FIERCE DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 11

FIERCE DEFENCE

Savage Resistance To Japanese FIGHT FOR HSUCHOW Chinese Expected To Make > Desperate Stand By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 22, 7.5 p.m.)) Hankow, March 22. Desperate lighting is proceeding on the Tientsin-Pukow railway front with tlie Chinese and Japanese locked in a savage struggle for possession of the key town of Hsuchow. , The Chinese are selling every inch of ground dearly in the defence of Hsuchow. Their losses for tlie four days of the 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 stiffer resistance is expected at Hsuchow, around which, aided by German mechanicians, the Chinese have built an iron ring consisting of elaborate trenches, dug-outs and pill-' boxes which will eventually be manned by a quarter of a million t/roops. The Chinese are expected to make a desperate stand at Hsuchow, since it is the last scintifie defence line between there and Hankow. The Chinese assert that their flank attacks, including bayonet charges, severed the Japanese communications between Tenghsien and Hanchwang, but the Japanese claim to have killed 3000 in a series of attacks in this part of the province. They captured Kihsien in Shansi, where they claim the Chinese resistance has been broken. The Chinese not only report further guerrilla successes in Shansi but declare they have pushed back the Japanese on all points along the Yellow River, removing the threat of invasion of Shansi. Chinese troops from Shansi’ made a surprise raid on Tokuto, a trading centre in southern Suiyuan. The Chinese claim the capture of this place, but the Japanese assert that the raiders were heavily repulsed.

JAPANESE REPLY

Assault On Missionary Peking, March 21. A Japanese reply to the British protest concerning the assault on the Rev. A. Murray, a London missionary, states that no orders have ever been issued that foreigners must doff their hats, and that instructions have been issued that Hie practice of making them do so must cease wherever it is enforced. A message from Peking on March 9 stated that the Rev. A. Murray, of London, a missionary, son of Sir James Murray, was struck on the head by a Japanese sentry -at TSangchow, and forced to doff his hat and bow in accordance with regulations laid down for the Chinese.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

Chinese In Shantung Dairen, March 21. Mr. ‘Whiting, special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press, who travelled on an armed train from Tsinan to Tsingtao, stated that farmers along the route were tilling their farms and that business was proceeding as usual. Tsingtao city was peaceful under Chinese police, with the Japanese army in the background. The Japanese cotton mills were in appalling ruins, representing a loss of more than 100,000,000 yen, and as a result tens of thousands of Chinese had been rendered idle.

SHIPPERS PERTURBED

Japanese Violation Of Treaty Rights Shanghai, March 21. Shipping circles are perturbed by a Japanese notification that ships may not ply in internal Chinese waters radiating from Shanghai without a special permit. It is pointed out that this violates the Yangtse Treaty rights and virtually gives a monopoly to Japanese owners. The relative percentages of shipping hitherto have been :—British, 41 per cent.; Chinese, 35 per cent.; Japanese, 15 per cent. The Japanese explain that the control is to be only temporary for the purpose of ensuring the strictest military supervision of the occupied areas.

JAPANESE BOMBING

German Churches Attacked

(Received March 22, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 22. The British United Press Hong Kong correspondent says Japanese planes bombed the swastika roof of the German Catholic church at Lincheng, wounding a German. They also bombed a German Catholic mission church which was crowded with refugees, killing four and wounding 200 Chinese.

CHINESE AIR FORCE

Foreign Legion Disbanded Hankow, March 21. 'rhe Foreign Legion of the Chinese Air Force, which included British, Australian, and other volunteers, has been disbanded.

CHINESE ADVANCE

Japanese Defeat At Linyi The following cablegram was received by Ihe Chinese Consul from Hankow yesterday:— "After the defeat of the enemy, who suffered from 3000 to 4000 casualties at Linyi, we recaptured Tangtowchen, and advanced 30 kilometres. “Our troops between Tunghsien and

Linchen bravely and fearlessly resisted the advance of the enemy’s mechanised units, which numbered more than 10,000 men, and won the admiration of the whole country. The walls of Tunghsien and the defence works were completely demolished by the enemy’s heavy artillery, but, according to reports received yesterday, our troops are still engaged in fierce fighting within the city. “On the southern Shantung sector, our right and left flanks are pressing on from Kiashiang and Linyi toward the railway line in order to check the enemy’s advance. Reports of Chinese sm ..-ess continue to come to hand from Shansi. According to the latest news, our troops killed more than 1000 of the enemy at each of the two places, Changtze and Luchen.”