AERIAL WARFARE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 127, 1 June 1938, Page 7

AERIAL WARFARE.

ARMADAS BATTLE. Chinese Flyers Repel Japanese Invaders. CANTON'S 1400 KILLED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2 p.m.) LOXDOX, May 31. Chinese fighter 'planes repelled 60 Japanese raiders on Hankow. It is reported that 200 Japanese 'planes set off in the morning to bomb Chinese towns. The air battle over Hankow resulted in two of 50 Chinese machines being lost but 15 of 54 Japanese raiders were shot down. The fourth raid on Canton was made by five 'planes at 9 a.m. and caused heavy explosions in the thickly populated Honam district. It is feared there liave been considerable civilian casualties. It is known that at least 100 were killed. In three days by air raids Canton has lost 1400 people killed and 2100 injured. The assumption is growing that a .Japanese invasion of South China is imminent coupled with an attack on the Canton-Hankow railway. The Exchange Honjrkong representative records the assemblage of numerous Japanese warships at the mouth of the Pearl River and on the Kwantung coast. A Tokyo message says it is officially estimated that the Chinese lost 103.000 killed and 137.000 wounded in the battle for Hsucliow to May 25. BETTER RELATIONS? BRITISH AND JAPANESE. (Received 2 p.m.) SHANGHAI, May 31. A cordial interview between General Telfers-Mollett and the Japanese commander, (ieneral Hata, is expected immediately to improve relations between Britain and Japan in the international ! settlement.