CHINA & JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1937, Page 5

CHINA & JAPAN

SLOW PROGRESS MADE BY JAPANESE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, September 13. After one month’s lighting the Japanese on the Shanghai front have nowhere penetrated more than live miles from the coast. The Japanese planes have been unable to locate Chinese batteries that are hidden in bamboo groves in Pootung. Communications are still open between Shanghai, Nanking and Hangchow, despite constant Japanese bombing. “The ’rimes’ ” correspondent at Shanghai says: Experts consider that the Japanese can force the issue when their preparations are complete, but the question of whether more men can help them, is being considered. Adverse conditions have thus far, prevented the Japanese from taking the initiative. They can buy nothing in China. They must bring all Ot their food and labour from Japan.

HEAVY LOSSES REPORTED

SHANGHAI, September 12

The Chinese fiercely' attacked Japanese blue-jackets at Shanghai. Using tanks, the Japanese captured Yanching, in tiie Woosung sector. They are now entrenching themselves, and the Chinese are preparing to counterattack. An eerie feature of the conflict is the nocturnal evacuation of Chinese wounded. Secrecy of movement has been made necessary by’ the Japanese bombing of Red Cross lorries. A skeleton line of unlighted trucks moves to safety each night, with 'boy scouts acting as drivers and escorts.

Five thousand Chinese wounded are accommodated in the hospitals and cabarets in the International Settlement. Beds are arranged on the dance floors of the cabarets, medicine bottles ousting wine bottles from the bars and officials replacing orchestra players. Singsong girls are joining women students as nurses. Patients exemplify the traditional Chinese stoicism, silently bearing the agony of bomb wounds and shell wounds.

Fruitless Japanese attacks almost equalised the casualty fists. The warfare is relentless. On both sides the wounded are being slaughtered, Japanese allegedly shooting Chinese Red Cross members.

The Japanese, until 0 Shanghai and Woosung junction is effected cannot develop a mass attack. The Chinese lost heavily in fighting, but their gallantry extorts praise from “even the ranks of Tuscany” in the shape of the Japanese genera! headquarters. The invaders are still struggling to effect a junction of forces at Shanghai and Woosung. Despite a week’s continuous infantry’ attacks, supported by artillery fire, a mile and a half of the west bank of the Whangpoo separates the two principal Japanese forces owing to tile unforseen staying power of the Chinese*, who, though bombed from the river, still remain sandwiched with deadly effect between the Japanese detachments, which hoped to surround and overwhelm them. Apart from the fact that the Eighth Route Arm.v has not yet been encountered in force the defeated Chinese habitually’ become bandits, for which reason the Japanese victory mayleave the rear seething with guerilla bands, which it would be tedious to exterminate. JAPANESE ADVANCE FURTHER. SHANGHAI. September 13. New Japanese reinforcements ha-ve been landed at Liulio,. at Paoshan and at Woosung. Their object is the retaking of Lotion. The Japanese, at dawn to-day, consolidated a twenty-mile line stretching along the Yangste River to Woosung. The Japanese have now penetrated seven miles inland. JAPAN’S WOOL BUYING. TOKIO, September 13. The paper “Asahi” .reports that under the new law for the control of trade, and industry, which will remain operative until one year after the end of tiie China conflict, M. Yoshino. the Minister of Commerce, is arranging a special syndicate to deal with wool. ’Pile syndicate is comprised of Kanematsu. Mitsii, Mitsubishi, Okura and lida firms. The purpose will be the co-ordinating of the purchase of all Japan’s wool requirements. The paper’s correspondent adds: “Evidently, the foregoing concentration foreshadows a cessation of the intra-Japanese competition at the wool auctions. CHINESE OFFICIAL MESSAGE WELLINGTON. September 13. The Chinese Consul received the following cablegram:—Despite fierce Japanese onslaughts, the Chinese positions at Yangtsopoo and Woosung areas continue unchanged yesterday. The most severe engagement took place at Jukong wharf. Ihe Chinese recorded further gains at the Lotien sector, while 5 uehpo continues in Chinese hands. An entire battalion of Chinese troops, defending Paoshan against overwhelming odds and devastating bombardment by Japanese warships and planes, fell on the seventh with the city. Only two or three wounded soldiers survived. It is new known that the Japanese concen-

trated gunfire from thirty warships, and used over twenty tanks and » number of planes, besides a large infantry force to capture the city, in which the Chinese battalion held out for two days. A Chinese air force yesterday bombed the* Japanese warships on Whangpoo River, and the Japanese air field at Yangtsopoo. About ten Japanese planes are believed to have been destroyed. Retaliating, the Japanese bombed Nantao, demolishing a large number of Chinese houses, and killing a considerable number of civilians. ( lIINESE COUNTER ATTACK. LONDON, September 13. “The 'l imes’ ” Shanghai correspondent says: Chinese counter offensives have, apparently, recovered ground that was lost in the last Japanese attack.

Both sides are exhausted after thirty hours of fighting, and have suspended operations in the Lotien sector. A superior number of Chinese forces have surrounded the Japanese forces between Lotien. Yangehang, Woosmig, and Yangtsopoo. amid a network oF muddy creeks, where every village is a natural fortress. A JAPANESE OBJECTIVE. TO CUT OFF CHINESE SUPPLIES. (Received this day at 12 noon). HONG KONG, September 13. It is reported the Japanese have* landed at Bias Bay with the object of severing Chinese supplies from Hong Kong.

A CHINESE CHARGE. JAP ACTIONS ENDANGERING AUSTRALIA? (Received this day at 12 noon). NANKING, September 13.

The Chinese League of Nations Society cabled Air J. A. Lyons, Premier of Australia., and the president of the Phillippincs, alleging that Japanese ‘naval activities in the South China Sea threaten Australia the .Phillippines and Hong Kong. CHINESE NOTE. LONDON, September 13. A memorandum accompanying the Chinese Note alleges Japanese are bombing the Red Cross and attacking non-combatants, bent on ruthless slaughter and wanton destruction, CHIN ESE AY ITH DR A \V. FOR NEW DEFENCE LINK (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) NANKING, September ]3. Chinese withdrew without loss in admirable order to a new line of defence after the demolition of the first line three miles distant, after five weeks intensive bombardment.' The new line runs almost direct from North Station to Litium, occupying semi-permanent delonces, and affording . improved communication beyond the range of fire of Japanese warships.

Chinese repulsed Japanese marines who landed at Bias Bay and wrecked several anti-piracy forts. Canton is rushing troops thither to prevent Japanese treating an airport. CHOLERA SPREADING. SHANGHAI. September 13. Cholera is spreading, cases now numbering 450 in the French Concession, ami seventy-nine in the International Settlement, sixtv of which were fatal. Most of the victims were Chinese refugees. Japanese casualties in the Paoshan Sector number two hundred. Japanese bombed a fleet of junks in Soochow Creek, sank three and killed or wounded four hundred refugees.