JAPAN HITS BACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 11

JAPAN HITS BACK

OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED EXTENSIVE FIGHTING CHINESE DELAIY ATTACKS ENEMY TROOPS ENCIRCLED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright SHANGHAI, May 8 The Chinese and Japanese confirm the launching of an extensive Japanese counter-attack, in spite of heavy rain storms, on th? Hsuchow front. The Japanese, who claim initial successes, are making secondary offensives in Kaingsu Province, and also in the Nanking area, resulting in the occupation of Chaohsien. The Chinese claim that two Japanese detachments, 4000 and 8000 strong respectively, are encircled between Taierchwang and Tancheng and face annihilation.

It is stated that the Chinese "are delaying the resumption of their general offensive in the hope that the Japanese artillery will be bogged in the mud. NEW CHINESE ATTACKS COLUMN FROM CHAHAR CHIANG'S GUARDED OPTIMISM (Received May 10, 12.25 a.m.) HANKOW, May 9 A mobile Chinese column from Chahar, which is under Japanese suzerainty, has crossed the Great Wall into China proper and is attacking' the Japanese at Changpingchow, 22 miles north-west of Peking. Another column is attacking Yangliuching, nine miles west of Tientsin. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek informed the Times' Hankow correspondent that he expects a protracted and bitter struggle, in which there are grounds for cautious optimism. GOVERNMENT OF CHINA JAPANESE PROPOSALS (Received May 10, 12.25 a.m.) TOKIO, May 9 Confidence that a capable . Chinese statesman would emerge to form the amalgamated Central Government was expressed by Mr. K. Hirota, Japanese Foreign Minister, in an interview. China must be governed by the Chinese with Japanese recognition and Japanese assistance, 6aid Mr. Hirota. Chinese authorities govern the occupied areas, which has proved that Japan ha? no territorial ambitions. BOMBING OF CIVILIANS NOTE SENT TO LEAGUE GENEVA, May 7 China has sent a Note to the League of Nations listing 33 acts of Japanese bombing against Chinese civilian populations in the last seven months, in which it is estimated 7000, mostly women and children, were killed. STRIKE IN CUSTOMS SHANGHAI. May 1 The Chinese Customs staff has embarked upon a stay-in strike as a prv test against the Anglo-Japanese Customs agreement. ' Under the agreement, all revenues collected at each port within areas under Japanese occupation are to be deposited with a special bank at Yokohama. From the revenues thus deposited foreign loan quotas will be remitted to the Inspector-General of Customs to meet in full the servicing of foreign loans and indemnities secured on the Customs revenue.