DESPERATE FIGHTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 229, 26 August 1938, Page 7

DESPERATE FIGHTING.

SINO-JAPANESE CONFLICT. IN YANGTSE ZONE. Received August 26, 11.50 a.m. SHANGHAI, Aug. 25. Desperate fighting is proceeding in the sweltering heat in the vicinity of Juichang. The Chinese deny the loss of the town. They have entrenched 300,000 troops along the Nanchang railway.

It was reported yesterday that the Japanese had captured Juichang which is situated just west of Kiukiang, near tho Yangtse Riv-cr. • • • *

FIVE SURVIVE.

INTERNATIONAL ’PLANE’S FATE.

JAPANESE EXPLANATION

HONG KONG, Aug. 25. Five persons survived the international ’plane crash after it had been machine-gunned b3’ Japanese, two, more reached Macao so seriously injured that they were unhble to state their names. , , , The British gunboat Cicala located the ’plane at a depth of 45it. It is assumed that it contains the victims. A naval salvage tender is going to the spot. „ . The Chinese newspaper Takungpao says the incident is a direct answer to President Roosevelt and Mr Cordell Hull’s speeches ' condemning international lawlessness. A Tokio message says that the naval spokesman (Vice-Admiral Noda) explains that-in the absence of identification marks the Japanese were unaware it was a passenger ’plane. Vice-Admiral Noda said the puine turned from the Japanese and tried to escape in a cloudbank. When it landed the postal markings were discernible. All the occupants aparently escaped. Vice-Admiral Noda denied that tbe Japanese deliberately attacked the ’plane' with intent to kill Dr Sun Fo. Japan’s action was justified under the international regulations, which said that non-combatants flew in tbe zone ot hostilities at their own risk.