FIERCE FIGHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 11

FIERCE FIGHTING

BATTLE FOR KEY TOWNS

A ADVANCE TO SUCHOW

RESUMED

(Received April 5, 1.10 p.m.)

LONDON, April 4. , The Shanghai correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that after 16 days' fierce fighting, during which Taierchwang and Hanchwang, in southern Shantung, have become smouldering shells filled with the charred bodies of troops killed in street fighting, and the towns changed hands fpur times, the Japanese again claim to have ejected the Chinese from both towns, breaking the Chinese defence of the Grand Canal. The Chinese further suffered in the retreat by the defenders of the south bank of the canal machinegunning them in the belief that, they were Japanese. - . The attacking Japanese have now resumed their advance towards Sucho.w.

Hankow reports that the Chinese do not admit the Japanese claims, adding that they still hold portions of the,, towns. They also assert that they are advancing satisfactorily south-west of Shanghai towards the Shanghai-Hang-chow railway

Hong; Kong reports that it is stated that the Japanese casualties at the weekend at Taierchwang were 45,000 and the Chinese 9000. '