JAPANESE REPULSED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 11

JAPANESE REPULSED

Attempt To Cross Yellow River REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 24, 8.30 p.m.) London, March 24. The Shanghai correspondent of "The Times” says the Chinese report having repulsed 500 Japanese who were attempting to cross the Yellow River at Fengchu, but announce the arrival of 3000 Japanese reinforcements. Haud-to-hand fighting continues in Tengshien. Thp Chinese claim that they have regained Chanpaling, Shallots! and Pengpu. Japanese troopships landed men at Tungchow in order to develop operations in northern Kiangsu. They claim that they routed a force of 100,000 at Kihsien, the last important base in Shansi, so that they control the entire province.

A message from Shanghai says that the Japanese, advancing from three sides, are straining every nerve to capture Hsuchow. Three hundred Chinese internees in the French Concession stormed the barbed wire fences. Shots wei-e fired, a guard being killed. Police are searching for 30 armed escapees. Both sides admit a fierce struggle for supremacy on the Tienfsln-Pukow railway. Advance Slowed Up.

The Chinese claim to have outflanked and wiped out 10,000 Japanese who had reached the Grand Canal, and also tp have driven back the Japanese to the positions they occupied before their drive, thus removing the immediate threat to Suchow.

The Japanese do not mention this setback, but admit that the armies proceeding from north and south toward Suchow are still 114 miles apart. The centre of the present intensity appears to be Lincheng, where there were heavy casualties on both sides. Japanese announcements are limited to the suppression of Chinese resistance in north-west Shansi and the occupation of new positions west and south-west of Shanghai.