TREMENDOUS CASUALTIES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 March 1938, Page 5

TREMENDOUS CASUALTIES.

LAST LINE OUTSIDE HANKOW. DESPERATE DEFENCE BEFORE HSUCHOW.

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.--Copyright) Received Tuesday, 7.5 p.m. HANKOW, March 22. Desperate fighting is proceeding on ' the Tientsin-Pukow railway front, with the Chinese and Japanese locked in a savage struggle for the possession of the key town of Hsuchow. The Chinese are selling every inch of ground dearly in the defence of Hsuchow, and their losses over the four days of the offensive are believed to be 20,000 compared with 5000 by the Japanese. It is not expected - that the Chinese will stem the Japanese advance south of the grand canal for more than a week, but stiffer resistance is expected at Hsuchow, around which, aided by German mechanicians, the Chinese have built an iron ring consisting of elaborate trenches, dug-outs and pillboxes, which will eventually be manned by 250,000 troops. The Chinese are expected to make a desperate stand at Hsuchow, since it is the last scientific defence line between there and Hankow. The Chinese assert that their flank attacks, including bayonet charges, severed the Japanese communications between Tenghsien and Hanchwang, but the Japanese claim to have killed 3000 in a series of attacks in this part of the province and to have captured and Shansi, where they claim the Chinese resistance i& broken. The Chinese not only report further guerilla successes in Shansi, but declaTO 'they have pushed back the Japanese at all points along the Yellow River, removing the threat of invasion of Shansi. Chinese troops from Shansi made a surprise raid on Tokuto, a trading centre in southern Suiyuan. The Chinese claim the capture of this place, but the Japanese assert the raiders were heavily repulsed. The British United Press Hong Kong correspondent says Japanese 'planes bombed the German Catholic Church at Lincheng, wounding a German. They - also bombed the German Catholic Mission Church, which was crowded with refugees, killing four and wounding 200 Chinese.

ITALIANS IN JAPAN GOODWILL MISSION. Eeceived Wednesday, 12.30 a.m. TOKIO, March 22. The Emperor received the Italian Goodwill Mission. The leader, Marquis Paulucci, gave the Emperor a message from the King of Italy and presents from Signor Mussolini.

UNKNOWN PERSONS FIRE ON JAPS. FEARED JAPS WILL RETALIATE. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) v " SHANGHAI, March 22. Unknown persons driving across the Japanese occupied area at Hongkew opened fire in a Japanese street and one Japanese civilian is reported to have been killed. All bridges in the. International Setlement are closed and the troops have been called out and machine guns placed at the entrances as it was feared the Japanese would retaliate.