VICTORY IN NORTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22859, 14 October 1937, Page 13

VICTORY IN NORTH

JAPANESE PRESSURE CHINESE IN RETREAT DESPERATE REARGUARD FIGHTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrtght Times Cable LONDON, Oct. 12 The Tokio correspondent of the Times states that Japanese columns, equipped with motors, are pushing forward with all speed to gather the fruits of the Shihkiachwang victory on a 70-mile crescent-shaped front on the western tip of Tsinghsing and south-west of Lwancheng. They have already captured Chaochow and Yuanshih, 20 miles south of Shihkiachwang. The furthest advance reached Kaoyi, another 10 miles southward, where the Chinese are concentrating. The bombing ot Chinese avenues of retreat and troop trains by the Japanese continues. They are still pressing their advance on the Peking-Hankow railway. The Chinese, some of whom are fighting a desperate rearguard action, are hastily digging defences in the neighbourhood of Changteh, a large walled town in northern Honan, in the hope of stemming the general retreat. The capture of Tsinghsing by the Japanese ij> important, as it cuts the railway to Taiyuan, Japanese from the north captured Hsinchow, 40 miles north of Taiyuan, which is isolated from the railway.

SUPPORT FOR JAPAN ITALY AND GERMANY OPPOSING AIRMEN RECALLED Times Cable LONDON, Oct. 12 The Tokio correspondent of the Times says the Japanese newspapers give prominence to a message from Rome announcing t'hat Signor Mussolini has ordered Italian airmen to discontinue service with the Chinese Government. The step, it is reported, has been taken in accordance with Signor Mussolini's agreement with Herr Hitler, who is recalling Germans who are training the Chinese Army. The press also expresses gratitude to Italy and Germany for their powerful friendship, which will enable ihe Japanese to carry on in the event of other nations boycotting her.

POISONOUS GAS CHINESE SUFFERERS REPORT FROM NANKING [BT TELEGRAPH —rRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Chinese Consul received the following cablegram from Nanking this afternoon: — The Japanese in the Shanghai sector are using poisonous gas and many casualties are reported. A statement signed by the chief surgeons of the Nanking Red Cross Hospital, who are the representatives in China of the Health Organisation of the League of Nations, describes positive symptoms of gas poisoning in three patients under review. The gas belongs to the mustard group. It was released from gas bombs or shells. Other cases are under examination and further reports of the use of poisonous gas are still coming in.