FIERCE FIGHTING IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22491, 27 August 1938, Page 17

FIERCE FIGHTING IN CHINA

COMMUNIST LEADER

CONFIDENT

EIGHTH ROUTE ARMY'S

PART IN WAR

(UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPZRIGHT.) (Received August 26, 7.10 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 26.

Desperate fighting is proceeding in sweltering heat near Juichang. The Chinese deny the loss of the town. They have entrenched 300,000 troops along the Nanchang railway. A Hankow message says that General Chu-teh, commander of the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army, says his men in a year have fought 600 engagements, inflicted 34,000 casualties, and taken 2000 prisoners. He is quite confident that the Chinese will push back the Japanese to the sea.

JAPANESE ATTACK ON

AIRLINER

UNITED STATES REQUESTING INFORMATION

HONG KONG, August 25.

It is announced from Washington that the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) will ask for full information about the machine-, gunning by the Japanese of the Chinese National Aviation Company's aeroplane. The machine was partly American owned. A Japanese official said that the air-liner turned from the Japanese machines and tried to escape in a cloud-bank. When it landed its markings were discernible. All the occupants apparently escaped. He denied that the Japanese had deliberately attacked the aeroplane with intent to kill Dr. Sun Fo. Japan's action was justified under the international regulations, as non-combatants flew in a war zone at their own risk.

A Japanese spokesman has warned all aircraft in the war zone of the risk they are running of being shot down.