FIERCE FIGHTING IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 11

FIERCE FIGHTING IN CHINA

Japanese Offensive At Hsuchow

SAVAGE STRUGGLE IN PROGRESS

Heavy Casualties/ On

Both Sides

ImriTED PEES# ASSOCIATION COPTEIGHT.) (Received March 22, 10.5 p.m.) HANKOW, March 22. Desperate fighting is proceeding on the Tientsin-Pukow railway front with the Chinese and Japanese locked in a savage struggle for the possession of the key town, Hsuchow.

The Chinese are selling every inch of ground dearly in the' defence of Hsuchow. Their losses in a four days’ offensive are believed to be 20,000 compared with 5000 Japanese.

It is not expected that the Chinese will stem the Japanese advance south of the Grand Canal for more than a week, but a stiffer resistance is expected at Hsuchow. Here, with the help of German mechanicians, the Chinese have built an iron ring consisting of elaborate trenches, dug-outs, and pill-boxes, which will eventually be manned by 250,000 troops. The Chinese are expected to make a desperate stand at Hsuchow, since it is the last scientific defence line between there and Hankow.

The Chinese assert that their flank attacks, including bayonet charges, severed the Japanese communications between Teng-hsien ahd Han-chwang, but the Japanese claim that they killed 3000 in a series of attacks in this part of the province, and captured Ki-hsien, in Shansi, where, they allege, the Chinese resistance is broken. • The Chinese not only report further guerrilla successes in Shansi, but declare that they have pushed the Japanese back on all points along the Yellow river, thus removing the threat of an invasion of Shansi.

Chinese troops from Shansi made a surprise raid on the Tokuto trading centre in southern Suiyuan. The Chinese claim the capture of this place. The Japanese assert that the i aiders were heavily repulsed. The Hong Kong correspondent of the British United Press says Japanese aeroplanes bombed the swastika on the roof of the German Catholic Church at Lincheng, wounding one German. They also bombed a German Catholic mission church, which was crowded with refugees, killing four and wounding 200 Chinese.

SHIPPING CONTROL IN CHINA

JAPANESE ORDER CAUSES

ALARM

(Received March 22, 8 p.m.)

SHANGHAI, March 21,

Shipping circles are perturbed by a Japanese notification that ships milst not ply in internal Chinese waters radiating from Shanghai, without a special permit. It is stated that this violates the Yangtse treaty rights and virtually gives a monopoly to Japanese owners.

The relative percentages of shipping hitherto have been Chinese 35, Japanese 15. The Japanetse explain that the control is only temporary and is to ensure the strictest military supervision over the occupied areas