JAPANESE PUSH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 117, 20 May 1938, Page 7

JAPANESE PUSH.

DRIVE FOR HSUCHOW. Complete Occupation Denied By Chinese. AIR SCOUTS BUSY. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. According to Tokyo reports 3000 Chinese surrendered at Hsuchow and 4000 at Suhsien, Kucheng and Wonuishan. The Japanese claim to have eaptured the whole of Hsuchow except the southern section. They had previously occupied the western portion as the result of the downfall of the Chinese strongpoint at Chang-ehuaug, four miles from the west gate. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 150,000 Chinese provincials in the city have little hope of escape. The picturesque city is becoming a vast slaughterhouse, and numerous buildings are shattered and ablaze. The Chinese are now counter-attacking desperately. The Chinese deny that the Japanese have completely occupied Hsuchow, says a Shanghai message. The southern portion is still in the hands of the defenders, whom the Japanese are attempting to expel from the streets with bombs and bayonets. It is perhaps significant that Japan has banned victory celebrations.

The Japanese report the capture of Chang-chuang, three and a half miles south-west of Hsuchow, says the Shanghai correspondent of "The Times." Also they say they have entered Suhsien. Air scouts report that flying columns are cutting the Lunghai railway at many points westward of Hsuchow and have immobilised 90 Chinese trains, aggravating the difficulties of evacuation. The Chinese deny that General Li Tsung-jen is to be tried on a charge of deserting his post. They say he is still commanding the defenders of Hsuchow. The Chinese on the front to the northeast of Hsuchow collapsed after the Japanese entry into the city, says a message from Tokyo. The Japanese crossed the Grand Canal between Hanchuang and Taierchwang, where the Chinese for weeks held up the Japanese drive. The Chinese retreated in disorder, permitting a rapid general advance toward Hsuchow. Hankow reports sanguinary fighting along the Lunghai railway from Hsuchow to Langfeng. Qnly the CantonHankow railway is now intact for the Chinese.

JAPANESE BUTCHERY. Many Chinese Slaughtered At Amoy. 1500 SHOT ON WATERFRONT. (Received 1.30 p.m.) HANKOW, May 10. The Japanese, after summoning 1500 members of the Chinese Peace Preservation Corps at Amoy to report for reorganisation, lined them up on the waterfront, machine-gunned them and threw their bodies into the sea. A cable from London states that, according to the Hongkong correspondent of '"The Times,"' Japanese troops at Amoy rounded ii|> and sliot 100 Chinese in reprisal for the throwing of a bomb on the Bund. The bomb exploded and killed seven members of a Japanese patrol. AMERICANS BANNED. Transportation Permits Held Up. PROTEST TO TOKYO. (Received 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 10. The United States Ambassador to Tokyo has asked the Japanese Government why it refuses to let Americans in China return to the cities from which they were driven by the Japanese advance. Hundreds of Americans are concentrated in Shanghai unable to obtain transportation permits from Japanese authorities. j