'Shanghai, Aug. 18, In reply' to the Japanese accusa~ tion that the Shanghai Municipal JCouncil has been feeding members of the Chinese "Lone Battalion" encamped in Kiaochow Road without being compensated by the Chinese Jgovernment, Colonel" Hsieh Ching-commander of the battalion fame" by offering many days' resistance against the Japanese in Chapel after all Jother units of Chinese troops had withdrawn, " issued a statement through the Shing Sheng News [Agency last night.
Colonel Hsieh stated that he and his men withdrew from Chapel by Jorder from the Chinese high command only at the request of British jand, American military leaders [Shanghai. Between the date of with Jdrawal "(October 31, 1937) and November of last year, they had been fed by Chinese philanthropic Bodies. During the past nine months he had been borrowing $4,500 monthly from the Shanghai Muni cipal Council and the debt amount-to $40,500. The Council has requested the Chinese government to refund. this debt and the latter Jcomplied with the request in April by sending $43,600. "At present the Chinese government has deposited $3,100. with the Council for feed-the battalion, Colonel Hsieh stated.
Quoting international law and precedents in world polities, Colonel Hsieh contended that the money used by neutrals for feeding war prisoners should be refunded by the country concerned after the—arm~ fice. He mentioned Switzerland during the Franco-Prussian War (71) as an_example, France was said to have returned the necessary funds only after the wor during Jwhich Switzerland had been caring for more than 80,000 French troops.
wished to make it clear that he Jan his men could not be treated jas "escaped soldiers."
While the Japanese have threat ened to refuse to pay taxes to the Council if the Latter continues to spend money on the "Lone Battalion." [Colonel Hsieh concluded by suggest ting that the Council take over Hongkew and" Japanese-controlled parts of the Settlement in order to finer ease its revenues.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.