CHINA CAMPAIGN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 11

CHINA CAMPAIGN

BATTLE IN SHANSI GAINS BY ATTACKERS DEFENDERS' GALLANTRY RETREAT IN SHANTUNG By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received 'February 28, 5.5 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON. Feb. 28 The Peking correspondent of the Times says the battle for the Lingshih Pass is developing favourably for the Japanese, who have gained a footing on both wings of the Chinese first line, but the centre is gallantly resisting. A Japanese column advancing westward from Taiyuan, in the Shansi Province, captured Lishi. The Chinese in the Shantung Province are retiring in a south-west-erly direction from Tsining. Also they have withdrawn before the Japanese from Yenchow. TAKEN UNAWARES 800 CHINESE KILLED STEADY JAPANESE ADVANCE GENERAL MATSUI'S APOLOGY TOKIO, Feb. "27 The Domei Nows Agency reports that a surprise attack by the Japanese, following a landing from "Wuhu Lake, resulted in 800 Chinese being annihilated in the mountainous area of Shanshanchen. Another Japanese unit is reported to have driven the Chinese from Shikichen. nine miles south of Wuhu. These operations have prepared the way for the occupation of Shanshan-ehen. General Matsui, ex-Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese forces in China, has revealed that he has apologised profoundly to the Emperor for having caused many casualties. ATTACK ON DOCTOR WOUNDED WITH DAGGER DRUNKEN SOLDIER'S ACT (Received February 28, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Feb. 27 A Japanese soldier, who is presumed to have been drunk, attacked Dr. Edward Birt, a German, one of the city's most prominent residents, and cut his head and face with a dagger, shouting "English pig." A Chinese policeman rescued Dr. Birt, who, it is feared, will lose an eye. RELEASE OF CARGO SHIPMENTS FROM BRITAIN SHANGHAI, Feb 27 Subject to the payment of transportation fees, the Japanese have released British, and American cargo, valued at thousands of pounds, from two wharves of the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company outside the International Settlement.