CHINESE WAR

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 October 1924, Page 7

CHINESE WAR

MUKDEN FORCE’S VICTORY. PEKING IN DANGER OF BOMBING BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received Oct. 20, 11.45 a.m. PEKING, Oct. 19. Five divisions and two brigades sent to; Shanhaikwan to drive out the invading Mukden forces were completely shattered in a series of battles which have been raging just south of the Great Wall for a fortnight. These forces are now cut into three isolated parts, and are surrounded by Northerners who are determined to annihilate themi A message from Mukden estimates the enemy casualties at already half the total engaged. They are unable to reinforce, and their munitions are becoming exhausted. Pekingites are desperatefy attempting to force a way out. Wu Pei Fu, who was regarded as invincible, has fled abroad on a cruiser, which was driven from Chingwangtao with .the rest of the fleet by a raid by twenty Mukden aeroplanes. Two warships were set on fire. Mukden troops are "approaching Jehol, the capture of which will be followed by the bombing of Peking, which is within easy flying distance. Experienced eyewitnesses state that the fighting is as fierce as in manv battles of the great war, and wholly dissimilar from the usual Chinese burlesque.— Aus.-N.Z; Cable Assn.