RETREAT FROM NANKING

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1937, Page 5

RETREAT FROM NANKING

CHINESE IN BOATS Japan’s Grip Tightens FOREIGN" SHIPS WARNED OFF. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] TOKIO, December 12. Nanking’s battle of the gates rages without respite. The Japanese are not claiming important progress, despite the employment of bombing planes and artillery, in the effort to preach the south and east walls. A measure of success attends the Chinese resistance as indicated by the retirement of the Japanese, ostensibly to afford a clear field for gunfire from elsewhere than the Chunghwa gate which they still hold. LONDON, December 12. The "Daily- Telegraph’s” Shanghai ) correspondent says: The Japanese activities round Nanking are those of a cat playing with a mouse. Wellinformed people believe that the Japanese can capture the city as soon as their leaders desire. Already Japanese tanks have been twice inside the breached walls and have come out again. The Army Command is still hoping that China will sue for peace before the capital falls. The Chinese, on the contrary, are hoping to draw the Japanese deep into the hinterland after the capital is taken. SHANGHAI, December 12. A message received at Shanghai states that Nanking’s telephones, water supply, and electricity were cut off. ’ The Chinese commander at blanking sent messages to Hankow saying that the Chinese troops were surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese, who forced the Kwanghua gate. ‘ JAPANESE ADVANCE UP YANGTZE RIVER. (Received December 13, 11.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, December 13. Japanese warships have broken the boom over the Yangtze at Chinkiang, and are steaming up the river to bombard Nanking. The Japanese claim to have occupied Pukow, opposite Nanking, the terminus of the Tientsin-Pukow railway, so that the Cninese can retire only by the river, which is constantly under fire. " The Japanese also claim to have captured part of the Nanking wail to the south-west of the Chungshan Gate, and they are extending their occupation along the walls. The Chinese are retreating up the river in junks and steamers, which are being bombed from the air, and shelled. Foreign vessels have been warned by the Japanese to stay away, or to cease any movements that might oe mistaken for that of retreating Chinese. JAPAN'S INTENTIONS. LONDON PRESS VERSION. LONDON, December 10. The Tokio correspondent of the “DaiW Telegraph” says: The Japanese Cabinet is reported to have decided to withdraw diplomatic recognition from the present Chinese Government; to pursue long-term fighting against the forces of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, and to aid in the reconstruction of another China. The last-mentioned aim can only mean the creation of a Government replacing Chiang Kai-shek’s which will be amenable to Japan. The Japanese peace terms, it is learned from semiofficial sources, are nothing less than complete domination of north and central China, and the establishment of a Japanese concession in Shanghai north of the Soochow creek. Foreign rights and customs will be respected, but Japan will constitute herself judge of the merits of claims.

JAP ENVOY. LONDON, December 12. Count. Ishii visited Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Eden. CHINESE STUDENT’S COMMENT. AUCKLAND, December 13. "Many people believe that when Nanking falls into the hands of the Japanese, the Chinese will be beaten. Such is not the case, as China is determined to fight to the bitter end, ’ said Kwan Che Chan, a 20-year-old Chinese student, a passenger on the Monterey, on the way to Columbia University, New York, to study international law.

“7 saw Japanese planes over Canton on many occasions. At first they flew at about 1,000 feet. On , one occasion, however, the Chinese antiaircraft guns brought down four Jap. planes. From that time, the raiders had been flying as high as possible.” Chan commented on the lack of skill of the Jap. flyers, pointing out that while always dropping bombs on railways, their bombing frequently was not attended with real results. “Never before have the people of China been so united. The Chinese are not afraid of the Jap. planes. The Canton people are going about their work as usual, but when I left they would run into dugouts during the air raids. We in China thought our country a weak nation. The Chinese, however, are strengthening the defences and are determined to fight to the bitter end. We realise that at the beginning we must have many failures, but believe the day wm come when we will win the last battle.”