, able to withstand the Japanese at

newed their attack on Chinese British Ambassador, renews the tack is dimcult to estimate. The positions. It is learned from mill-assurance that "Els Majesty's morale of the Chinese forces, is tary sources.....

Government will be willing to re-high, said General Tang Sheng- open discussions on the subject chin, who adds that in the event whenever circumstances are such of Japanese troops entering Nan as to warrant the hope, that a king the Chinese will And them- | Japanese advance the more dim satisfactory result might be reach-selves in a better position to offer [culties they will encounter

"Prisich. Wirdess.

Reuter

the fall of Taiyuaniu nearly a which hide in the daytime and month ago. They admit their raid at night, are giving the great communications are shaky.. in- est trouble to the Japanese, volving delays in replenishing sup- The only activity on the North Chine fronts are confined to The Japanese say the Tatung-Japanese, aircraft, which are daily Talyuanfu highway through the bombing Chinese positions.* - mountains is still open but Chinese

Reuter

pites.

Repeated Japanese offensives by the Japanese, however, have been repelled by the Chinese defenders whose positions remain intact-

Central News,

ed.”

resistance because the further the

over the city, the planes were driven away," dropping scores of bombe on the western outskirts of thecity. The "all-clear" signal was given at 6.20 p.m.- Central Newa.

STALIN'S INVITATION TO SPANISH PREMIER

Moscow, Dec. 12. Btalin has issued a personal Invitation to the former Spanish Premier, Benor Largo Caballero, to visit Moscow.

French

Senor Caballero at present is in Paris conferring with Trade Union leaders.-

Transocean.