CHINESE SUCCESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23053, 2 June 1938, Page 13

CHINESE SUCCESS

FIGHT OVER HANKOW 60 MACHINES REPULSED CANTON AGAIN SUFFERS SOUTHERN INVASION FEARED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 81 Chinese fighter aeroplanes repulsed 60 Japanese raiders on Hankow. It is reported that 200 Japanese machines set off in the morning to bomb Chinese towns. The air battle over Hankow resulted in two of 50 Chinese machines being lost, but 15 of 54 Japanese raiders were shot down. The fourth raid on Canton was made by five aeroplanes at 9 a.m. and caused heavy explosions in the thickly-populated Honam district. It is fearejl that there have been considerable civilian casualties. It is known that at least 100 people were killed. In three days by air raids Canton has lost 1400 people killed, and 2100 injured. The assumption is growing that a Japanese invasion of South China is imminent, coupled with an attack on the Canton-Hankow railway. Numerous Japanese warships have assembled at the mouth of the Pearl River and on the Kwantung coast, reports the Hongkong correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph. It is officially estimated that the Chinese lost 103,000 killed and 137,000 wounded in the battle for Hsuchow up to May 25, Btates a message from Tokio. JAPAN'S VERSION REASONS FOR BOMBING CANTON NOT DEFENCELESS MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS (Received June 1, 10.55 p.m.) TOKIO, June 1 With reference to the recent bombings of Canton, the Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. T. Kawai, said: "The Chinese are denouncing us for attacking a supposedly defenceless city; but we spotted at least 31 emplacements for anti-aircraft guns and 10 military establishments. "Hence Canton cannot be recognised as defenceless. Moreover, for obvious reasons several such establishments are close to foreign property, and another is closo to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial. Nevertheless, we are doing our utmost not to damage foreign property." The Foreign Office insists that the bombing was confined to fortresses, aerodromes, munitions factories and military points, and it is suggested that the civilian casualties were attributable to the recklessness of the defenders' fire. Trustworthy independent estimates of the week-end bombing casualties at Canton are 459 killed and 1026 wounded, says the Canton correspondent of the Times. IMPORTS FROM JAPAN FOSTERING OF TRADE WIDE TARIFF REDUCTIONS (Received June 1, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, May 81 The Japanese-fostered Nanking Government anuounces the extension of the big reductions in North China tariffs introduced on January 20, to Central China, including Shanghai, as from June 1. The main reductions on imports include woollen piece goods, 75 per cent; artificial silk, 70 per cent; cotton cloth, iron, tin and paper, 40 per cent. NOTE IN PROTEST BRITAIN AND FRANCE (Received June 2, 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 1 Britain and France are putting the finishing touches to a Note protesting against the bombardment of open towns, whether in Spain or China. CORDIAL INTERVIEW RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN SHANGHAI, May 31 A cordial interview between General Telfers-Mollett and the Japanese commander, General Hata, is expected to improve immediately the relations between Britain and Japan in the International Settlement.