Evening star., 1939-06-18
Yarne|| Goes
To Tientsiin
Tomorrow
Chief of U. S. Fleet
To Visit City on
Inspection Tour
~ the Associated Press.

Harry E. Yarnell, commander in
chief of the United States Asiatic
Fleet, is scheduled to arrive Monday
in Tientsin, where the small Amer
lean community is affected by A.
day-old blockade of the British and
French concessions.
Although the admiral is on an in
spection tour arranged before the
current crisis, signs tonight were he
would be in this city while British
Japanese tension was at danger
Gus pitch.
Today Admiral Yarnell was in
specting the United States Embassy
Marine Guard at Peiping. Two COM
panies of the same Marine detach-
ment are stationed here. The ad-
miral goes from Tientsin to Chin
wangtao, 200 miles up the coast. to
rejoin his flagship, the cruiser Au-
gusta.
Shortage of Fresh Foods.
In the beseiged concessions, in
which most of Tientsin Americans
live. shortage of perishable foods
became more acute as the japanese
blockade ran through its fourth
we'll stocked with staples such as
-four and rice Lack of milk was the
greatest inconvenience; meat and
fresh vegetbles also were missed al
though small quantities were brought
In during the day.
japanese authorities, accusing
officials of the British concession
here of harboring four alleged ter
rorists. placed a blockade around
the British and French concessions
Wednesday when the British re-
fused to comply with japanese de-
mands that the four men be turned
over.
The diplomatic impasse here con-
tinued, without a move on either
side.
Domei, japanese news agency,
quoted the japanese commander in
North China, presumably Gen. Gen
Sugiyama, as saying he had re-
PEELED British efforts to negotiate
since the blockade began He held
such talks would be useless, since
only complete British abandonment
of support of Chang Kai-shek
would satisfy Japan and end the
crisis.
The British had offered to mediate
the case of the four terrorists,
whereupon local Japanese suthori-
ties increased their demands for
settlement.
Exporter Arrested.
The situation was aggravated to-
day when Japanese soldiers arrested
G.. A. Smith. a British exporter, fol-
: lowing an argument between him
and Chinese policeman outside
the British concession. The British
feared this incident would be diff
cult to settle. The Japanese con-
tinued to hold Smith tonight.
However, international strife was
laid aside momentarily when
Britons, Japanese and other ma
tionals joined in a memorial service
at a cemetery in the British con-
cession where are buried men who
died in the Boxer rising.
That conflict began June II,
1900, and Japanese marched with
American and European units in
the expedition which cut its way
through the Chinese to relieve the
besieged foreign legations in Pei
ping.
The Japanese had aroused much
anxiety by threatening to march
thousands of their nationals into
the British area to attend the cere-
mony. However, the japanese dele
cation numbered only SO, including
l8 Boy Scouts and photographers.
Propaganda Continues.
The japanese propaganda cam
paign continued unabated today,
with an apparent attempt to con-
vince the Chinese that the United
States is pro-Japanese and anti
British.
An article in the Japanese-spon-
sored newspaper Yungpao recounted
An alleged incident in which two
prominent Britons attempted to
pass a japanese barrier and were
told curtly by japanese guards to
take your place in line with the
Chinese coolies"
Two Americans then appeared.
the story continued, and passed the
barrier without delay, "the Yankees
laughing uproariously at the Brit
ishers' discomfort" The paper con-
cluded: This was because Amer
leans are friendly to Japan, and
Americans are convinced of the
Righteousness Of Japan's actions"
A big captive balloon flew over the
Japanese concession today bearing
the slogan: "The British despoil our
commerce and are North Chinas
public enemy"
Chinese ExhOrted to Leave.
Japanese loud-speakers at the en-
trance to the concession continued
to exhort the Chinese to leave the
British alone and stay out of the
concession. They also apologized to
the Chinese for making them stand
In the boiling sun awaiting search
Ing, but asserted: THE British are
responsible for it all"
The shortage of fresh foods was
partially relieved today when 5000
eggs and 10 pounds of meat and a
few vegetables were brought in.
The supply of staples is adequate
for many months. Warehouses in
both concessions are full of rice and
-four. The British denied japanese
reports they planned to bring in
foodstuffs by warships from Chin
wangtao and Weihaiwei.