Treaties, Laws and Speeches

The Situation in North China

—July 7th to August 1st—

Press Section, Department of War

Scores of shots were suddenly fired by Chinese troops at Wanping-hsien about 11:40 o'clock, on the night of July 7th. The small detachment belonging to the Japanese Garrison in China, which was engaged in exercises north of Marco Polo Bridge, immediately stopped their exercises, and concentrated to stand by. The alarming situation was promptly reported to superior officers.

The Japanese troops at Peiping, attaching importance to the incident, immediately sent Lieutenant-Colonel Morita to the spot, accompanied by two Chinese officials. Prior to this, the commanding officer of the Japanese troops at Fengtai protested to the commander of the Chinese troops at Wanping-hsien against the outbreak and demanded the withdrawal of the Chinese troops. While negotiations were still going on, the Chinese troops near Lungwangmiao, and on the heights near Changhsintien on the western side of the Yungting river, wantonly opened fire with rifles and trench-mortars upon the Japanese troops which were concentrating. This firing began at a little past 4 o'clock on the morning of July 8th; it forced the Japanese to return the fire and to occupy Lungwangmiao. The Japanese troops suffered over a dozen killed and wounded in the engagement.

The orders, "Cease Fire," were issued at 9:30 a.m. in accordance with the earnest request of the Chinese military authorities. The Japanese troops were concentrated to stand by and watch the movements of the Chinese troops.

Meanwhile all the gates of Peiping were closed, at 12:20 p.m., on July 8th, suspending communication between the walled city and the outside world. At 8 p.m., the same day, martial law was proclaimed in Peiping with General Shao Wen-kai, Commander of the Gendarmerie, appointed as commander of the martial law forces. Part of the Japanese infantry remained in Peiping for the protection of Japanese residents. The situation in Peiping was comparatively quiet on that day.

NEGOTIATIONS AT WANPING FAIL

Colonel Morita arrived on the spot on the morning of July 8th, and immediately proceeded to Wanping to negotiate with the

Chinese military authorities, who, however, refused to accept the Japanese demands, contending, on the contrary, that both the Japanese and Chinese troops should withdraw to their respective, original positions.

At 2 o'clock on the following morning, July 9th, the Chinese military authorities pledged themselves to withdraw their troops at Wanping to the right bank of the Yungting river by 5 o'clock that morning. Actually, however, the Chinese troops there failed to withdraw even by 6 o'clock, and, on the contrary, increased their numerical strength and from time to time fired upon the Japanese troops which were watching their movements. The Japanese were compelled to accept the challenge, and silenced their fire.

The Japanese military authorities immediately lodged a vigorous protest with the Chinese military authorities against the failure of the Chinese troops to observe the agreement. As the result of this protest, at 7 o'clock on the morning of July 9th, the Chinese sent their Brigade Commander with one staff-officer, to press the Chinese troops to withdraw promptly.

The Chinese troops for a time seemed to be fulfilling the Japanese demands, but in reality they started war preparations by concentrating troops on the western bank of the Yungting river and by replenishing their stocks of arms and ammunition.

Beginning in the early morning of July 10th, these troops fired illegally from time to time upon the Japanese troops near Wanping-hsien.

The Chinese troops, which marched south from the direction of Yamenkou the evening of July 10th, seized Lungwangmiao in defiance of the agreement concluded with the Japanese at 2 a.m. on July 9th, and launched an attack on the Japanese troops near Wanping-hsien. Thereupon the Japanese troops started a counter-attack against the Chinese and occupied Lungwangmiao about 9 p.m., dealing a heavy blow on them. Japanese casualties in the engagement included 6 killed and 10 wounded.

The Japanese troops withdrew from Lungwangmiao early in the morning of July 11th, with their main body massed near Wulitien about 2 kilometres northeast of Wanping. About that time, some 800 Chinese troops armed with guns took positions at Papaoshan and the district south of it, while the Chinese troops at Changhsintien and Wanping were reinforced with defence works erected on the western bank of the Yungting river and on the heights near Changhsintien.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the Japanese Troops in China conducted vigorous negotiations with the leaders of the Hopei and

Chahar Political Council for an amicable settlement of the incident; but with the attitude of the Chinese leaders stiffening, there was no way of breaking the deadlock, and negotiations were threatened with rupture. Consequently, on the afternoon of July 11th, the Japanese Chief of Staff left Peiping for the Nanyüan aerodrome.

CHINESE ATTITUDE CHANGES MOMENTARILY

At this point the Hopei and Chahar Political Council apparently saw the firm determination of the Japanese Government and people, and suddenly changed its inexorable attitude. The Council, at 8 o'clock the same evening, handed Colonel Matsui, Chief of the Japanese Military Mission in Peiping, a note signed by Generals Chang Tzu-chung and Chang Yun-yung, the representatives of the 29th Army, accepting the Japanese demands, which included punishment of the Chinese officers responsible for the Wanping-hsien incident, prevention of the recurrence of such an untoward incident in the future, withdrawal of the Chinese troops from Wanping-hsien and Lungwangmiao whose peace and order was henceforth to be maintained by constabulary, and control of all anti-Japanese organizations.

Consequently, the Japanese troops, in pursuance of Japan's policy of non-aggravation, refrained from any positive action and maintained an attitude of watchful waiting. The Chinese troops, however, persisted in provocations against the Japanese, including wanton firing and illegal entry into the Wanping district. The Chinese troops at Papaoshan also continued to maintain their positions with their vanguard advancing steadily, while Chinese reinforcements, together with a large stock of munitions, arrived on the western bank of the Yungting river by the Peiping-Hankow railway.

Another serious provocation then occurred. About 11 o'clock on the morning of July 13th, a small Japanese unit was fired on with machine-guns by Chinese troops belonging to the 37th Division while passing Matsun, about 8 kilometres south of Peiping, by motor-lorry. The Japanese responded to the fire and repulsed the Chinese, but suffered several casualties.

On the other hand, the Chinese troops constructed triple lines of defence from Papaoshan to the Peiping-Hankow railway with their wing spread from Sipienmen to Yamenkou. The Chinese troops at Changhsintien and on both banks of the Yungting river apparently were reinforced by troops of General Wan Fu-lin, while a cavalry unit from the south reached Liangsiang, about 15 kilometres south-west of Wanping on the Peiping-Hankow railway.

The situation in Peiping had also become aggravated. Such was

the anti-Japanese sentiment among the local Chinese authorities and troops that cases of trespasses on the premises of Japanese nationals and molestations of Japanese women and children were frequently reported. Consequently such unrest prevailed among the Japanese colony in Peiping that many Japanese sought refuge in Tientsin or moved from the West City to the East City.

Such was the situation in North China. An examination of the attitude of the Nanking Government toward the incident is now in order.

ATTITUDE TAKEN BY NANKING GOVERNMENT

After the outbreak of the incident on July 7th, the Nanking Government not only ordered its air force to stand by, but urged the Hopei and Chahar Political Council to oppose Japan, promising to send four divisions of central troops to the Council's assistance. The Nanking Government manifested its determination to offer armed opposition to Japan on the one hand, and, on the other, launched systematic propaganda against Japan, by holding Japan responsible for the outbreak of the original incident which was entirely due to the provocations of Chinese troops, by refusing to recognize Japan's treaty rights to hold manoeuvres in North China, and by misrepresenting the manoeuvres of the Japanese Garrison troops as being preliminary moves toward the realization of Japanese territorial designs in North China.

JAPAN'S POLICY IS NON-AGGRAVATION

In sharp contrast to the attitude of Nanking, the Japanese Government consistently pursued a policy of non-aggravation and localization, and endeavoured strenuously to seek a settlement on the spot. In view, however, of the Chinese attitude, and particularly of the extreme menace to which the lives and property of Japanese nationals in China were subjected, the Cabinet decided on July 11th to send an expeditionary force to North China. The Cabinet held that this course was not only absolutely necessary for the protection of Japanese lives and property in North China, but also for the preservation of peace and order in East Asia, so that a solid guarantee be obtained against the recurrence on the part of the Chinese of illegal, provocative and insulting actions against Japan. Prince Konoe, Prime Minister, proceeded to the Imperial Villa at Hayama on the afternoon of July 11th to obtain Imperial sanction for the Cabinet's decision. It may be mentioned, however, that the Japanese Government had not abandoned its hope for peaceful negotiations designed to localize the incident, and was as

desirous as ever of reaching an amicable settlement with China. Needless to say, the Japanese Government is fully prepared to protect the vested rights and interests of foreign Powers in North China. This can be seen from the Government's statement issued on July 11th. The statement reads, in translation:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED

The Japanese troops garrisoned in North China have always maintained a calm and patient attitude towards anti-Japanese outbursts in North China. But unfortunately, on the night of July 7th, an inevitable clash occurred when Japanese troops were wantonly fired upon by soldiers of the 29th Army, which had been co-operating with our forces in maintaining peace and order in that region. As a consequence the atmosphere in the Peiping and Tientsin districts grew so tense that even the lives and property of Japanese nationals were endangered. However, the Japanese authorities made strenuous endeavours to localize the affair and prevent it from becoming further aggravated, and succeeded in persuading the 29th Army authorities to agree to a peaceful settlement.

Yet, on the night of July 10th, the 29th Army, in violation of the agreement, suddenly fired upon the Japanese troops, causing considerable casualties. Besides, China has since pushed warlike preparations by increasing its forces on the first lines by ordering the Chinese troops at Siyuan to advance southward and also by ordering Central Government troops to the front. China has not only failed to manifest any sincerity to seek a peaceful solution, but has gone the length of flatly rejecting all Japan's offers for an amicable settlement at Peiping. This leaves no room for doubt that the present incident has been brought about as the result of well-planned armed operations on the part of China against Japan.

There is no need of dwelling on the vital importance to Japan and Manchoukuo of the maintenance of peace and order in North China. What is most urgently needed is that the Chinese not only apologize for the recent lawless actions and manifestations of antagonism and opposition to Japan, but give an adequate guarantee against a recurrence of such outrages in the future.

An important decision has been reached by the Japanese Government at today's Cabinet meeting to take all necessary measures for dispatching military forces to North China.

But, desirous as ever of preserving the peace of East Asia, the Japanese Government has not yet abandoned its hope for peaceful negotiations effecting non-aggravation of the situation, and its hope for prompt reconsideration on the part of China which may bring about an amicable solution. As regards the safeguarding of the rights and interests of the Powers in China, the Japanese Government is, of course, prepared to give full consideration.

INCIDENTS RECUR

On July 14th, when a Japanese cavalry unit was passing a small village about 15 kilometres south of Peiping, toward the west, its

[Page 28 was transcribed with GPT (Codex CLI), not Claude.]

rearguard was fired on by Chinese troops. Although the main body was unmolested, one trooper was killed in the ensuing action.

Again, a Japanese unit was suddenly fired on by the Chinese Constabulary about 8 o'clock on the morning of July 16th when it was approaching Anping, about 34 kilometres southeast of Tungchow, marching along the Tungchow highway from Tientsin. The Japanese immediately returned the fire and succeeded in disarming the constabulary.

Meanwhile Nanking was sending troops steadily northward. The total strength of troops sent by the Nanking Government to North China was estimated at 21 divisions, up to the 15th of July, and 24½ divisions by July 18th, which, combined with the 29th Army, created an army estimated at 30 divisions. The majority of these Central troops were being concentrated between Changteh and Chengchow while part of them were advancing as far north as Changhsintien.

The main body of the Chinese air force apparently was being concentrated at Chengchow, Loyang, Haichow and Suchow.

The reported concentration of Central troops in Hopei Province violates the military agreement made between Lieutenant-General Yoshijiro Umezu and General Ho Ying-chin. The Japanese Garrison authorities in China ordered a scouting plane to Southern Hopei to reconnoitre the movements of the Chinese Central Government troops. This plane confirmed the reported concentration of Central troops in Southern Hopei. While flying between Shunteh and Yuanshih in South Hopei, the Japanese scouting plane was fired on from a moving Chinese troop-train, on which, by returning the fire, the plane inflicted some loss.

At 1 o'clock on the afternoon of July 18th, General Sung Che-yuan and General Chang Tzu-chung of the 29th Army called on Lieutenant-General Kazuki, Commander of the Japanese Troops in China, at the Japanese Army Club at Tientsin, and expressed an apology for the incident, at the same time pledging themselves to prohibit the activities of the Communists, the Blue Shirt Society and other anti-Japanese organizations, and also to redouble their efforts in promoting friendly relations between Japan and China.

Despite the pledge of those two leaders of the 29th Army and the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, the Chinese troops at Wanping-hsien, at 6 p.m. on the following day, July 19th, illegally fired upon the Japanese patrol unit west of West-Wulitien and seriously wounded a Japanese company commander. Since the outbreak of the original incident on July 7th the Japanese Garrison authorities in North

China had pursued a policy of non-aggravation and localization, as announced by the Japanese Government, and had faithfully carried out the terms of local agreements reached with the Chinese military authorities, patiently anticipating observation of the agreement by the Chinese troops. The Japanese troops so far had not fired a single shot other than in strict response to the repeated wanton firing by the Chinese on them. But the illegal firing by the Chinese troops at Wanping on the Japanese at Wulitien on July 19th, wounding a Japanese company commander, exhausted the patience of the Japanese Garrison authorities, who, therefore, communicated to the Hopei-Chahar Political Council that the Japanese troops would take free action on and after noon of July 20th, if the Chinese troops should repeat such an act of bad faith. A public statement to this effect was issued at the same time.

On the night of July 19th, representatives of the Japanese Army and the 29th Army met and concluded a detailed agreement designed to facilitate the execution of the local agreement signed on July 11th.

HOPEI-CHAHAR COUNCIL GIVES PLEDGE

The representatives of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council pledged themselves not only to punish those responsible for the North China incident and to apologize for the outbreak of the incident, but to take thoroughgoing measures for the control of the anti-Japanese activities of the Blue Shirt Society, the Communists and other anti-Japanese organizations which were ascertained to be behind the recent incident. The detailed agreement, which was based on a written note submitted by the representatives of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council provided, in order to facilitate the stipulated control of anti-Japanese activities in North China:

(1) That official persons whose activities are injurious to the friendly relations between Japan and China be dismissed;

(2) That the Communists be suppressed drastically;

(3) That rigid control be exercised over all anti-Japanese organizations and agitations as well as over anti-Japanese education.

The Hopei-Chahar Political Council also communicated to the Japanese Garrison authorities that the 37th Division of the 29th Army which was mainly responsible for the clash with the Japanese troops was being transferred from the Peiping area to another district in order to preclude the possibility of recurrence of such an untoward incident.

In spite of the due conclusion of all these agreements, however, the Chinese troops at Papaoshan and near Changhsintien at 1 p.m. on

the following day, July 20th, opened bombardments on the Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Fengtai were thus compelled to return the gunfire: a regular artillery duel ensued. The Japanese punitive bombardments soon silenced the Chinese gunfire, but the Chinese troops at Wanping and near Papaoshan resumed firing at 4 p.m. The Japanese artillery responded and silenced them in due course, but the Japanese side suffered 1 killed and 1 wounded. It is to be deplored that Japan's hope for localization and non-aggravation of the incident was thus shattered.

Yet still were the Japanese Garrison authorities hoping that the Chinese would fulfil the terms of the agreements of July 11th and 19th. Up to July 24th, the Chinese troops manifested no sincerity in observing the terms of the agreements, but on the contrary those in the Peiping area were reinforced, while the Chinese were not only strengthening their positions at Papaoshan but were constructing new positions at Tientsin, Kungtsun, Huangtsun and also at points north of Peiping.

The hostile attitude of the 29th Army seemed to be augmenting itself further until July 22nd when General Hsiung Pin, Vice-Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese Army, arrived in Peiping and the army showed a tendency to fulfill the agreements mentioned above.

The Japanese military authorities, therefore, sent their Vice-Chief of Staff to Peiping to press the Chinese for a prompt observance of the agreements, while the Japanese authorities were proceeding with preparations against the worst eventuality.

INCIDENT AT LANGFANG

The Japanese military telegraph wires between Peiping and Tientsin had been repeatedly cut by Chinese troops since the outbreak of the original incident on July 7th. The wires again were tampered with near Langfang station, 70 kilometres north-west of Tientsin, on July 25th, which fact was duly communicated to the Chinese authorities. To put the wires in order, the Japanese sent a squad of signal corps men, accompanied by a supporting infantry unit, from Tientsin. The Japanese detachment arrived at Langfang about 4:30 p.m., on July 25th, and immediately started necessary repair work on the telegraph wire, after going through the prescribed negotiations with the local Chinese military authorities.

At about 11:10 o'clock the same evening, while the Japanese were still engaged in repair work, Chinese troops in the Langfang station compounds suddenly opened rifle and light machine-gun fire upon the Japanese detachment. The Chinese troops in the barracks about

300 metres north of Langfang station also shelled the Japanese with trench-mortars. The Japanese were compelled to return the fire, and maintained their position against very heavy odds.

On receipt of this news, the Headquarters of the Japanese Troops rushed the Koito detachment to the spot. This detachment reached Langfang station about 6:30 a.m., the following morning, and, assisted by the Hirobe detachment which was on its way to Peiping, and also by an aerial attack, routed the Chinese troops by 8 a.m.

In the engagement, the Japanese casualties included 1 non-commissioned officer and 3 soldiers killed and 1 non-commissioned officer and 9 soldiers wounded. The Chinese troops which wantonly attacked the Japanese at Langfang belonged to the 226th regiment of the 38th Division under the command of General Chang Tzu-chung.

GENERAL KAZUKI SENDS STATEMENT

Thus, the withdrawal of the 37th Division, as stipulated in the agreements, had made no progress, and, with the situation further aggravated by the Langfang incident, Lieutenant-General Kazuki, at 3 p.m. on July 26th, sent the following communication to General Sung Che-yüan, Chairman of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council and Commander of the 29th Army:

It is greatly to be regretted that a clash occurred between the Chinese and Japanese troops at Langfang on the night of July 25th through the wanton firing by your troops on a Japanese detachment sent to secure the communication line. The fresh outbreak is entirely due to lack of sincerity in fulfilling the terms of the agreements concluded with the Japanese military authorities and also to the failure in modifying the provocative attitude on the part of Chinese troops.

If your Army authorities still intend to prevent aggravation of the situation, you are hereby requested that the troops of the 37th Division near Wanping and Papaoshan be withdrawn by noon tomorrow to Changsintien on the Peiping-Hankow Railway; that all troops of the said division immediately leave the walled city of Peiping; that these troops, together with those of the 37th Division stationed at Siyüan, a short distance north-west of Peiping, be moved to points west of the Yungting River by noon, July 28th, via the region north of the Peiping-Hankow railway line, and that these troops be then steadily transported in the direction of Paotingfu without interruption.

If these requests are not complied with the Japanese troops will be constrained to think that you have no sincerity in observing the agreements and, with regret, will have to take free action. Your army must bear all responsibility for the consequences in such an eventuality.

INCIDENT AT KWANGAN GATE

Later, the Hirobe detachment reached Fengtai whence it proceeded to Peiping. Prior, however, to its entry into the Japanese barracks within the walled city of Peiping, Colonel Matsui, Chief of the Japanese Military Mission in Peiping, negotiated with General Chin Teh-Chun, mayor of Peiping to permit the Hirobe detachment to enter Peiping by the Kwangan Gate.

General Chin gave permission, whereupon Major Sakurai, Japanese military adviser to the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, proceeded to the Kwangan Gate at about 6 p.m. as liaison officer. But the Major found the gate closed. After repeated negotiations the Chinese troops guarding the gate consented to open it at about 7:30 p.m., yet when two-thirds of the Japanese detachment were admitted, the Chinese troops suddenly closed the outer gate and attacked the Japanese now divided into two sections, one within the gate and the other without, using hand-grenades and machine-guns. Japanese casualties in the engagement totalled 19, including 12 privates killed, 1 major, 1 captain, 1 sergeant, 5 privates, 2 civilians in the military service and 2 journalists wounded. In addition, the interpreter who accompanied Major Sakurai was killed.

JAPAN'S PATIENCE IS EXHAUSTED

In view of the ever-increasing cases of bad faith and outrages of the Chinese troops, General Kazuki, at midnight on July 27th cancelled his note of the previous day addressed to General Sung Che-Yuan, and sent him a new one, informing him that the Japanese troops would take free action, because the Japanese troops could no longer bear the insincerity of the Chinese troops as manifested in their failure to observe the terms of the agreements as well as in their repeated provocative actions. The note made special reference to the Kwangan Gate incident, which was declared to be an insult upon the Japanese troops, because of its deceptive nature. The note also requested General Sung Che-yuan to withdraw all Chinese troops from Peiping immediately in order to prevent hostilities from spreading to Peiping.

Accordingly the Japanese troops early in the morning of July 28th started punitive operations against the Chinese troops in the Peiping and Tientsin area, and at the same time issued a statement to the effect that the Japanese had no intention of antagonizing the people in Hopei Province, nor had they any territorial designs on North China. The statement also declared that the Japanese troops would respect the vested rights and interests of foreign Powers and

protect the lives and property of foreign residents in Hopei Province.

GOVERNMENTAL STATEMENT OF JULY 27th

In view of the alarming situation in North China, the Chief Secretary to the Cabinet issued the following statement at 1:30 o'clock in the afternoon of July 27th:

Japan is gravely concerned over the maintenance of peace and order in North China. The consistent anti-Japanese policy pursued by the Chinese, however, has repeatedly menaced peace in North China and has finally led to the outbreak of the Wanping-hsien incident.

In accordance with its policy not to aggravate the North China situation and to seek a local settlement for the sake of peace in East Asia, Japan has been making every effort to dispose of the matter peacefully.

It has submitted very lenient local demands to the authorities of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, merely including suspension of the stationing of Chinese troops near Wanping and on the left bank of the Yungting river, necessary guarantees for the future, punishment of those responsible for the incident and an apology on the part of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council. Although this Council recognized these demands on the night of July 11, it has failed to show sincerity in carrying them out.

On the other hand, the Japanese Government asked the Nanking Government on July 17th immediately to suspend provocative utterances and actions and not to obstruct the local settlement of the North China incident. Disregarding realities, however, the Nanking Government did not comply with the Japanese Government's requests.

On the contrary, it strengthened its preparations for war, thus increasing unrest. While Japan was making efforts for a peaceful solution of the situation with patience and self-restraint, the Chinese on July 26th illegally fired on a Japanese detachment at Langfang, where it was engaged in repairing military telegraph wires. On the same evening, the Chinese resorted to unwarranted acts of violence by closing the wall gate to a Japanese detachment which was entering the walled city of Peiping, after reaching an understanding with the authorities of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, to protect Japanese nationals, and by suddenly firing on the Japanese.

These two cases constitute an armed interference on the part of the Chinese troops in the primary duties of the Japanese Garrison in North China, which duties are to make secure the communication lines between Peiping and Tientsin and to protect Japanese nationals residing in the area.

Thus the Japanese army has been forced to take self-defensive measures necessary in the execution of its duties and also in securing full observance of the terms of the agreement concluded between Japan and the Hopei-Chahar Political Council. The aim of the Japanese Government is to eradicate the fundamental causes for the outbreak of untoward incidents such as the present one. Japan does not entertain enmity toward law-abiding Chinese people. Nor has it any territorial designs. It goes without saying that Japan will make every effort to give protection to the vested rights and interests in China of foreign Powers.

Although the situation has come to such a pass, Japan, whose mission is to secure peace in East Asia, desires that the Chinese reflect on their position, that the affected area be minimized, and that the incident be settled amicably as soon as possible.

JAPANESE OPERATIONS BEGIN

The Japanese troops started operations against the Chinese around Peiping early in the morning of July 28th. The Kawagishi, Kawabe and Kayashima columns, assisted by flying corps, attacked the Chinese 38th Division in the neighbourhood of Nanyüan from three directions, south, east and west. Being unable to withstand the concerted vigorous attacks by land and air, the Chinese troops started fleeing northward about 8 o'clock the same morning. The main body of the Kawabe column dashed to Matsun half way between Nanyüan and Peiping to cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops while part of the column continued attacks on the Chinese barracks at Nanyüan. About 11 o'clock the main-body reached a point northwest of Nanyüan and cut off the retreat of the Chinese, in conjunction with the Kayashima detachment which reached a point northeast of Nanyüan. The Kawagishi column cleared the remnants of the 38th Division from Nanyüan which the Japanese troops completely occupied at 3 o'clock, the same afternoon. In the engagement, the Japanese dealt the 4 battalions of Chinese troops in and near Nanyüan a crushing blow with the result that only some one hundred of them succeeded in fleeing to Peiping.

In the region north of Peiping, the Sakai column dislodged the Chinese troops from Shahochen, about 20 kilometres north of Peiping, around 11:30 o'clock the same morning, and immediately advanced on Siyüan along a terrible road. The column reached a point north of Wanshushan toward evening, while the Suzuki column attacked the Chinese at Chinghochen, about 9 kilometres north of Peiping at 11 o'clock in the morning and occupied it at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. This column then continued its southward advance.

The flying corps joined the operations. Several military planes hopped off from their base in a severe thunderstorm and dropped bombs on the Chinese barracks at Siyüan at 5:30 and at Nanyüan at 6:20 o'clock, inflicting heavy losses to the Chinese. Later, the flying corps supported the Japanese infantry and artillery in their operations against the Chinese troops.

No untoward incident occurred to the Japanese troops and civilian residents in Peiping, but the Legation Quarter was surrounded by several companies of the 29th Army, while "plainclothes" men infested the Quarter, spying on the movements of the Japanese

troops. Also, since the morning of July 28th, the Legation Quarter had been isolated, with telegraphic and telephonic communications cut off.

DESTROYER IS FIRED ON

A Japanese destroyer sent to Tangku to make contact with the Japanese transports coming from home ports, was suddenly fired on with trench-mortars by the Chinese at Taku, at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of July 28th, while the destroyer was sailing off Taku. The Japanese ship responded to the fire.

ACTION AT TIENTSIN

At midnight on July 28th, the Japanese aerodrome near Tientsin was attacked by several detachments of the Chinese Constabulary, but the Japanese held their position till early the next morning when the attackers were repulsed by aerial bombing. The Chinese troops and constabulary staged night raids at about 1 o'clock the next morning, the Headquarters of the Japanese Troops in China, the Okura farm, the East and Central stations, and the Japanese provisions depot in Tientsin. However, they were repulsed by the Japanese after three and a half hours of fighting. The attackers comprised the 26th Independent Brigade of the 38th Division and part of the Chinese Constabulary.

The Headquarters of the Japanese troops issued a statement on the afternoon of July 29th, declaring that it had become urgently necessary and imperative for the Japanese troops in self-defence to bombard the bases of the Chinese troops and constabulary in order to preserve peace and order in Tientsin and to protect the Japanese residents there. At 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon of the day following the above-mentioned statement, the Japanese artillery and flying corps started bombardments on the bases of operations established by the Chinese at the offices of the Peiping-Shanhaikwan Railway Administration and the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Administration, the Headquarters of the Chinese Constabulary, the Headquarters of the Chinese Garrison, the Chinese Municipal Office and other places. The Japanese succeeded in dislodging the Chinese troops and constabulary from their bases and in clearing the Tientsin area of them.

CLEAN-UP EFFECTED IN TIENTSIN-PEIPING AREA

In the Peiping area, the Japanese troops pressed hard upon the Chinese. The main body of the Sakai column occupied Huangtsun while part of the detachment occupied Yamenkou by the evening of July 29th. The Suzuki column, after defeating the Chinese at

Siyüan reached a point west of Peiping and the Kawabe column completely occupied Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping, shortly after 6 o'clock in the afternoon.

The Chinese troops north-west of Peiping were entirely driven beyond the right bank of the Yungting river by nightfall on July 29th.

Thus, the Japanese troops, within two days after the start of operations, succeeded in dealing a crushing blow to the 29th Army. The following day, July 30th, the Japanese troops began a clean-up campaign against the remnants of the Chinese troops in the Peiping and Tientsin areas. The Kawabe column, at about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of July 30th, advanced to the heights at Changhsintien on the right bank of the Yungting river, from which the Chinese troops retreated far south. Hence, there was not a single Chinese soldier to be seen north of Liangsiang. On the other hand, the Suzuki column on August 1st occupied Peiyuan and disarmed the 39th Independent Brigade, about 3,000 strong.

In the Tientsin area, Japanese troops repulsed the repeated attacks of the Chinese with the consequence that the situation at Tientsin had apparently returned to normal by the morning of July 30th. But a large number of Chinese established their bases at the Nankai University, the Constabulary Headquarters and other public establishments, from which vantage points they bombarded the Japanese Settlement. Accordingly, as mentioned elsewhere, the Japanese artillery and flying corps were compelled to return the bombardments, and Japanese troops succeeded in mopping up the remnants of the Chinese by July 31st.

In the Tangku area, the Japanese troops, which were repeatedly fired on by Chinese, started a counter-attack in cooperation with a Japanese naval force and occupied Taku on July 30th. The Mizoguchi detachment captured a Chinese gunboat in the engagement.

THE TUNGCHOW MASSACRE

Tungchow is the seat of the Anti-Communistic Autonomous Administration of East Hopei. Japanese residents at Tungchow have usually numbered about 300, guarded by a unit of Japanese troops. After the outbreak of the original incident, however, the number of Japanese residents increased to about 380, while the Japanese Garrison men were reduced to only 100, the rest being engaged in operations elsewhere. Early on the morning of July 29th, Chinese troops and constabulary, about 3,000 strong, started an attack, in which a cadre of the constabulary, the one most trusted by Mr. Yin Ju-keng, chief executive of the East Hopei Administration, took a most active

part. The cadre, instigated by the communistic elements of the 29th Army, and blindly believing in the rumoured victory of the Chinese troops, rose up in conjunction with the remnants of the 1st and 2nd Constabulary corps.

A little after 3 o'clock in the morning of July 29th, the Japanese troops in Tungchow, were attacked by the constabulary, conservatively estimated at 2,000 in number, but succeeded in holding their barracks and magazines stubbornly. By carrying out sorties from time to time, the Japanese finally drove away the attackers who were invading the compounds of the barracks.

About 10 o'clock, the same morning, the Chinese Constabulary and troops took up positions on the embankments round the Japanese barracks and intensified their gun and rifle fire. As time went on their fire took more and more effect with the result that many casualties occurred among the Japanese troops and part of the barracks was destroyed. With both telegraph and wireless apparatus put out of order the Japanese barracks were completely isolated.

Nothing daunted, however, all the inmates of the Japanese barracks, both regulars and employees, bravely fought against the overwhelmingly large numbers of the enemy.

Shortly after noon, an enemy shell hit the cases of gasoline heaped in the yard of the barracks, causing a fire. Additional shells hit motor-lorries loaded with ammunition, destroying 17 of them. Explosions of the ammunition lasted about three hours.

At about three o'clock several Japanese military planes appeared over Tungchow and dropped bombs on the enemy, causing them to abate their attack for a time. With nightfall, however, the Chinese increased their fire from the embankments round the Japanese barracks, which the Japanese Garrison succeeded in holding, by bitter resistance.

On receipt of information that the Japanese troops at Tungchow were being attacked, the Headquarters of the Japanese Garrison in China ordered military planes to reconnoitre the situation at Tungchow and drop bombs on the enemy. At the same time the main body of the Kayashima detachment was rushed to the spot to reinforce the Japanese troops.

News of coming reinforcements reached the Japanese troops at Tungchow at about 2:30 o'clock in the morning of July 30th, stiffening their morale. At about 11 o'clock, the same morning, Japanese military planes again appeared over Tungchow and bombarded the enemy, who, then, began to retreat from round the Japanese barracks in a northerly direction. The Kayashima detachment reached Tungchow at 4:20 o'clock on the afternoon of July

30th and immediately started to mop up the remnants of the Chinese troops and constabulary in the town. This detachment has since been maintaining peace and order in Tungchow.

The offices of the Japanese Military Mission were also attacked by the enemy at about 3 o'clock in the morning of July 29th. Lieutenant-Colonel Hosoki, Chief of the Mission, was killed by the Chinese just in front of the office of the East Hopei Administration when he endeavoured to enter the building in a valiant effort to pacify the constabulary. All other members of the Mission, under the command of Major Kai, fought courageously against overwhelming odds, and most of them were killed. The casualties of the Japanese troops included 18 killed and 19 wounded while the Japanese Military Mission suffered 9 killed, including Lieutenant-Colonel Hosoki.

CRUELTIES ARE BEYOND COMPREHENSION

In this connection, mention must be made of the cruelties committed by the Chinese against the Japanese residents in Tungchow—cruelties which are not only beyond the imagination of civilized peoples, but are revolting to their sense of morality and humanity. Of the 380 Japanese residents in Tungchow, no more than 120 were rescued by the Japanese Garrison, while most of them were wounded by the Chinese troops. Later investigation revealed that the Chinese had planned a wholesale slaughter of Japanese residents including women and children, and systematically attacked the houses occupied by Japanese.

Most of the Japanese women massacred were first kidnapped by Chinese and subjected to unmentionable dishonour for fully 24 hours by them before being butchered. The Chinese pierced wires through the nostrils and lips of some of the women they slaughtered, and, binding the hands and feet of others, dragged them along to the East Gate of Tungchow and threw them into the pond. Some of these women victims were also found murdered after they had been subjected to shocking atrocities such as acid smeared over their faces. Space forbids further enumeration of such brutalities. Suffice it to say that not only were the Japanese homes looted, but the bodies of the massacred Japanese nationals were totally stripped by the Chinese troops and constabulary.

SINO-JAPANESE LOSSES SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE INCIDENT

Since July 7th when the original incident broke out, up to noon, August 3rd the casualty list of the Japanese Troops in China included:

Chinese losses are not clear, but information from the Headquarters of the Japanese troops gives the following figures which evidently do not cover all Chinese losses and casualties:

ATTITUDE OF NANKING GOVERNMENT; MOVEMENTS OF CENTRAL TROOPS

General Chiang Kai-shek issued a statement to the Chinese press, on the evening of July 29th holding himself responsible for the debacle of the 29th Army in the Peiping and Tientsin area. The statement reads, in substance:

"With the aggravation of the North China situation, I ordered Central troops to advance north, but General Sung Che-yuan requested for suspension of troop movements. This rendered organized resistance against the Japanese troops impossible. The Japanese Government apparently instructed Mr. Kawagoe, Ambassador to China, to proceed to Nanking for negotiations, but I will never enter into negotiation with Japan unless my minimum four-point demands, announced on July 19th, are accepted by that country. Now that the issue has become national in

nature, both Government and people are urged to unite solidly in winning the conflict with Japan.

Since the issuing of this statement, Chinese Central troops have steadily poured into North China both by the Peiping-Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow lines.