JAP OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 6 December 1932, Page 5

JAP OFFENSIVE

IN MANCHURIA x Town of Hailar Bombed (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received December 5 al 7,30 pm.) SHANGHAI, December 5. The general offensive which was launched by combined Japanese and Manchukuo forces in the direction of I lai ar on November 30th. has been halted temporarily at 1h- Hiugan Mountains, where plans are being ’jrepared for a final drive towards Hailar. Th<. Japanese reports state that Hailer, which is a thriving railway market town on th” Western Section of the (■real Chinese Eastern Railway, was bombed by Japanese aircraft, thereby compelling the Chinese General, Supingw -ns, hurried d ! part lire by camel t rai n. . ’.'he town of Hailar. however is still being held by the anti-Manchukuo tones, who have taken two hundred :md fifty Japanese prisoners. ’i he immediate purp'os e of th ■ Japanese <bive was to release these prisoners. I he Nipponese forc-es ar” campaigning under difficult i-ondii ions. Th° temperature is forty degrees below zero. The plains are eovriq with snow, and the rivers are frozCn. A Massacre OF CHINESE SOLDIERS. (Aus & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SHANGHAI. Dereml.o! (, \ .-'Ui.-ill Chinese steamer carrying troops, adherents of General L’.-r llsiang. was approaching Chungking, wli”n soldiers belonging Id ,-i rival General. ma< hine-gunnrd if from the riv. 'r bank, riddling the vessel and "W. rpihg (he crowded decks. The ship reached Hankow a ghastly >ight. The alleyways were running with blood. Over two hundred dead were spread over the decks. OPIUM WAR. IN SHANTUNG PENINSULA. (Received December 5 at 7.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, DeeembcT 5. Although the Shantung civil war has been satisfactorily settled, the rival Generals are fighting bitterly for possession cif the opium rights of the Shantung Province, whore, during the past year, arable lands have been cou verted into poppy fields, and enormous quantities of the native drug arc being manufactured.