ATTACK ON PEKIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 29 July 1937, Page 9

ATTACK ON PEKIN

FIGHTING BREAKS OUT.

LiTTLE HOPE OF PEACE,

CHINESE CLAIM SUCCESS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) TOKIO, July 28. The Foreign Office spokesman, Mr Tatsuo Kawai, formally announced that Japan, having abandoned hope of a peaceful arrangement, will proceed to a military settlement of the trouble in North China. A message from Tientsin says Japanese bombing aeroplanes from Tientsin attacked the Chinese barracks at Hsiyuan and Nanyuan this morning, inflicting very heavy casualties. The distant roar of artillery can be heard north, south and west of Pekin, states a message from that city. Fighting is now proceeding in Papaoshan in addition to Nanyuan and Tongshan, suggesting that the Japanese have begun a determined drive to dislodge the whole of the 29th Army from the Pekin area. Fighting at Tunghaow ceased at nightfall. It is reported from Hong Kong that the Japanese Government has ordered its nationals to evacuate Swatow, Amoy and Foochow. Tokio reports that the messages from Pekin state that two air squadrons are at present carrying out punitive bombing raids south and west of Pekin, notably at Nanyuan, where the 38th Chinese division is reported to have been routed. The Japanese Minister of the Navy, Admiral Mitsubasa Y'onai, announced that the navy is standing by and is ready to co-operate with the military operations in North China.

These at present consist of a fullscale attack on Pekin from three sides simultaneously, pouring a storm of shells on the city.

Colonel Matsui, the envoy of Lieut.General Katsuki, commanding the Japanese troops, informed General Sung Cheh-yuan, the North Chinese commander, that Japan was finally forced to take independent action, adding that Chinese insincerity was evidenced by their treacherous firing on the Japanese troops at the western gate of Pekin. This was an unforgivable insult. General Sung Chehyuan, however, had already rejected the ultimatum.

Japanese headquarters in Tientsin announce that they have no intention of making the 100,000,000 Chinese in North China the object of a punitive action, which will be directed solely against the Chinese opposing the Japanese troops. The arrival of 30 more aeroplanes has doubled the Japanese air force at Tientsin, whbre 32,000 additional troops are garrisioned. Pekin messages say that severe fighting has broken out there, .which is believed to be the first main objective of the Japanese attack. British and other foreign troops manned the gates of the Legation quarter as a precaution. Chinese troops are being rushed up to Pekin in preparation for the defence. The Japanese claim to have captured Nanyuan, five miles south of Pekin. The Chinese claim to have occupied Tungchow and destroyed the railway bridge at Yangtung, cutting off the Japanese retreat. They also claim to have driven the Japanese out of Fengtai. SAFETY OF FOREIGNERS. CONSULS TAKING STEPS. Received July 29, 9.40 a.m. TIENTSIN, July 28. The Consular Corps met to-day to discuss measures to ensure the safety of foreigners. Three thousand Japanese reinforcements have left Tientsin for the front.

“ZERO HOUR TO-MORROW.” MAY BLOW UP PEKIN GATES. Received July 29, 9.55 a.m. NANKING, July 28. The Chinese claim to have captured 300 Japanese ’planes at Fengtai when they were still packed in transport crates. A Pekin message says that the firing died down at midnight. The Japanese military spokesman said: “The zero hour is noon to-mor-row. We may have to blow up the gates of Pekin.” A Tokio message says that the British Charge d’Affaires called on the Foreign Minister, who gave an assurance that every effort would be made not to endanger the lives and property of foreigners in Pekin.

AMERICA’S HOPES. WASHINGTON. July 28. The United States Ambassadors in China and Japan have been ordered to express the hope that hostilities will be avoided in North China. The Secretary/ of State. Mr Cordell Hull, reiterated that there was no jrresent intention to invoke the Nine Power Pact.

EVE OF MAJOR CONFLICT. CHINESE CONSUL’S ADVICE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 29. The Chinese Consul lias received the following cable from Nanking:— The Chinese authorities at Peiping had decided this afternoon to reject the Japanese demand for the withdrawal of units of tlie 29th Army from Peiping and the vicinity within a specified time. 'The Japanese military presented an ultimatum yesterday demanding, first, that tlie units of the 37th Division m the Lioukouchiao area retire to Changsintien before noon today, and, secondly, that other units of the same division inside Peiping and Hsiyuau retire westward to the Yangting River before Wednesday noon, and, thirdly, immediately alter the evacuation of these areas, the whole of the 37th Division must withdraw to Paoting. According to the latest information received, serious fighting occurred on the outskirts of Peiping and all along the railway between Peiping and Tientsin. Though details are at present unavailable, North China seems on the eve of a major conflict. The Chinese foreign spokesman stated that although the responsibility for the outbreak of the Lioukouchiao incident does not rest with China, the Chinese Government is anxious to preserve peace in East Asia and has consistently striven for a pacific settlement through the regular diplomatic channels. The Chinese Foreign Minister has repeatedly proposed that a definite area he fixed for tj’o mutifal withdrawal of troops. Unfortunately, Japan had not only refused to accept the

Chinese proposals but had persisted in sending largo reinforcements to North China. In, the meantime a settlement was agreed upon by the local Chinese military authorities. The Central Government raised no objections to tho terms of the settlement, which are not fundamentally inconsistent with the position it has taken. The Chinese Government’s extreme forbearance in thus endeavouring to preserve peace must be plaiu to all observers. On the other hand, Japan has not only failed to withdraw her troops, but has continued to send heavy reinforcements into tho Peiping and Tientsin area. On the night of July 25, Japanese troops made an unprovoked attack on tho Chinese garrison at Langfang, during which a large number of Japanese bombing ’planes were brought into action. The Japanese further presented impossible demands to the Chinese local authorities and staged a rapid succession of provocative acts on the outskirts of Peiping. All these clearly indicate that the Japanese are bent on aggravating the present crisis with a view to achieving their sinister designs on • North Cli ina. China has exhausted her efforts for peace, and the responsibility for future developments in North China rests solely with Japan. A further communication to the Consul reads: The Chinese troops recaptured Fengtai and. Langfang this morning. Fighting is progressing in favour of the Chinese forces in the Tungchow sector. Two squadrons of Japanese ’planes raided Nanyuan and Peiping this morning, dropping bombs and propaganda leaflets. General Sung Cheliyuan’s circular telegram received here this morning declares that continuous Japanese provocations has compelled the Chinese forces to offer a stern resistance for the sake of its national existence.

Since the commencement of the general hostilities in the Peiping and Tientsin area yesterday afternoon the Chinese troops have gained the upper hand at all sectors. Fengtai, the ba6e of the Japanese military operations, was- recovered at 8.40 o’clock, and Langfang at nine o’clock this morning. The Japanese troops are evacuating Tungchow, the seat of the East Hopai puppet regime, the capture of which is imminent. Eleven Japanese ’planes bombed Peiping and suburbs at 5.30 o’clock. The extent of the damage is at present unascerta.inable. One Japanese bomber was shot down at Hsiyuan and seven were seized when the Chinese occupied the Chaocliiteng airfield southward of Peiping.