The Chinese spokesman yesterday stated that the new posts had been well consolidated, advantage being of the lull following the Chapei withdrawal.. Adequate defence measures, he said, had been taken against all possible movements, while in Nantao due precautions were also being taken.
Japanese pressure in the Nanziang sector, he continued, had increased. In the Liuho and Kwangfu sectors, he reported, there was no change. The battalion in Chenju has slipped away.
Pootung was bombed and bombarded several times yesterday, with naval planes.and naval guns active.
Tokyo, Oct. 29.
Charging that the buildings of the Nanyang University in the western district of the Chinese quarter in Shanghai "have been seized and are now being used by the Chinese troops as base for operations," a spokesman for the Foreign Office to-day' asserted that the Japanese forces will be "compelled to attack Nanyang University" in an effort to dislodge the Chinese troops.
The spokesman also referred to the strong military works established in the Chinese quarter, especially along the International Settlement and French Concession boundaries. He added that the situation was "so complicated" that it will be necessary for "both parties" to take "every precaution" to prevent the "outbreak of an untoward incident."
Questioned by foreign correspondents, the spokesman said that the question of "neutralization of the Shanghai area" might "possibly follow" the expulsion of the Chinese force. The spokesman added, however, that "if China is willing to make "direct proposals for the opening of peace negotiations," {he Japanese Government "will not hesitate to enter into negotiations" {or the termination of hostilities. He pointed out that the Japanese Government had not yet been approached "directly" by China.—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.