DEFENCE OF HSUCHOW

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 May 1938, Page 7

DEFENCE OF HSUCHOW

CHINESE HOLD ATTACKERS JAP. CLAIMS DENIED |BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN—COPYBIGHT.] SHANGHAI, May 17. The Japanese report from the battlefront that their infantry and mechanised forces are" massing a mile west of Hsuchow, preparing for a general attack. The city was heavily shelled during the day. The Japanese admit that there is stiff resistance. Neutral observers are disposed to confirm yesterday’s Chinese claim that the majority of their forces escaped the Japanese trap. The Dome! News Agency reports Chinese counter-attacks west of Hsuchow and fierce fighting on a 60-mile front roughly between Kweiteh and Lanfeng. A Hankow message states that Chinese headquarters minimise the Japanese raids on the Lunghai railway. The Japanese raid on Tangshan actually ended in a rout with 700 casualties. The Chinese have no intention of withdrawing from gsuchow. CHINESE RETREATING (Recd. May 18, 10.30 a.m.) •; TOKIO, May 17. The Japanese ' occupied Pawenghsan, six miles south of Hsuchow, the road to which is swarming with retreating Chinese. The Japanese movement to Hsucliow seems to be becoming a pursuit, instead of an annihilating battle, as anticipated, but the Chinese, despite their general apparently well-con-ducted retreat, may be pinned’ in the angle of the Grand Canal.

JAPANESE CONFIDENCE (Recd. May 18, 8 a.m.). TOKIO, May 17. The Japanese are converging armies from a semi-circle, with an average radius of 36 miles, around Hsuchow railway junction, the nearest point being seven miles. Asked as to the prospects of the fall of Hsuchow, General Terauchi said: “Hsuchow isn’t a question to us. There is no place that won’t fall before our Army’s onslaught. Our plan is to knock out the enemy at one blow.”. ' CHINESE SUCCESS (Recd. May 18, 1.45 p.m.). ' HANKOW, May 17. The Chinese, in addition to the T'angshan success, killed GOO Japanese, and captured IS armoured cars at Hantaokou.

SECRETARY RELEASED. YOKOHAMA, May 16. Mr. Frederick O’Hara, resident secretary to three British insurance compan’es. who was detained by the Ja-ncr'-e on May 5 for alleged violation ' lie military and naval secret laws, h-.is been released on his own recognisance-.. AUSTRALIAN WATERSIDERS SYDNEY. May 17. Shipping circles are perturbed about the probable outcome of the clash between the Federal Government and the Sydney waterside workers over the workers’ refusal to load tin clippings and scrap iron for Japan. All the wharves here will be idle on May 25 for a stop-working meeting.. The watersiders will then de’cide their attitude after the Government’s ultimatum which, if it is carried out, will mean thgt every wharf worker in Sydney to take out a licence before lie can obtain employment. Sydney unionists have so far escaped the licensing obligation, but watersiders in Melbourne and Adelaide have been working under it since the last shipping hold-up. More than 3000 tons of scrap metal are lying on Adelaide wharves because of the refusal of the watersjders to load for Japan.