GRIM BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 9

GRIM BATTLE

CHINESE_SUCCESS REPULSE OF ENEMY HANKOW AIR RAID SPECTACULAR FIGHT TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 1. 5.5 p.m.) HAXKOW, April 80 The Chinese claim that in a terrific counter-attack they recaptured Tangcheng and arrested the Japanese drive to Lunghai. Also, •they say they repulsed a Japanese counter-attack at Yihsien. Later the Japanese recaptured Tangcheng, which has changed hands twice in 12 hours. The Chinese twice raided the Japanese aerodrome at Wuhu, and claim to have destroyed 21 aeroplanes. Nearly 1000 people were killed and wounded at Hanyang, a suburb of Hankow, in a Japanese air raid staged to mark the birthday of the Emperor Hirohito. The Chinese anticipated the raid, which culminated in a spectacular air battle between 50 Chinese and 39 Japanese aeroplanes. Three Chinese and 20 Japanese machines were lost. The raiders' objective was the Hanyang arsenal, the biggest in China, but it entirely escaped damage. The populace cheered the fall of flaming Japanese aeroplanes, but owing to the release of a chain of bombs right across the city, a half-mile section full of dead and wounded is a scene of mourning. Houses collapsed like cards, burying the occupants under tons of debris. | Thirty charred and unidentifiable ! bodies were recovered from a single shop. ANOTHER AMNESTY PRISONERS IN JAPAN EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY ACTION TOKIO, April 29 In celebration of the 37th birthday of the Emperor of Japan he reduced or cancelled the sentences of 319 prisoners, including a judge and an Army surgeon involved in the attempted coup of 1936. This is in addition to the general amnesty of February 11. Two Heinkel monoplanes, piloted by Japanese, are reported to have arrived at Tokio from Berlin.