DESOLATION IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22431, 18 June 1938, Page 15

DESOLATION IN CHINA

Threat of Greater Floods JAPANESE UNITS MAROONED Chinese Resist Drive Towards Hankow

(TOTTED EEES9 ABSOCIATIOK—COPTBIGHT.) (Received June 18, 12.30 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, June 17,

A day of ceaseless rain threatens to increase the floods from the Yellow river and the Yangtse-kiang. Correspondents report that various Japanese units are marooned and are being provisioned by aeroplanes. Reuter’s special correspondent, who had a thousand miles tour in a Japanese army aeroplane, desscribes a scene of desolation in Honan Province north and south of the Lunghai railway. A stream from eight to 10 miles wide is spreading to the south-west between Chengchow and Kaifeng, and seems likely to join the Yangtse via the Grand Canal Two long sections of the Lunghai railway are submerged.

• At least half a million people have fled from their homes. Thousands of farmhouses are submerged. Two small hills are visible west of Kaifeng, teeming with refugees. Japanese army pontoons are ferrying the rescued to Kaifeng.

A message from Peiping states that Japanese army leaders declare that the Chinese prepared, the breaches in the Yellow river dikes three months ago in anticipation of the retreat and blew them up on June 11. Japanese engineers attempting repairs on the following day were fired on by the Chinese, it is alleged, 10 being killed. The waters are four miles from Kaifeng, which has been three times destroyed by floods, and which lies 20 feet below the level of the river’s bed.

Missionaries of all creeds united to help the wounded and refugees. Their dressers recently changed the bandages of 40,000 Chinese wounded from Hsuchow, as they passed through Kaifeng. Cholera and smallpox have appeared. The Japanese say it is impossible to repair the dikes under the Chinese fire, so the flow of the Yellow river must continue till the normal autumn recession.

It was reported yesterday that the Chinese resistance to the Japanese advance on Hankow was stiffening as the floods swelled under endless rain. The Yangtse-kiang was 20ft above normal. The inundation passed Fukuo and surged down on Chowkiakow, in the Honan Province, at the junction of the Kailu and Tasha rivers, 95 miles from the original breaches.

Chinese artillery sank six Japanese motor-boats and 20 canvas boats from which landings on the north and south banks of the Yangtsekiang' were being attempted. The Chinese report effecting a clearance on the ?outh bank and the recapture of Chienkiangkow and Suitoushan on the north bank, where their irffantry are doggedly attacking.

JAPANESEBRITISH RELATIONS RESTORATION DESIRED BY MINISTER (Received June 18, 1.15 a.m.) TOKYO, June 17. General Ugaki, Japanese Foreign Minister, told a press conference that he, personally, would do his best to restore and even improve the former traditional friendly relations with Britain. When he was appointed Foreign Minister on May 26, General Ugaki said: “I am going to do something to readjust our relations with foreign Powers, so wait and see.”

JAPANESE BOMBERS BROUGHT DOWN NEWS CAUSES ELATION IN CANTON CANTON, June 16. Canton is elated at the news that six Japanese bombers have been brought down near Kwantung, on the Honan border. They were carrying out a raid on the CantonHankow railway when 10 fast Chinese chasers attacked the raiders and circled round them continuously, machine-gunning them until they crashed one after another.

U.S. CONDEMNATION OF BOMBINGS

ANTI-JAPANESE SENTIMENT IN SENATE RESOLUTION

(Received June 17, 10.35 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, June 17,

Anti-Japanese sentiment showed itself in Congress when the Senate approved a resolution, introduced by Senator K. Pittman, condemning “the inhuman bombing of civilian populations.”