FIGHTING ON THE YANGTSE

Evening Star, Issue 23038, 17 August 1938, Page 11

FIGHTING ON THE YANGTSE

CHINESE IN STRONG POSITIONS CLAIM TO HAVE SHATTERED JAPANESE ADVANCE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright HANKOW, August 16. The Chinese claim that they have completely shattered the Japanese advance on the south bank of the Yangtse, east of Juichang, where the Chinese are holding strong hill positions. THE ‘‘.DOOMED BATTALION " MEN CONTINUE HUNGER STRIKE. SHANGHAI, August 16. A unit of White Russians is guarding the hunger-striking “ Doomed Battalion.” The officers have broken the strike, but the men are adamant. The situation is tense. JAPAN’S MILITARY MEASURES

NATIONAL MOBILISATION FORESHADOWED.

TOKIO, August 16. (Received August 17, at 8 a.m.) New measures for national mobilisation are foreshadowed by the Cabinet decision “ to place Japan on an emergency footing, both moral and material.” Cabinet also decided “to strengthen the necessary measures for protracted warfare by co-ordinating resources and full energies to crush General Chiang Kai-shek, thus establishing lasting peace in Eastern Asia.” JAPANESE AIR RAIDS HANKOW, August 16. . (Received August 17, at 10 a.m.) Eighty people were killed and 2,200 wounded in a raid by 56 Japanese planes on Hankow, Wuchang, and Hanyang. CHINA’S APPEAL TO LEAGUE GENEVA, August 16. (Received August 17, at 10 a.m.) China’s longstanding appeal for assistance against Japan is the only political question on the League Council’s agenda in September. DISEASE RAMPANT • BOTH r ''SIDES ALARMED. LONDON, August 16. (Received August 17, at 1.5 p.m.)

The Shanghai correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says both sides are alarmed at the spread of cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and malaria. The worst outbreak of cholera is in Kiukiaug, where the Japanese allege the wells are polluted by corpses left by the retreating Chinese. Twenty thousand Japanese troops have been sent to hospital throughout China. The Shanghai municipality has protested to the Japanese regarding the incidents on August 13. Lorries of armed Japanese to-day again made an effort to enter the International Settlement, but were turned back by Seaforth Highlanders and American marines armed with machine guns. CHINESE CONSUL’S REPORT TWO TOWNS RECAPTURED. [Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 17. The Chinese Consul is in receipt ot the following Hankow cablegram:— We have recaptured Kooho and Nanhsiapo, south of Kiukiaug. The enemy have retired northward, abandoning a large quantity of war materials. The hills in the vicinity of Kongko have changed hands many times. Severe fighting is still proceeding for their possession. On August 13 Chinese mobile units entered the Japanese aerodrome at Hongkew, Shanghai, killed a small number of enemy troops, hoisted the national flag of China, and then retired leisurely. The Chinese also recaptured a number of villages between Fuyang and Hangchow.