EARLIER MESSAGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 30 July 1937, Page 7

EARLIER MESSAGES.

established an autonomous government in Pekin. Explosions during the Japanese bombardment shook the whole of Tientsin. The Asiatic Petroleum Co.’s plant is reported to have been set on fire. Stray bullets killed fifteen in the French concession. An official Japanese statement asserts that 2000 Chinese attacked the Japanese concession but were repulsed, losing 300 men. Foreign. Consuls are attempting to arrange a truce. CONCESSIONS OCCUPIED. CHINESE IN TIENTSIN. Received July 30, 10.25 a.m. LONDON, July' 29. The Chinese have occupied tiio former Austrian, Belgian and Russian concessions in Tientsin. They seized lighters carrying Japanese troops’ supplies and drank the beer included m the stocks. SAFETY OF BRITONS. NOW BILLETED IN EMBASSY. (British Official Wireless.) Received July 30, 11.55 a.m. RUGBY, July 29. Mr Eden, referring in the House of Commons to the Far Eastern situation, said that fighting, accompanied by artillery fire and aerial bombing of varying intensity, had continued all day yesterday round Pekin, and Japanese aeroplanes were active outside the city. The majority of the British subjects had availed themselves of the opportunity to shelter in the Legation quarter and most of them were now billeted in the British Embassy quarters. General Sung Chehyuan bad been asked to issue strict orders to the Chinese military and police to ensure the safety of the persons and the property of foreign nationals inside the city. “I understand that the Japanese Government and the local Japanese military authorities have given a certain assurance in respect to the salety of British nationals in Pekin,” said Mr Eden. “His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires has also emphasised to the Japanese Government the serious nature of the situation and the grave dangers inherent in it.” Mr Eden agreed with Mr C. R. Attlee, who emphasised the seriousness of the situation, but added that, so far as lie was aware, no Government 1 had asked for the reference of the matter to the League. Mr Eden spoke of the extreme regret with which the British Government regarded the developments in view of the hopes it had entertained for an improvement in Ear Eastern relations generally, and which could not materialise so long as the present conditions continued. REPORT TO CONSUL. TWO U.S. MARINES INJURED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 30. Part of a cablegram received by the Chinese Consul reads: — The gendarmes at Tungchow have revolted against Yin Jukeng and the Chinese troops have entered the city. The Japanese, are retreating towards Shihlio. Stray bullets hit two American marines when shots were exchanged between Chinese soldiers and Japanese plain-clothes men in Morrison Street, Pekin, this afternoon. Japanese reports suggested that the Chinese had deliberately attacked the Americans,, which is ridiculous. PEKIN OR PEIPING? Pekin, which is situated about 100 miles from the Gulf of Chih-li, became the capital of the Chinese Empire in 1264. In 1928 Pekin was taken by the Nationalists, who changed its name to Peiping, and removed the Government to Nanking.

CHINESE IN FLIGHT. JAPANESE SUCCESSES. LONDON, July 29. Tlie Japanese claim to have heavily defeated the Chinese at Tientsin after eight hours’ fighting in the concesSl °Scores of Japanese ’planes bombed and machine-gunned the principal buildings in the Chinese city destroying the municipal centre, and damaging the Chinese suburbs. The Nankai University, the central station and the militia headquarters are blazing. There are thousands of casualties and the panic-stricken Chinese are fleeing to the international concessions. Two Italian and French soldiers were killed while on sentry duty. The firing was so heavy near the Italian concession that the guards occupied a large section of the neighbouring city between the concession and the international bridge which is impassable owing to sniping. The Japanese occupied Tangchau and Nanyuan. The latter is almost destroyed, there being a thousand Chinese casualties. Messages from Pekin declare that the Chinese abandoned Pekin after the Japanese bombardment and retired to Paotingfu, 90 miles southward, leaving General Chang-Tze-chung, commanding the Thirty-eighth Division, who is favourable to the Japanese, in control of the city which is qU Japanese ’planes dropped pamphlets urging the citizens to return to business. . „, . The Japanese and Chinese in Pekin are now reported to be negotiating for peace, General Sung Cheli-yuan delegating the powers for the negotiation to General Chang-Tze-chung. The Chinese Government held an emergency meeting after the abandonment of Pekin and decided on new measures, the details of which are not disclosed. . , „ .. The Japanese Minister of the Navy, Admiral Mitsubasa, in a communique, states that Chinese troops fired on a Japanese destroyer lying oft laku. The destroyer returned the fire, after which the' naval forces opened an offensive in co-operation with the Japanese military forces. PEKIN ABANDONED.

NOW AUTONOMOUS AREA. Received July 30, 10.35 a.m. LONDON, July 29. Messages from Pekin declare that the Chinese abandoned the city alter the Japanese bombardment and retired to Pa-otingfn, 90 miles southward, leaving General Cluing Tze-chung, commanding the 38th Division, who is favourable to the Japanese, in control ot the city, which is quiet. General Chang Tze-chung is reported to have