JAPANESE PUSH TO HANKOW

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 16

JAPANESE PUSH TO HANKOW

THRUST ALONG YANGTSE VALLEY CHINESE PREPARE STRONG DEFENCES IVT*TTV> PBBBB iSSOCUTIOH—COPTBTOHt.) (Received June 22, 2 p.m.) SHANGHAI, June 21. , Foiled by the floods in attacking from the north, the Japanese, reinforced from the Lunghai area, are pouring men into the Yangtse-kiang valley for a new thrust from the east. Meanwhile they are attempting to break the cross-river booms, the chief of which, at Kiukiang, is under the guns of the Chinese forts. Sixty Chinese. divisions, comprising 700,000 men, are reorganising their defences at Hankow in a triple ring, of which the third circuit is manned by crack troops. The Chinese, meanwhile, are counter-attack-ing at Tsienshan. The floods are swelling the Waihi river in the Anhui valley. FIGHTING ON ISLAND OFF SWATOW JAPANESE WARSHIPS LAND MARINES (Received June 22, 11.50 p.m.) HONG KONG, June 22. Chinese reports state that intensive fighting is in progress on Namoa Island, off Swatow, after the landing of a large force of Japanese marines from 10 warships. DECLARATION OF WAR RUMOURED ✓ REPORTED INTENTION OF JAPAN DENIAL ISSUED BY FOREIGN OFFICE (Received June 23, 12.30 a.m.) * TOKYO, June 22. The newspapers report that the Minister for War (General Ugaki) is considering a formal declaration of war on China, with the object of inducing third Powers to cease assisting China. The Foreign Office, however, disclaims the intention of a formal declaration of war. JAPANESE BUDGET SURPLUS LOWER REVENUE AND HIGHER EXPENDITURE (Received June 22, 5.5 p.m.) TOKYO, June 21. The Minister for Finance announces the net Budget returns for 1638-39 - as follows: Revenue £372,000,000 a decline of £20,000,000; expenditure £358,000,000, an increiase of £17,000,000. This is distinct from the special war Budget of £283,000,000.