CHINA & JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1937, Page 5

CHINA & JAPAN

JABS. HUGE G AIN AIR RAID ON CANTON, tUnited Press Association—By Elec tern Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) TIENTSIN, September 10. The Japanese have captured a hundred thousand square miles of territory in North China, mostly unsettled. The Japanese -bombed Canton from the air, and it is believed tint* the raid resulted in heavy native casualties. A GREAT BATTLE. 400,000 MEN ENGAGED. JAPANESE CLAIM ADVANCE. TOKIO. September 15. According to a Domei ’Agency message, from Tientsin, the largest pitched battle in the present clash, has begun on a fifty mile front, on the Plains of Mona, where the Japanese launched an offensive against three hundred thousand Chinese. Facilitated bv the recent capture of the Tatung railway junction, attack is mainly directed against the Chinese between the Pekin-11 ankow and PekinPuKow railways, wherefrom they are already partly dislodged. enabling the Japanese to cross the Y migting River, on the west bank of which they captured Kuanchen and a numTier of small towns.

The battle, in which the Japanese are employing 100,000 men, lias extended to a 79-mile front from the mountains west of the Pekin-Hankow railway, near Liangsiang. The Japanese are driving the Chinese from positions in the hills, to 30 miles west of Tientsin.

The Japanese claim that -despite heavy rain they advanced from five to nine miles on the whole front, being halted only by the fast running Chuma river, 12 miles from the railway. The Chinese fought and counter-attacked at Liangsiang, but were driven back. Another Japanese column occupied Kwangliang, fifteen miles south or Tatung, whence they are threatening the Chinese defending the Yenmen Pass commanding the road to Tailyuanfu, the capital of Shensi.

The British United Press Tientsin correspondent points out that the Japanese penetration on wide fronts is complicating the difficulties of supplies and communications. Every cray sees a further advance from the bases, while facing increasing guerilla warfare. SHANGHAI, September 15. The French, British, Italian, American and Dutch Admirals sent- Notes, to the Chinese and Japanese; pointing out that missiles from aircraft guns were being fired on the Settlement, killing many non-combatants. They urge a cessation of aerial fighting and bombing. TOKIO. September 15. The Foreign Office spokesman, rebutting the Chinese charges of Japanese attacks on non-combatants and .i cultural buildings, states that the Chinese are using the latter as bases. Lie warned the League, if it acts on unsupported Chinese statements, an incident, similar to the Manchukuo will follow. BRITISH LINER HALTED. HONGKONG, September 16. ! A Japanese -destroyer halted the liner Rawal Pindi when one hundred miles from Hongkong. The liner signalled that she was bound for Hongkong, and she was allowed to proceed without any examination.

NAVAL BATTLE. SHANGHAI. September 15. The first naval battle occurred in Pearl River, five Japanese and two Chinese warships participating. The Japanese claim that they disabled the Chinese warship “Chao Ho,” and deny that their vessels were damaged. HONGKONG, September 15. Chinese planes attacked. 20 Japanese warships in Bias Bay, including two aircraft carriers, one of which was disabled. CONSUL’S REPORT. WELLINGTON. September 16. The Chinese Consul received the following cablegram from Nanking: The Afilitary Spokesman confirmed the withdrawal of Chinese troops, yesterday, from Yinlising village, the civic centre near Kiangwan, and points on the northern fringe of the Yangtsepoo -district. The Japanese have already advanced to the civic centre, hut Kiangwan, two miles further west, is still in Chinese hands. Sufficient forces are concentrated there to check a further Japanese advance. The fall of Yuopoo and Ahinghang, north-westward of the civic centre, exposed Chinese positions evacuated yesterday to the danger of being outflanked. if a withdrawal were not made in time. The Japanese control over a narrow strip of land from the river, was gained at the priy-e of over 10. OHO casualties. Now that the battle has been carried further inland, all the advantage- no longer lie with Japanese. said tile spokesman. It wits revealed at the beginning of the hostilities that the Chinese hoped to clear the International Settlement of Japane-o forces before iurtlior reinforcements could he landed. '1 his task was progressing with the utmostsatisfaction, when large numbers of Japanese troops, under cover of a naval barrage, landed as various

points outside Shanghai. Neither the landing of Japanese reinforcements nor the subsequent push inland could effectively he prevented, lor as t'ne Chinese counter-attacked and advanced near the river-bank, Japanese warships blazed into action and brought down upon them the concentrated lurv of the navy batteries.

The spokesman expressed himself as being satisfied with the result of the fighting so far, and predicted that fiercer battle lies ahead. JAPANESE APPOINTMENT. TOKIO, September 15. ’ The former War Minister, Count Torauchi, has been appointed to command the Japanese Army in the large Shanghai sector. TARANAKI FARAIERS. REPORT ON THE FIGHTING SYDNEY, September 16. Passengers by the ship Kamo Maru, which arrived here to-day from China, included two New Zealand tanners from Taliora (Taranaki). They were detained for thirteen days in Peking while fighting between the Japanese and Chinese went on around them.'All of the roads to safety had been blocked, but the New Zealanders took the first train out after the Japanese took possession of the city. The New Zealanders said that Chinese people commenced working for the Japanese as soon as they entered the city. The wounded Chinese numbered about two thousand, but no one seemed to worry about them, or to treat them. The New Zealanders added that*one phase of the war that was hard to understand was the way in which war material went through the Chinese Customs to the Japanese Army in Peking. CHINESE APPEAL. REFERRED TO ADVISORY COAIAHTTEE. (Received this day at 10.5 a.in.) GENEVA. September 16. The League Council has referred the Chinese appeal to the advisory committee which has been convened for next week.