Nationalists Charge Provocation and Brutality Peking's soldiers refrained from opposing ther, "At 11, 30 p.m, on May 3, while oar high military authorities were negotiating with Col. Kuroda, the Japanese Chief of Staff, for the' best steps that should be' taken, th: Japanese soldiers fired with their guns five times. Japanese soldiers were also sent Note Styled Ludicrous and Asinine troy our wireless stations May 4. Although there was not one Shanghai May 5.
The following Note was despatched ched to Baron Tanaka, the Sapanet territorial sovereignty and the Nationalist Government have protested against this action and single Chinese soldier anywhere in the neighbourhood of the rain o¢- cupied by the Japanese troops, the also declared that, should unfor-Premier and Minister for Foreign firing has been continued by" the Affairs, late on Friday evening, tunate consequences result thet Japanese up to the present, Communications and business in the May 4. It was telegraphed from from, the Japanese Government Tsinanfu to Mr. Wunsz King, Com-would have to bear the responsi-whole city are at a standstill, missioner for Foreign Affairs bility, ete.
Condemnable actions like these Shanghai, who immediately tele-To tay greatest surprise, the Jafare not only trampting under foot graphed it to Baron Tanaka:—panese soldiers at Tsinan, on May completely China's sovereign right, Excellency, Baron Tanaka, 3, early in the morning, and with-nutate also absolutely unpermie-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tokyv, out reason whatsoever, committed sible by human justice.
Japan. the most provocative acts and fired Demands Foreshadowed Sir—The despatch of troops ruthlessly at our soldiers and peo-'Therefore, the Nationalist Gov-Shantung by Japan violates China's ple.
Thereupon, the Nationalist ernment again has to lodge with The Peking Government late Inst night handed a Note to the Japanese Legation, protesting against the me cident at Tsinan and blaming the Japanese for it, The protest is con sidered here as being the last word in ludicrousness, "asinine" being. the kindest adjective applied to it.
The Note has also caused considerable amusement, as it has been. reliably reported and generally be> leved that, on May 3, Generalissimo Chang Tso-lin sent personal word to the Japanese Minister, Mr. Yoshizawg. that, as the Japanese force at tsinan' was. so. small would willingly supply them with all the ammunition they desired. The Japanese Minister is stated to have flatly refused this offer, and it is understood that the Japanese will resist any attempt on the part of the Northern leaders to attempt take advantage of the present situation by marching southward, for fear that it might be considered that the North is assisting Japan in_the present situation, The Premier, Mr. Pan Fu, lett for Tehchow yesterday. It is report-that his object is to stop Marshal Sun Chuan-fang and Mar~ shal Chang Chung-chang: from marching southward while the prea ent situation at Tsinan continues, Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.