Chinese Claim Sweeping Victories In Northern Sector

Northern Advocate, 29 March 1938, Page 7

Chinese Claim Sweeping Victories In Northern Sector

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 28. piIINESE HEADQUARTERS AT HANKOW CLAIM SWEEPING VICTORIES ON ALL FRONTS IN THE NORTHERN TIENTSIN-PUKOW RAILWAY SECTOR, THE JAPANESE LOSSES IN TSAOCHWANG ALONE, THEY SAY, EXCEED 1000 MEN. FIVE TANKS, TWO FIELD GUNS AND 40 MACHINE-GUNS WERE CAPTURED. . The Japanese defeats are the outcome of vain efforts of the forces in North and Central China to unite along the railway. They are still 100 miles apart, with the crack foi'ces of General Lit Sung-jen between them. The invaders, the first time since the o utbreak of war, are fighting desperately, aware that the campaign may depend on the struggle for Hsuchow, which is 400 miles distant from their bases at Tientsin and Tsingtao-.

More Than Holding Their Own. Some 250,000 Japanese on the Hsuchow front are facing 500,000 Chinese, who, for the first time, are more than holding their own in a fair fight. Hankow is celebrating the Chinese victories claimed in ; the Commander-In-Chief’s bulletin announcing that the Chinese offensive, which opened in March, recaptured Lincheng and Tsing and is at present encircling Tenghsien. It routed the Japanese, who are retreating eastwards, but a number are isolated in the neighbourhood of Lincheng, owing to Chinese tearing up the Tientsin-Pukow railway at 30 points. Chinese also claim the recapture of Tawenkou, cutting off communications with the Japanese advancing towards Hsuchow. Claims Japs Were Routed. The Chinese have begun an offensive south-east of Shantung, causing the Japanese to withdraw to Ch^hsien, The Chinese Commander-in-Chief on the Tientsin-Pukow railway sector telephoned to Marshal Chiang Kaishek that the Chinese had completely routed the Japanese and their reinforced troops, and were at present advancing along . the whole railway front.