JAPANESE ADVANCING

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1939, Page 7

JAPANESE ADVANCING

HAN RIVER CROSSED HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED [by cable— press ASSN.— COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. March 9, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The “Telegraph’s” Hong Kong correspondent states that Chinese wounded are pouring into Ichang, from the Han River- They allege the wholesale use of poison-gas, which, combined with artillery and aeroplanes, broke the Chinese lines, permitting the Japanese to cross the Han River. The loss of Chung-slang paved the way for the Japanese advance towards Ichang, threatening the isolation of the Chinese over a wide area in the Yangtse River elbow. Many towns are reported to be on lire, including Sanyangtien. which was razed. . ... There is incessant fighting in the Tienmen sector, where Japanese reinforcements prevented the Chipese breaking through. • The Chinese continue their drive south of the Yangtse River, and are within five miles of Yoyang. SOVIET ROUTE RAIDED.

(Recd. March 9, 1 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. “The Times’s” Shanghai correspondent says that the Japanese made a mass air attalck on the Soviet arms route, raiding the remote Kansu corridor, between the Tibetan and Mongol borderlands, and bombing Yunchang and two other towns west of Lanchow. “IMPERIALIST INVASION.” (Recd. March 9, 1 p.m.) SHANGHAI, March 8. The Japanese Fascist leader, Mr Seigonakani, in a speech, said that Japan aims at ending the Imperialist invasion of China by the British, who, the moment the Japanese withdrew, would extend their influence, but there was no need for Japan to worry, because England and France were not in a position to send a'rmies to the Far East. PURCHASE OF MUNITIONS.

TOKIO, March 8. Baron Itagaki, replying to a ques tion in the Diet, said that the army had no difficulty in buying munitions abroad. CHINESE CURRENCY. RUGBY, March 8. Sir J. Simon announced, in the Commons, that the Government had agreed to give a £5,000,000 guarantee, which would• enable the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the Chartered Bank ,to participate in the stabilisation fund for the support of Chinese currency. BANK OF JAPAN. TOKIO, March 8. The Government has submitted a Bill in the Diet, increasing the note issue of the Bank of Japan by £30,000,000. I -