JAPANESE FORCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22850, 4 October 1937, Page 11

JAPANESE FORCES

PRESSURE ON CHINESE ARMY • ENTERS SHANTUNG COURAGEOUS RESISTANCE // By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 3, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, Oct. 2 The Japanese Second Army claims decisive advances at Shanghai and to have pressed back the Chinese on the ShanghaiWoosung railway and captured the key points at Luichiahhang, the Kuchiatze Road, Liuho and Shanghai, thus impeding the retreat of the Chinese from Tachang and Kiangwanchen. The Japanese are reported to have sunk by bombs two Chinese war vessels at Kiangyin and Whampoa. The Chinese are stiffly resisting at Techow, which is believed to be the pivot of the Chinese plan to confront the Japanese in a decisive battle in the Shantung province. By the capture of Sangyun, 12 miles from Techow, where an important arsenal is situated, the Japanese entered the province of Shantung.' They are attempting to land troops at Haichow, which, if carried out, will threaten the Chinese rear in Shantung. Advancing over flooded ground and in heavy rain yesterday, the Japanese occupied Sangchiayuan, 15 miles north of Tqchow. The retreating Chinese broke down river embankments, threatening Tientsin with disastrous floods. The Chinese defences of the Inner Great Wall are threatened as a result of irregular battles over a wide area. The Japanese captured LiucHiang, north-west of Shanghai, and also entered the Shantung province. Japanese storm troops scaled the walls of Taichow and drove back defending riflemen and machine-gunners with hand grenades. They seized the town and forced the Chinese to abandon the Yenmen Pass.

The Japanese are advancing across the 70-mile plain toward Taiyuan, capital of the Shansi province, which was bombed from the air some days ago. The people are already evacuating the town.