THOUSAND DEAD IN JAP. AIR ATTACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 7

THOUSAND DEAD IN JAP. AIR ATTACKS.

BOMBING OF CANTON.

Hundreds Buried Under Smouldering Ruins. FIRE SWEEPS ENTIRE BLOCKS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, May 29. The city of Canton is staggering under intense aerial bombing, which was begun at 11.15 a.m. yesterday. By noon 100 bombs had been dropped from groups of Japanese aeroplanes on the city and across the river. The casualties now are 1000 dead and 3000 injured. Flames devastated entire blocks and ruined sections, in which hundreds are buried in smouldering ruins. Eleven of the aeroplanes dropped bombs in the vicinity of the Wongsha railway station—a thickly populated district near Shameen, the foreign settlement in the middle of the river. A message from Hongkong states that in spite of a notification of the dispatch of a special train containing British naval ratings to relieve the crews of the British gunboats on the Vangtse River, the Japanese overnight so wrecked the Kowloon-Canton railway that the train could not leave. A later cable from Canton states that Japanese 'planes bombed Canton again to-day, killing 250 and injuring 450. A Hongkong message states that 200 British naval ratings entrained at Wongsha station, Canton to-day for Hankow. Forty minutes later 40 Japanese war 'planes bombed Canton, concentrating on the station and Chinese batteries on Honan Island. It is believed that the Japanese must have been aware of the special trains due to take the British sailors to Hankow when they bombed Canton yesterday. Scene of Terrible Confusion. It was estimated that the total number of people killed yesterday 'Was 000, and those injured, 900. Two streets adjacent to the Wongsha. station were demolished. Rescuers are still engaged in removing victims from the wreckage. During the raid there was a scene of terrible confusion, thousands of panicstricken people trying to cross to the settlement where guards prevented their entrance. Most of them took refuge on the waterfront, consequently the carnage was less than was feared. The raiders returned at 1.15 p.m., after which fires raged in the densely populated areas ot Saikwan and Wongsha, both of which are pitted with immense craters. In this second raid, 40 rescue workers were killed and 50 were wounded. Wongsha was bombed four times, and 100 houses were destroyed. Bombs fell near the public hospital, which is far from the military establishments. On the other hand, an official Japanese account from Tokyo states that 40 aeroplanes effectively bombed the Canton railways and military establishments. THRUST STAYED. Chinese Gains Halt Enemy Offensive. LUNGHAI AREA FIGHTING. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 29. A Shanghai cable states that, in addition to Lanfeng, the Chinese claim to have recaptured Meiighsien, Tsinyang, Winhsifii and other strategic points on the north bank of the Yellow River, which removes the danger of the Japanese cutting the Lunghai railway to the west of Changchow. i A cable from Tokyo states that the Japanese have completed the occupation of Kweiteh, which deprives the Chinese of the base from which they have been operating in the rear of the Japanese in the Lanfeng sector. A cable from Peking states that the Japanese admit a reverse at Lanfeng, the spearhead of their thrust to the interior of the State. They are fighting with their backs to the Yellow River. It was earlier reported from Tokyo that the Japanese entered Kweiteh, the key point on the Lunghai railway, and claim to be still holding Lanfeng.