CHINA & JAPAN

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1938, Page 5

CHINA & JAPAN

THE FLOOD PERIL

WIDE AREA DEVASTATED.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

HANKOW, June 19. The Chinese spokesman tor the Yellow River Conservancy Board expressed tears that the floods would inundate north-east Honan, north Kiangsu and north Anhwei. He also pointed out the possibility .that the Hwai river and the Yangtse might break their banks as a result of the influx from the Yellow river. The Yangtse, because of the continued rainfall, is approaching a record level. The authorities are strengthening the dykes iu the neighbourhood of Hankow.

A Tokio message says it is aclmitte<l that 200,000 Chinese invaded Shansi Province, which the Japanese claimed to dominate. The Japanese accuse the Chinese of using poison gas. The, Japanese admit that their army is powerless against the floods which are sweeping the battlefield. Their efforts to plug the breaches have failed and the water has risen four feet in two days. In addition to the flood barrier, Chinese guerilla forces in the Shansi mountains are preventing the Japanese westerly push from threatening the lifeline among which China is receiving supplies from Russia. A Peiping message says the puppet Government issued a manifesto condemning Cliiang Kai-shek for cutting the dykes, which it was said, would serve no purpose but the destruction of the Chinese State, and impoverishment of the people. The manifesto urged him to concede defeat and sue for peace. The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press states that foreign military quarters express the opinion that the Yellow river floods may be one of history’s greatest defensive measures, proving as disas- j trous for the Japanese as the Russians’ burning of Moscow for Napoleon’s Grand Army. It is reported that Chinese troops j east of the Peiping-Hankow railway | in many sectors are linking tfie rivers by means of canals to direct the flood southwards, thus creating an impassable barrier between the Lunghai railway and Minotnng, where the Japanese, were, previously advancI mg ' I The disaster is the worst since 1805. ; Experts express the opinion that the floods will render the Japanese mechI anised ■ armies useless, destroy the j aerodromes, and force the infantry to wallow in muddy devastation. Already scores of Japanese military bridges have been swept away, many miles of roads have disappeared and flooded trenches have been abandoned. !

) No fewer than 700,000 Chinese are | homeless,. Two hundred thbusahd have taken refuge in Japanese camps,' creating a gigantic problem of feeding and housing. Many thousands are starving, as the areas they

have reached have already been devastated by war operations.