OCR Text |
Show Briton Tells of Conflict In Shanghai on S. L. Visit BsaaasSaaawaasaaaaaaaaM Ex-Official of International Settlement Sees Attempt to Involve U. S. En route home from Shanghai and "damned glad to get out" of the Sino-Japanese war, Herbert Ritchings of London, England, visited vis-ited here Saturday and gave a first-hand account of the conflict and its world ramifications. Mr. Ritchings has been assistant superintendent of parks and open spaces for the municipal council of th famed International Settlement of Shanghai the last flva years and saw action as a member of the settlement's set-tlement's volunteer corps. "We in tha aettlement are of the opinion Japan ia trying to draw the United States or Great Britain into the war," he aaid. "But they won't get In. The shooting of the British ambassador waa enough to atart a war. "I believe the bombing of tha U. 8. gunboat Panay waa deUberate, as was the Incident' of the wounding of British troops." Stories of night air raids over Shanghai, when the situation waa most dangerous In the settlement, were told by Mr. Ritcbings. He also recounted the shelling of Nanking road, in which scores were killed. "We were alwaya subject to being killed." be said. In Mr. Ritchings' opinion, Japanese Japa-nese at home do not want war and the Japanese government doe not want China proper, only Its great porta where the money Is turned over. Stories of the conflict are not farfetched, far-fetched, the visitor asserted. "News stories are pretty accurate and pictures don't lee," he said. "I have seen Chinese women and chli-dren chli-dren killed." Germany and Italy lean to the I Japanese tide, h aaid, and "anything "any-thing can happen." "Those in the know in Shanghai behaved there may be a world war," Is asserted. "Shanghai is full of Russians." W hether he will return to Shanghai Shang-hai after apending the Christmas holidays ia London ia uncertain, Mr. Ritchings said. "This war Is costing the municipal council 890,000 a day In Mexican money," he said. "And wo eaat collect taxes any snore." |