The Washington times., 1937-07-15
JAPAN GIVES
'ULTIMATUM'
TO CHINA
CONTINUED from Page u

donment of peace negotiations
with Japanese authorities. They
stated the japanese, through these
negotiations, were merely gaining
time to prepare their war machine
for further hoStilities.
A boycott against japanese goods
got under way in the North China
area and showed signs of becom-
ing general. At the same time,
fearing open warfare might break
out at any moment, Japanese ma.
tionals living in the interior OF
China were evacuating their homes
and Fastening to the safety OF
treaty ports. $780,,
According to reliable advices
here, japanese authorities at
Fengtai issued a proclamation stat
ing the purpose of Japan's dis
patch of troops to North China
was to expel the famed Chinese
Twenty.ninth Route army on
grounds it was an opponent OF
law and order"
It was reported persistently
here that Japanese military au'
thorities at Tientsin have de.
manded complete independence OF
Hopei and Chahar provinces,
which in recent months has been
under control of Seni-autono-
nous political council.
The Japanese also are said to
have demanded exclusion of Gen.
Sung Cheh.Yuan from the new
Hopei-C hahar government and eX-
pulsion of the Twenty.ninth Route
army with the exception Of those
men who are prepared to serve the
new Hopei-C hahar regime.
With five Japanese military di-
visions concentrated in North
China, there were strong rumors
Japan may even intend to create,
eventually, a completely independ-
emit government in the entire
North China region, similar to
Japan's puppet empire Of Man
chukuo.
Military observers, however, ex-
pressed the opinion that China, in
the event of a serious conflict,
could throw half a million fairly
well equipped troops into the field.
Violent Fighting
Violent hostilitieS for possession
Of the vital Peiping- Tientsin rail-
way ragged early today.
The new battle between Japan
csc and Chinese troops broke out
at the Lofe railroad terminal and
bridge, midway between Peiping
and TientSin on the North China
coast.
Fighting with machine guns,
mortarS, bayonetS and swords
lasted throughout the night as
contingents of China's Goth Route
Army struggled to prevent the
japanese from selling the railroad
and o highway running parallel
to it.
A Chinese victory at Lofe, stu
ated 80 miles southeast of Peiping,
would hamper, if not halt, the
surge Of japanese troops TO rein
force the 10000 japanese soldiers
already masSed in this battle-torn
vicinity.
Surprise Attack
Chinese railway authorities said
the fighting was precipitated when
700 japanese troops, proceeding
from TientSin to their Fengtai
base south Of Peiping, encountered
a large Chinese force that sought
to intercept them by surprise. Both
sides hurried fresh troops to the
scene as the battle mounted in
ferocity.
The flash came after the jap
aneSe, defeated by Chinese swords.
men and machine gunners in an
initial attempt to pierce Peping's
guarded gates, succeeded in get.
ting 1000 additional troops to
Fengtai from Tientsin, which is so
miles southeast of here.
At the same time a huge force
Of at least 10000 Chinese troops
with full war equipment neared
the Pieping area from the south
A4VCA N&OooAA4S C4IC oOUGAACA44 bO4OCLS
Of Hopei Province, travelling along
the Pieping. Hankow railroad.
War Inevitable"
A spokesman for the Marking
Chinese government declared a
9ull-fledged war between China
and Japan now seems unavoidable.
He said:
Japan is forcing q war upon
China. The conflict cannot long
be delayed.
"The hope Of peace will not
be abandoned until the very last
moment. But, we cannot and
will not stand by and see an
other slice of Chinese territory
fall into alien hands without a
struggle"
Otu . struggle"