MASS MURDER BY JAPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 May 1943, Page 5

MASS MURDER BY JAPS

REVENGE TOR TOKIO RAID STATEMENT BY ESCAPED MISSIONARY Chicago, April 30. Father Vincent Smith, a missionary who escaped to the hills near Kiangsi while the Japanese marauded the area after the Tokio bombing said the massacre deathroll might reach 500,000. The civilised mind, he said, could not conceive the tortures inflicted on men, women and children and even babies. Whole towns of 15 to 20 thousand were wiped out and homes and business places burned to the ground. A handfull of people who fled to the hills are the only survivors.—P.A.

JAP FORCE SURROUNDED

MORE THAN HALF ANNIHILATED FIGHTINgTn CHINA Chungking, April 30. More than half the Japanese troops surrounded on the western slopes of the Taihan mountain range have been annihilated, states to-day’s Chinese communique. Fighting continues south of Linhsien. A military spokesman said the Chinese control a “V” shaped ridge in the heart of the Taihan range despite Japanese pressure from three points. The Japanese flyers, stepping up the spring air offensive, to-day made the third attack against Lungling. Twentyseven planes dropped bombs and fierce air encounters were fought—P.A.