JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 April 1938, Page 7

JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

BATTLE IN SHANTUNG HUGE ARMIES ENGAGED SHANGHAI, April 18. The Japanese have begun a big offensive in the vicinity of Lingyi to recover the ground-' recently lost to the Chinese. The correspondent of the British United Press at 'Shanghai reports .that according to the Chinese military authorities the biggest battle in Far Eastern history will be waged in Shantung Province. More than 1,000,000 fresh troops are being hurried to the battlefield to meet about 500,000 Japanese north and south of Hsuchow. Indications are that the Japanese will stake the fate of their North China campaign oh a frontal attack towards Hsuchok, where the Chinese defences are strong. Chiang Kai-shek has ordered his troops to capture Yihsien, north-east of Hsuchow, to-day. The Chinese claim to have taken 10,000. prisoners on this front. WEDGE BETWEEN JAP. ARMIES (Recd. April 19, 2 p.m.). LONDON, April 18. The “Telegraph’s” Shanghai correspondent says: So deep is.'Xhe Chinese wedge between the Japanese forces that the invaders are unable to unite the northern and southern columns in the Lingyi arena. “The Times’ ” Shanghai correspondent says: The Chinese irregulars, doubling back on the former lines of retreat, penetrated as far as the east side of Pootung, besides embarrassing the Japanese west of Shanghai. JAPANESE CLAIM. TOKIO, April 18. The Japanese operating in southern Shansi dispersed 20,000 Chinese, after a fierce seven-hour battle in the mountains near Wusiang.

JAPANESE CASUALTIES. (Recd. April 19, 1 p.m.) SHANGHAI, April 18. The immediate result of the Japanese withdrawal from North Honan and elsewhere to strengthen the assault on Hsuchow was a series of Chinese flank attacks, inflicting heavy casualties, while the guerilla forces are hampering the arrival of Japanese reinforcements from Shanghai and Nanking. PANAY INDEMNITY. (Received April 19, 11 a.m.) TOKIO, April 18., The Domei News Agency understands that the Government isi paying the Panay indemnity to the United States, immediately. RAID ON CANTON. HONG KONG, April 18The Japanese air raid on Canton resulted hi 250 civilians being killed and 300 injuredEMBARGO PROPOSAL. (Recd. April 19, 11 a.m.) LONDON, April 18. The shop assistants’ conference at Leeds passed a resolution urging the National Council of Labour to impose an embargo on Japanese goods, in conjunction • with the International Federation of. Trade Unions. JAPS. AND PHILIPPINES . WELLINGTON, April 19. In the opinion of Major W. H. Anderson, a retired United States Army officer, Who arrived by the Awatea to-day, the Philippine Islands are in no danger from Japan. . He said that Japan’s attitude towards the Philippines was one of economic penetration, and he believed there was no likelihood of her endeavouring to control the islands other than by trade.