CHINESE DEFEAT

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1938, Page 7

CHINESE DEFEAT

JAPANESE PURSUIT For “Knock-out” Blow [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l 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 pfospects 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 play is to knock out the enemy at) one blow.”

The Japanese occupied Pawenglisan, six miles south of Hsuchow, the road to which is swarming with retreating Chinese. The Japanese movement to Hsuchow seems to be becoming a pursuit, instead of an annihilating battle, as was expected, but the Chinese, despite their general apparently well-con-ducted retreat, may be pinned in the angle of the Grand Canal. CHINESE SUCCESS... HANKOW, May 17. The Chinese, in addition to the Tangshau success, killed 600 Japanese, and captured 18 armoured cars at Hantaokou. BRITISHER RELEASED BY JAPS. YOKOHAMA, May 16. Mr Frederick O’Hara, Resident Secretary to three British insurance companies, who was detained by the Japanese on May 5 for alleged violation of military and naval secret laws, has been released on his own r eco gnisances.