JAPANESE REINFORCED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 9

JAPANESE REINFORCED

CHINESE CHECKED

FIERCE CLASHES

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received April 20, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Hong Kong correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" reports that Japanese reinforcements landed from transports in the Pearl River and are pouring into Canton in an endeavour to break the Chinese encirclement of the city. A fierce battle is in progress southwest of Tsengshing, both sides claiming successes.

The Japanese have succeeded in halting the Chinese drive east of Canton, but have not yet driven a wedg^ into the Chinese lines, which now extend from the mouth of East River and round Canton to the northward.

Chinese aeroplanes raided the invaders' air base in the vicinity of White Cloud Mountain, and claim to have inflicted considerable damage.

In the meantime the Chinese offensive on all fronts appears to be slowing down with the arrival of Japanese reinforcements.

The Hong Kong correspondent of "The Times" says that according to an unofficial Chinese report, the Japanese recaptured Tsengshing, which the Chinese abandoned in the face of a superior force.

A Tokio message states a Japanese dispatch claims that 2000 Chinese were killed in an engagement in the Kwangtung Province.