CANTON STAGGERED

Grey River Argus, 30 May 1938, Page 7

CANTON STAGGERED

BOMBED BY 40 PLANES % Fires Raging 1400 KILLED AND WOUNDED. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received May 29, 7.30 p.m.) CANTON, May 28. The city of Canton is staggering under an intense bombing, which was begun at 11.15 a.m., to-day. By noon one hundred bombs had been dropped from groups of Japanese ’planes that were nying over the city. The raiders returned at 1.15 p.m. At least five hundred were killed, and nine hundred were wounded. Included in the casualties were forty rescuers killed,' and fifty wounded, when they were trapped during the second raid. The Wongsha area of Canton was bombed four times. One hundred houses were destroyed. Some bombs fell near the public hospital, which is far removed from the military establishments.

Across the river from Canton the i scene was one of terrible confusion. Thousands of panic-stricken inhabitants tried to cross to the foreign setI tlement, where the Foreign Guards ! prevented them from entering. Most 1 of the fugitives took refuge along the waterfront. Consequently, the carnage was less than had been feared. Fires are raging in the densely-po-pulated Saikwan and Wongsha areas, both of which are pitted with immense craters. Two streets adjacent to the Wongsha railway station were demolished. Rescuers are still working in removing victims from the wreckage. JAPANESE ACCOUNT. (Received May 29, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. The Japanese account of the raids from Tokio, states: “Forty Japanese ’planes to-day effectively bombed Canton railways and military establishments.” RAILWAY WRECKED. BY JAPANESE IN SOUTH CHINA. (Received May 29, 6.35 p.m.) HONG KONG, May 28. Despite the notification of the dispatch to-day of a special train carrying British naval ratings, to relieve the crews of British gun-boats on the Yangtse River, the Japanese, overnight, so wrecked the Kowloon-Can-lon railway, that the train was unable to leave. LANGFENG RECAPTURED. BY CHINESE. LONDON, May 27. The Chinese Foreign Ministry informed the Chinese Embassy in London that Langfeng was recaptured, after the Chinese inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese. This frees Ihe Lunghai railway between Kaifeng and Kweiteh. The Japanese remnants are being pursued by the Chinese who are also surrounding and attacking the Japanese reinforcements at Kwantai.

LUNGHAI RAILWAY.

JAPANESE TAKE KEYPOINT. (Received May 29, 7 p.m.) TOKIO, May 28. The Japanese have entered Kweiteh, which is the keypoint of the Lunghai Railway. The Japanese claim that they ar~ still holding Langfeng. JAPANESE MINISTERIAL CHANGES. SPEEDING UP WAR. LONDON, May 27. It is persistently reported that General Sugiyama has resigned from the War Ministry, thus reducing the militarist strength of the Cabinet to fom. The reconstruction is regarded as a triumph for the Prime Minister (Prince Konoye). It implies that the Russian bogy has been relegated to the background, making possible a more intense exploitation of China based on Japan’s unassailable hegemony in the Far East. General Ugaki said: "I am going to do something to readjust our relations with foreign Powers, so wait and see. Mr. Ikeda’s appointment foreshadows that everything has been sacrificed for the sake of winning the war. The Associated Press learns that the Japanese Cabinet changes are considered the sequel to the inability to terminate the conflict with China It has long been feared that as the situation became more difficult for Japan she would make it more difficult for others. The vital question is whether Japan, believing that in the long run she will not subdue China will in desperation embark on a flat-out campaign, threatening international interests in the Far East and Pacific. The British and other Governments are closely watching for a favourable moment for mediation. SHANGHAI, May 27.

Japan has expressed sincere regrets for the maltreatment of Wilkinson and has promised corrective steps TOKIO, May 27.

The War Office has recalled Lieutenant General Kideki Tojo, Chief of Staff in Kwantung. SHANGHAI, May 27.

The Japanese authorities are searching for a New- Zealand journalist, Miss Iris Wilkinson (Robin Hyde), who departed on donkey back .from Suchow to the north-eastern front, which is now overrun by Japanese troops retreating from Langfeng. She may possibly have taken refuge with missionaries, who were determined to remain at Suchow to safeguard Chinese refugees. Miss Iris Wilkinson is better known throughout New Zealand as Kobin Hyde, under which name she has written several books and made regular contributions to magazines published in the Dominion. Formerly employed in Christchurch, Miss Wilkinson left New Zealand for Australia early this year, and from there went on to China. She had been living at Auckland during the past few years.