#operation nekka

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“Directs Japan’s Drive,” Kingston Whig-Standard. February 23, 1933. Page 1. ---- LIEUT. GEN. KUNIAKI KOISO Who is said to be the directing genius of the Japanese drive into Jehol province. He is reported to have expressed the opinion that it would take two or three years to suppress banditry and bring real peace into the province.

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“As Japs Advance on Jehol Capital,” Moncton Daily Times. March 17, 1933. Page 1. ---- Somewhat reminiscent of an old picture of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow is this picture from the scene of Japan's operations in the Jehol Province But the Japs are not retreating. On the contrary, when this picture was made, the invaders were pushing on towards Jehol City, capital of the province, which fell into their hands after a half-hearted resistance. Sub-zero temperatures slowed advance.

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“When the bitterest fighting in the Shanhaikwan conflict occurred— the great south gate of the city -  with Japanese troops swarming over it shortly after the Japanese occupation. It was it the south gate that the most stubborn Chinese resistance was made and where both armies suffered their heaviest casualties.”

- from the Kingston Whig-Standard. February 3, 1933. Page 11.

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“Major Gen. Suzuki (left) leaving his temporary abode for an inspection of his forces which drove the troops of Gen. Chang Hsue-Lian from Shanghaikhan within the Great Wall of China.”

- from the Kingston Whig-Standard. February 17, 1933. Page 7.

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“Resolving Itself Into four offensives the Japanese campaign has developed the heaviest fighting in its attempt to annex Jehol province to the puppet state, Manchukuo. Driving down the snow-covered and wind-lashed Mongolian desert from the extreme northeast, one Japanese column was within 5 miles of Chifeng on Feb. 27. A second offensive Is developing near the Jehol border town of Suitung. The third attack is on Lingyuan, where casualties were estimated at 1000 Chinese and 600 Japanese. After sealing Lingyuan's heights, the Japs expect to make quick time over the 73-mile highway to Jehol city. The fourth and latest drive entered Jehol from the southern tip of Manchuria about 40 miles north of the great wall.”

- from the Kingston Whig-Standard. February 28, 1933.. Page 2.

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“Japan seized Shanhaikwan, railway gate to the north of China, Jan. 3, 1933. (1) This old Chinese tower received the special attention of Japanese artillery and Infantry in the fighting which resulted in occupation. Japanese soldiers are shown on the base of the shattered masonry. (2) Japanese soldiers wounded in the battle which resulted in the occupation are shown being placed aboard a military train to be taken back to the hospital at Chinchow, headquarters in Manchuria of the Japanese eighth division.”

- from the Kingston Whig-Standard. February 15, 1933. Page 12.

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“All is not so quiet on the far eastern front, says Major-General Yuji Takanami, one of the Japanese military leaders in northern China, as he surveys Shanhaikwan just before the Japanese began their latest drive.”

- from the Toronto Star. January 11, 1933. 

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"SCARE CREATED AT PEIPING BY BOMBING PLANE," Kingston Whig-Standard. May 11, 1933. Page 1. ---- Chinese Fire at It - Peiping Residence of Many British Citizens ---- PEIPING, May 11 - A Japanese bombing plane circled over this ancient city of nearly 2,000,000 today and was fired upon by Chinese police machine gunners.

It was the first real war scare for the old capital, the residence of many British citizens since the Sino-Japanese hostilities began.

The bombing plane flew over the northern section of Peiping the Forbidden City, within whose walls are the old Imperial Palace and sacred temples from which valuable relics were removed and shipped south several weeks ago.

The modern, or Chinese city, comprising the southern section of Peiping, is greatly alarmed.

Machine gunners at a police headquarters in the western outskirts of the city fired on the plane but it was flying too high for the fire to be effective.

Handbill Warnings The plane rained handbill warnings of war.

"Our army," said the handbills,"takes pity on your ignorant soldiers,and delivers this solemn command.

"Cease opposing the Japanese and Manchukuans. Break away from Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek."

If the Chinese fail to heed the "'solemn command," the warning said, then: "The tragedy of Kupeikow will occur in Peiping and in Tientsin."

The import of that was clear enough to the 2,000,000 residents of this city. There were many casualties at Kupeikow.

The "Marshal Chiang" referred to its virtual dictator of the Chinese Nationalist Government.

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“WITH JAPANESE FORCES ON "BIG PUSH" THROUGH JEHOL,” Brantford Expositor. March 13, 1933. Page. ---- Heavily clad against near-zero weather, Japanese troops are pictured standing on guard at Tungliao Station, one of the starting points of the Jehol offensive which culminated in the capture of the capital of the Chinese province.

With drawn bayonets, Japanese soldiers garrisoned at Chaoyangsu move out over the snow-covered ground to attack the Chinese in the Jehol campaign. 

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“LA GUERRE DANS LA NEIGE ET SOUS UN FROID INTENSE,” La Presse. March 10, 1933. Page 1. -- En haut, c'est le commencement de l'invasion du Jehol par les troupes japonaises qui en firent la conquête en on peu plus d'une semaine. C’est alors que le thermomètre marquait un chiffre de degrés en ban de zéro et que le sol était couvert d'une neige épaisse que les Japonais que l'on voit oci traversèrent ta frontière. — En bas, à gauche, pendant que les soldats versent leur sang pour la patrie, les jeunes japonaises s’exercent au Japon au maniement des fusils anti-avions.— En bas. a droite, ce sont des soldats japonais chaudement vêtus qui gardent la gare de Tonngtiao, l’un des principaux points d'où est partie l’offensive Japonaise.

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“JEHOL CAMPAIGN BEGUN BY JAPAN,” KIngston Whig-Standard. February 24, 1933. Page 9. ---- Large Army Being Poured In - China's Capital Seem's Dazed --- CHANGCHUN, Manchuria, Feb. 24 - Japan has officially started its military campaign to annex the rich Chinese province of Jehol to the Japanese-fostered state of Manchukuo.

The most powerful Japanese force massed in Manchuria since hostilities with the Chinese began seventeen months ago was being poured into Eastern Jehol today along two routes, about 150 miles apart.

A modernized Japanese army, with tanks, bombing planes and armored cars, believed to total 60.000, is expected to raise the flag of the Rising Sun in Jehol City, of Chengtefu, the provincial capital, in anywhere from a week to a month. 

Opposing this army are 150.000 poorly equipped Chinese under several commanders.

A big Japanese force of cavalry, infantry and artillery was directed against Chaoyang. second largest city of Jehol. They closed eastern passages in the Great Wall of China, blocking the entry of fore Chinese troops into Jehol from that direction.

NANKING STUNNED NANKING, China, Feb. 24 - China's capital seemed dazed today by the news the Japanese campaign has begun.

The official Central Daily News was the only Chinese newspaper to comment, saying: "The only way out is to fight as we have never fought before."

The Chinese Government refused today to accede to a Japanese ultimatum demanding that Chinese troops be evacuated from the Province of Jehol.

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“‘YIELD JEHOL OR WE’LL TAKE IT’ - Japan Note to China,” Vancouver Sun. February 23, 1933. Page 1. ---- WARNING CARRIES NO TIME LIMIT ---- CHINESE PREPARE FOR BITTER WAR ---- MARSHAL CHIANG KAI SHEK, ARMY CHIEF, RUSHES TO NANKING --- CHANCHUN, Manchuria, Feb. 23. General Chang Hsi-Peng commanding the army of Manchukno, began an advance against Chinese forces occupying the Province of Jehol at midnight, Wednesday. 

SHANGHAI. Feb. 23. Japanese despatches from Chinchow tonight said two divisions of Chinese troops concentrated southwest of Shanhaikwan were on the march northward "preparatory to entering Jehol.”  --- By MORRIS J. HARRIS Associated Press Correspondent SHANGHAI, Feb. 23. Japan officially informed the Chinese Nationalist Government today that unless Chinese troops are withdrawn from Jehol Trovinee Japanese and Manchukuan forces will expel them forcibly. 

S. Uyemnra, acting Japanese Consul General at Nanking, verbally informed Lo Wen-Kan, the Chinese Foreign Minister, of the demand. 

A Japanese spokesman here stated that Uyrmura "was acting upon instructions from Tokyo." 

Uyemura informed the Foreign Minister that Japanese and Manchukuan troops have no intention of proceeding south of the Great Wall of China. Jehol's southern boundary, "unless developments within control of the Chinese necessitated such action." 

The spokesman stated "the communication is a warning to the Nanking Government which carries no time limit." 

Previous despatches said the Manchukuo Government, advised by the Japanese military command in Manchuria, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Chinese Government. It was to expire at midnight tonight. 

Although Nanking has not yet reported receipt of such a communication as the Japanese spokesman described and the Japanese termed it a "warning' it is considered tantamount to the anticipated ultimatum. 

The Japanese action, as narrated by" the Japanese spokesman, comes upon the heels of a Japanese legation statement yesterday that no such communication would be sent to Nanking. 

Instead, it said, in the event that there is such a communication, it will be sent only to , Marshal Chang Hsiao-Liang, commander of the regular Chinese troops in Jehol. 

The Japanese spokesman today declined to predict future developments, adding, however, that in the event that Governor Tan Yu-Lin of Jehol "takes a broader view of the situation it may relieve a crisis." 

This was taken to mean that the Japanese have hopes that Governor Tang will declare his allegiance to the State of Manchukuo. The Japanese intend to annex Jehol to Manchukuo. 

Although censorship of press despatches from Nanking is sharp, it is understood that Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek, military chief of the Government, has arrived there from Kiangsi Province to confer with Acting Premier T. V. Soong and other Nationalist leaders concerning the northern crisis. 

The generalissimo was in Kiangsi to direct the campaign there against Chinese communists.

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“Ready For War in China’s Jehol,” Brantford Expositor. February 20, 1933. Page 1. ---- While the League of Nations continues to seek conciliation between Japan and  China, conquest by Japan of Jehol province appears inevitable, Both Japan and China have begun conscription of citizens for military duty. Above is a scene in Tokyo, as citizens answered the draft call for duty in Manchuria. Below is a map of Jehol province. Fifty thousand Japanese troops are reported concentrated in the area around Shanhaikwan sea terminus of China’s Great Wall. The map locates many of the principal towns in the theatre of undeclared war.

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“Jap Guns And Aircraft Batter Great Wall Of China At Shanhaikwan,” Toronto Star. January 27, 1933. Page 17. --- Picture No. 1 shows Chinese boys and young men searching the ruins of their homes after the aerial and ground bombardment of the walled city of Shanhaikwan, which started on January 1. After several weeks of stubborn defence, the Chinese forces finally fell back and the Japs took the city which contains the key railroad station into Jehol province. Picture No. 2 is a general view of the walled city of Shanhaikwan, where the Great Wall of China goes down to the sea, showing the ruins and desolation wrought by the heavy artillery. Picture No. 3 shows two Japanese soldiers searching the ruins of a Chinese home in the walled city for wounded Chinese who might be sniping at the Jap soldiers.

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Picture No. 1 shows Chinese boys and young men searching the ruins of their homes after the aerial and ground bombardment of the walled city of Shanhaikwan. After several weeks of stubborn defence, the Chinese forces finally fell back and the Japs took the cit,y which contains the key railroad station into Jehol province.Picture No 2 is a general view in the walled city of Shanhaikwan, where tho Great Wall of China goes down to the sea, showing the ruins and desloation wrought by the heavy artillery. Picture No. 3 shows two Japanese soldiers searching the ruins of a Chinese home in the willed city for wounded Chinese who might be sniping at the Jap soldiers.”

- from the Kingston Whig-Standard. February 6, 1933. Page 10.

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"JAPANESE ARE PRESSING ON TO ENTER PEIPING," Kingston Whig-Standard. May 22, 1933. Page 1. ---- They Were Thirteen Miles East of North China City Sunday Night ---- TOKYO, May 22 - A Rengo (Japan-ese Agency) despatch from the front in North China said that the 14th Infantry Brigade of Major-General Heijico Hattori had occupied Tung-Chow, fifteen miles east of Peiping, Sunday night and expected to enter the latter city today.

Despite denials by Lieut.-Gen. Kuniaki Koiso, chief of staff of Japanese continental armies, that his forces intended to occupy Peiping, Japanese columns swept on almost unresisted, apparently with no intention of stopping short of that ancient North China city.

36th infantry brigade of Major-General Yoshiaki Takata and the forces of General Hattori together occupied Sanho Sunday, and then the latter continued on and seized Tung-chow, said the report.

Early today two battalions of Hattori's solider pressed on, contending for the honor of first reaching Peiping. One of the battalions was reported three miles northeast of the reputed objective.

MISSIONARIES REMAIN PEIPING, May 22 - Reports reaching the United States Legation stated today that Japanese cavalry patrols had penetrated to within five miles of Tungchow, 13 miles east of here.

Thirty missionaries at Tungchow were remaining at their posts, anticipating a peaceful turn over of the town today.

Chinese refugees were pouring into this city ahead of what was described in advices to the Chinese Foreign Office as the slow advance of Japanese troops toward this place and Tientsin.

Reports from the Lwan River front declared the combined Manchukuan and Japanese forces had come within fifty miles of Tientsin, but apparently were not extending the drive.