JAPANESE IN SOUTH CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 24007, 4 October 1941, Page 10

JAPANESE IN SOUTH CHINA

CONDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL OFFERED CERTAIN CONCESSIONS WANTED FROM AMERICA (Roc. 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 3. The N.B.C. picked up a message from Shanghai stating that the Japanese Ambassador in Washington had been instructed to inform the United States Government that Japan is willing to withdraw from South China, excepting the Hainan area. _ This withdrawal is conditional on being granted certain unspecified concessions by the United States. CHANGSHA FIGHTING JAPANESE EXPLANATIONS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. British newspapers display considerable interest in the reports of big Chinese successes in the region of Changsha, from which town the Japanese now admit that their forces have been withdrawn. Competent observers express the opinion that the Japanese offensive against the Chinese in Honan is designed more to relieve the pressure on the troops defeated at Changsha than the semi-official statement that it is part of the same campaign to obtain possession of the Hankow-Canton railway. HEAVY JAPANESE CASUALTIES (Rec. 11.55 a.m.) CHUNGKING, , October 3. A special despatch from army headquarters asserts that the Japanese suffered 79,500 casualties in north Hunan province. Thirty-three thousand six hundred Japanese bodies were found on the battlefield. Only 796 Japanese officers were taken prisoner. HEAVIER NAZI RAIDS UHKt SPELL OF IMMUNITY OVER (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, October 3. Last night’s German air attack on a south-east coast town appeared in sharp contrast to the long spell of immunity. Three times raiders crossed the straits and then dived on the town to drop bombs in several districts. A considerable amount of damage was caused to small, properties and a block of flats. Those killed included six elderly people, while nearly 30 injured were admitted to hospital. .The attacks were methodically timed, being: made at about hourly intervals. The Tieavicst raid was about midnight, when a wave of enemy aircraft swooped on the town. As the raiders returned across the Channel they dropped red Verey lights to prevent their own A.A. batteries on the French coast from firing on them. Over a * south-east coast town they met with very heavy A.A. fire and night fighters also went up. machine-gun fire being heard.