MORE JAP. LANDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 43, 20 February 1940, Page 7

MORE JAP. LANDINGS.

Chinese Claim Success In Drive On Nanning. WITHDRAWAL BECOMES A BOUT (Received 11 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 19. According to Chinese sources, Japanese have landed at two new points in South China. One thousand infantrymen landed at Haiteng and an unknown number on the Liuchow Peninsula, near the French-leased territory of Kwangchow. It is believed at Shanghai that both were punitive expeditions. - The Chinese claim that they are within a mile of Nanning. As long columns of Japanese troops and guns are striking southward, and there are many fires in tjie city, they are hopeful that the Japanese will abandon it.

The Japanese, however, deny that they intend to evacuate Nanning.

Beports that the Japanese are evacuating Nanning persist in Hongkong. It is stated that the Japanese are concentrated on the Kwantung coast awaiting transports, scores of which, loaded to capacity, have already sailed.

The Chinese claim that they are turning, the withdrawal into a rout, and that the Japanese dead and wounded are abandoned on the roadside.

In the third air raid since the French protest, 27 Japanese aeroplanes bombed the Yunnan-Kunming railway, completely dislocating traffic. The Chinese authorities at Chungking claim that the Japanese raiders have violated French rights by flying over French Indo-China.

CONTROL REGAINED.

CHINESE MANNING- CLAIM. (Received 1.30 p.m.) HONGKONG, February 19. The Chinese claim to have regained control of Nanning and recaptured Wingshun, eastward of Nanning. If the claim is true it reopens the IndoChJba road.