The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-02
JAPAN TO CONTINUE
DEFENSIVE POLICY
IN Chinese CITIES
Announcement Made in Tokyo
Following Consideration
OF New Protests
JAP FORCES RE0RGANIzED
Nipponese Claim Right to De-
fend 80, 900 Nationals in
Danger in Shanghai

Tokyo, Feb. Acknowledgements
received here telling of the opening
of the new battle at Shanghai said
Chinese had set fire to the Japanese
district of Hongkew in the interna-
tional settlement and that q large
section Of it was burning.
Newsboys began crying their ex-
ira papers in the streets, around the
foreign office, describing the battle,
while Foreign Minister Yoshizawa
was comforting with the ambassadors
of the u. S. and Great Britain, who
called to propose plans for . peace
full settlement Of the Shanghai diff
ficulties.
The Japanese were withdrawing
into the northern part OF the inter-
national settlement because Of the
fire, dispatches said, and the Japan
csc consul general was rounding up
refugees near the Whangpoo river,
from where they could easily be evac-
uated.
Consider Problems
Official Japan spent most OF the
day considering problems arising out
of the situation at Shanghai and end.
ed by indicating the country would
continue to follow what it called de-
fensive policy in China.
A reorganization of the navy was
announced by the navy office. 1t
included formation of a third Japan
csc fleet, uniting all the naval units
in South China waters, including
those at Shanghai, under one COM
mand. Heretofore the navy has been
divided into two fleets
Besides this change the navy was
given a new general head, bringing
It, as the army was brought recent
", under the direct supervision Of g
member Of the family OF the en-
peror.
Admiral Prince Hiroyasu Fushimi.
member of the supreme war council
and head of one of the collateral
branches of the imperial family, was
appointed chief of the naval general
staff to succeed Admiral Shoshin
Taniguchi. A short time ago Mar
shall Prince Kotohito Kanin. also a
relative of the emperor, was made
chief of the army general staff.
Protests Are Presented
The cabinet heard reports on the
Shanghai situation and Foreign Min
lister Hoshizawa presented the pro-
tests of Great Britain and the U. S.
against the policy there. A spokes-
man indicated the wording and tenor
Of the verbal protests presented Mon
day by Ambassador Forbes for the
u. S. was quite "stiff."
The British and American objec-
tions to Japan's using the interna-
tional settlement at Shanghai as q
base for operations, he said, was
equivalent to a request that Japan
relinuuish the sector assigned her in
the common defense plan Of the set
Element.
1--WE have as much right to par
ticipate in that Defense" he said,
'sas the Americans or British. Among
the things to be protected is human
life, far more precious than any
property or forms Of treasure. Thirty
thousand Japanese subjects. live in
Shanghai-double the total, of the
American and British populations
and we have every right to protect
the lives Of these subjects"
Today's session of the Tokyo stock
exchange was suspended in the after
noon because Of drastic declines in
all kinds Of stocks.
r1~1,@,,},>r &I%A4 No1his.at moaffn0 At.
was announced the American and
British ambassadors, acting on In
structions from their governments,
would visit Foreign Minister Yosht-
zawa during the afternoon for q
friendly discussion Of the Shanghai
situation and for the purpose Of at
tempting to formulate plans for q
peaceful settlement Of the dispute.
Also Sent to China
Similar instructions were UNDER
stood to have been sent to the Amer
lean and British ministers to China.
The French and italian ambassadors
also were expected<to see M. Yosht-
zawa for the same purpose.
An official report received by the
navy department said the firing At
Marking, Monday followed firing BY
the Chinese guns on Fortress Lion hill,
overlooking the Yangtze. The Chin
csc fired, the report said. In the di-
rection Of the river front, where the
japanese ships were lying and the
Japanese force ashore asked protec-
ton, after which the senior japanese
naval officer ordered the ships to re-
ply with their guns.
A foreign office spokesman cited FIR
Ing by American and British warships
on socony hill in the Marking area
on March ~. 1877. IS Justification Of
the navy's action, He said the Amer
lean and British guns fired on the
Chinese city In order to protect their
nationals and the japanese had the
same right, VI u