1937-12-08 — Page 1

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The

FIRST EDITION

Spearonne Cont

Hongkong Telegraph.

FOUNDED 1031 三拜禮 晚八月二十英街 WEDNESDAY; DECEMBER 8, 1937.日六初月一十

No. 15385

SINGLE COPY 10 CENTS $10.00 PER ANNUM

DUNLOP

TYRES

make every road

a SAFER road

ATTACKING NANKING FROM THREE SIDES

·

IN CONSTANT FLIGHT

Main Japanese Forces Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek May Retire Still Some Distance From Chinese Capital

CHINESE MAINTAIN POSITIONS ON

SOUTHERN FRONT, ROUT ENEMY VAN

Nanking, Dec. 8.

It has been ascertained that Japanese infantry units are advanc- ing on Nanking from three directions.

One column from Kuyung, 22 miles south-east of Nanking, is pushing forward along the highway from Chiuhuashan, north of Tangshuichen, to Chilingmen, the cast outer gate of the capital.

A second column is pressing an attack on Shunhuachen, 12 kilometres outside Kwanghuamen Gate, from Tientsussu, about 22 kilometres south of Kuyung. This column comprises some mechanis- ed units and is supported by aeroplanes.

The Chinese forces are maintaining positions south of Shun- hunchen to check this advance.

During a skirmish yesterday scores of the Japanese vanguards were killed and about 20 rifles seized by the Chinese defenders.

A third column, from Lishui, is engaging the Chinese forces at Yinhangchen about five kilometres north of Mulingkwan, and about 22 kilometres south of Nanking. -Central News.

Delaying Attack

Japanese

Japanese

Shanghal, Dec. 8.

hinted that delaying the

sources troops are

Ninking attack due to the belief that

The Chinese are panleky and are re- treating. As a result they believe the Japanese will soon be able to enter the city without fighting.

These sources slate that the sight of thousands of Chinese troops cross- ing the river and blowini up the munition dumps indicates that the Chinese will not defend Nanking,

Meanwhile the Japanese are bring-i ing up supplies and strengthening their incs in the event of for Chin- ese deciding to defend the city.

In Shanghul it is said that 300,000 Chinese troops are defending Nan- king, and it is said that ghting occurred yesterday in the vicinity of Tangshan, east of the capital. It is denied that Tangshan has fallen.

12 Miles Away

Meanwhile it is said that Japanese troops have captured the Tienehu Temple, twelve miles from Kwangh- wamen and Nanking.

Foreign military observers are very doubtful about the effectiveness of the 300,000 Chinese troops which are between Wuhu and Nanking, be- cause over two-thirds of them are provincial soldiers.

A foreign military

observer sald

he understood the Japanese army at

the present was pressing against the walls of Nanking.

from

In the meantime, reports Nanking luulente that Chinese troops

are steadily drawing in towards the

city, leaving rearguard detachments

JAPANESE ADMIT REVERSE

Chinese Establish

New Line

Re-Occupy Pingyao

CURTAIL

PASSIVE DEFENCE MEASURES

Britain Places Responsibility On Air Force

UFS

Some of the people of China have lived for weeks in constant flight, and almost constant terror. Here is one family seeking

a new home, the stalwart husband pushing a heavily loaded

Larrow on which his wife rides, while the son of the family sets the pace. As the tide of war advances $0 these unfortunate

hope for the future. They seek only escape.

people move, uprooted completely, without a home and without

POOTUNG'S 'MAYOR'

ASKS CO-OPERATION

OF S'HAI CHINESE

Shanghai, Dec. 8.

PEACE RUMOUR AGAIN ABROAD

Negotiations May Come If Japanese Terms Reasonable

(Special to "Telegraph”)

Shanghai, Dec. 8. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's departure from Nanking is taken to indicate the city's fall will come soon and that defeat on this front is conceded.

There seems to be increased possibility of Marshal Chiang retiring in favour of some other group. Possibly Mr. Wang Ching-wei, Mr. Chang Chun and General Ho Ying-ching may take the reins from him. All of these ofilcials are believed to be at Hankow at present.

U. S. Big

Building

Of

Fleet Merchantmen

Washington, Deo. 7.

I authoritatively learned that the Maritime Commission ls ready to start within a fortnight a multi-million dollar programme_to_rehabilitate_the_ merchant marine.

An official said that bids would be asked for $20,000,000 worth of construction, including at least ten B,000 ton cargo boals conting about $1,750.000 each-Reuter,

Su Hsi-wen, "Mayor" of the Pootung administration, has BARCELONA

circularised the Chinese public organisations asking for their co-operation.

London, Dec. 7. Moving the third reading of The letter points out that since the withdrawal from the Air Raids Precautions BB Shanghai of the Kuomintang troops, everything has been at a in the House of Commona to- slamistill. It goes on to state that "at the request of various day, Sir Samuel Hoare, the Home circles" he assumed the post of Mayor and he desires to restore Secretary announced that an normal conditions. air raids precautions department

A feature of the letter is the use of the old Chinese would be organised upon Service calendar which was abolished by the Central Government.— lines. The staffs for planning Reuter. duties and administrative dutles

would be separated.

would

Pelping. Dec. 7. A Japanese military spokesman

Wing-Commander Hodsell admitted that the Chinese are busily he the new chief of the air raids constructing

another

"Hindenberg precautions staff with the post of Line along the right bank of the Inspector-General, while Mr. W. G. Yellow River from Tungkwan to Eady, Secretary of the Unemploy point 60 miles inside of the Shan- tung border.

ment Assistance Board and one of the most competent organisers in Whitehall. would go to the Home once to devote his full time super- vising the administration side of the work, with the title of Deputy Under- Secretary of State,

This line is held by 22 divisions, The spokesman also admitted that Chinese troops operating in Shansi had re-occupied Pingyao-Reuter.

Ex-Navy M.P. Questions New Policy

at the front, burning everything in The new Wor

London, Dec. 7. Office policy

of

Kwangtung Pushes Food Production

Banks To Assist Farmers

Volunteer Withdrawal Now Nearer

Russian Criticises Franco's Reply

Abused

ATTACKED

BY PLANES

50 Believed Dead IN Bombing

Barcelona, Dec. 7, Planes ralded Barcelona and its environs this afternoon but no bombs the were dropped in the centre town. However it was reported that some fell in the suburbs. The death roll so far is estimated at 50 and the search for victims is proceeding.

Mr. Clemen! Attlee, British Labour Opposition leader and Mem- bers of Parliament, were present in Barcelona at the time of the raid, having arrived by special plane from Madrid shortly before,-Kculer.

ATTLEE MISSES RAID

Barcelona, Dec. 7.

It now transpires that Mr. Clement

minutes after the all-clear had been sounded following to-day's air raid on the city suburbs.--fleuter.

Sir Samuel Hoare said that two main conclusions emerged from the discussions on the Bill: Arstly com-

Canton, Dec. 8. plete Immunity was impossible, and To effect + secondly that it wa

closer co-operation "Pocket General Attlee and his colleagues arrived 40 wrong to come between the farmers and bankers in centrate a disproportionate amount Kwangtung in pushing the emer of money and man-power on defence which would create a dangerous bias Governor Wu Te-chen has appointed gency food production programine, in the public mind for passive pre- Dr. D. Y. Lin, Director of the Bureau

London, Dec, 7. cautions rather than for vigorous defence.

of Agriculture and Forestry, as head A communique states that the Non- of Food Production Loans Depart- | Intervention Sub-Committee pre- ment.

Iminarily has considered the Under the now plan district magi- | replies of the two parties In Spain and vigorous air force capable of trates or representatives of farmers regarding the withdrawal flying down an enemy air force may approach this department for volunteers. The committee re-

It was sound commonsense that London's best defence was a strong

the path of the Japanese advance, reducing the age of those holding Reuter.

It is reliably reported that the high Command led Lieut-Comdr. R., Japanese forces are executing a flank-T. II. Fletcher (Lab.) to ask Mr. Ing movement to arrive at the north Neville Chamberlain, the Prime and went gates simultaneously, thus Minister, In the House of Commons cutting off the Chinese retreat to Pu-to-day, it is policy la to be ex- tended to the Navy and Royal Air

kow.

It is offelally stated at Nanking Force.

the Embassies are that members of

Foreigners Ready To Move Out

hemen ana

concerned,

MANCHUKUO'S "EMPEROR" FOR PEACE

of

cognised that the replies were of such a nature that it would be possible' to continue its task,

cent

to

loans for food production.

Rapid progress has been made in winter cultivation and the promotion of growing minor food crops, such The sub-commitice also considered as wheat, barley, sweet potatoes, methods of constituting the Com beans, etc., since the Emergency Food missions which are to be

was launched shortly Spain to organise the withdrawal of Programme after the outbreak of Sino-Japaneze the volunteers. hostilles in the north. - The bankera The Chairman's sub-committee will In Kwangtung have supported the have a mecúng on Thursday and the programme by advancing $1,000,000 Technical sub-committee will meet which have been used se loans for on December 8 and 10. production work--Central News.

FOREIGN OFFICE IN HANKOW

|

Foresees No Trade Slump

In Britain

Even Whon Arms Programme Ends

London,-Dec. 7. Speaking at Birmingham to-day. Mr. Reginald McKenna, former Chun- cellor of the Exchequer, suld there. Soviet wan 110 evidence of a slump in

there the Britain, although

The Prime Minister azured his Hikely to board the USS. Panay at questioner that the First Lord of the any moment. Chinese anti-aircraft Admiralty and Secretary for Air are replying to Japanese raids, but would continue to give full weight only in short, sporadic bursts to all relevant considerations, includ- United Press.

Hag age,

M. Leon Maloky, the physical fitness

Rome, Dec. 7. jof officers

representative. speaking at

were certain Lieut-Comdr. Fletelier asked An exchange of congratulatory tele-

meeting of the Non-Intervention set-backs due to the recent cessation whether it was not desirable to have grams between Emperor Pu Yi of

Hankow, Dec. 8.' || (Continued on Page 4.)

of spending by Manchukuo

the big Industrial an approximation to the average age Emmanuel of Italy on the occasion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs an and King Victor In order to facilitate the work of

concerns in the United States, caus between the Army Council, Air

ing a fall in material prices. The U.S.3. Guam arrives at Wuhu Council and Board of Admiralty. He the recognition of Manchukuo is office will be maintained in Hankowed at Chungking which is the new But there was no indication of a from Nanking to-day. The ss. Tang quoted the disparity of age between announced.

where important members of the weat of the Central Government, British decline in general, nor was shin is loading on refugees, while the the First Sea Lord and members of Emperor Pu Yi asid in part, wo ministry will be stationed, it is learn Part of the staff of the ministry is this likely to occur as a result of the Americans from Nanking are advised the other two bodies (eries of "No:1). can workt: together in the cause of ed here. The head - office, of the leaving here to-day for Chungking, completion of expenditure on

(Continued on-Paje-4)=... Reuter.

Se ministry, however, will be establish-i-Central - News.

`armament.--Reuter,

Nanking, Dec. 8.

гом

It is reliably stated that certain Central Government circles La the past 48 hours have declared "A Japanee terms are reasonable" nego- tiations are possible. This is taken to indicate at least a desire to come to terms as long as some loop-holes are left for face saving.

It is authoritatively stated that the next few days will be most critical in determining China's future. It will be decided, it is thought, whether some group connected with the pre- sent Central Government will be found willing to talk with Japan, or if all factions will continue to insist upon resistance.

2

In the latter case the Japanese would probably create "puppet regime and completely Ignore the Central Government.

Hoped For Help

It is stated among well-informed people that Marshal Caslans

assistance Istaking all his hopes on

from Russia.

He has depended, too, upon sup-

lies of war materals from prod

coming through Hongkong and Indo- China. The suggestion is that these

supplies have been chuked off.

Marshal Ching is admittedly in a precarious position personally. He may be able to suve himself by quick

manoeuvring and remain master of China. But he may have to retire in favour of less conspicuous leaders, who are willing to talk terms with | Japan.-United Press.

STOP PRESS