TWO TOWNS BOMBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 15

TWO TOWNS BOMBED

600 CHINESE KILLED JAPANESE WARSHIPS HIT "DOOMED BATTALION" RIOT LOSSES OF INVADERS" By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August 12, 11.'50 p.m.) HAXKOW, August 12 It is estimated that over 600 people were killed in an air raid by 60 Japanese aeroplanes on Wuchang and Hanyang. Concentrating on the aerodrome and railway terminus, the raid is described as the worst yet experienced, and the casualties the highest. Many bombs fell in denselypopulated areas. The Chinese expect a renewed drive to Hankow next week. Ten Chinese bombers are reported to have damaged 10 Japanese warships at Kiukiang. After <a two-hour battle, Russian volunteers quelled a riot of the famous Chinese "Doomed Battalion," which has been interned in the International Settlement at Shanghai since October. Members of the battalion hoisted the Kuomintang flag and the Russians tore it down. Three Chinese were killed, 40 seriously injured and 50 slightly hurt, while 10 Russians were seriously wounded. The camp was turned into a shambles, but several Chinese are believed to have escaped. "We are continuing our success on the Shushung and Hwangmei sectors and have recaptured many important positions, compelling the enemy to retire," states a cablegram received by the Chinese Consul at Wellington from Hankow, according to a Press Association message. "The enemy are still subbornlv resisting at the west gate of Hwangmei, which our troops have surrounded and are attacking. The enemy have been forced to retire southward from Hofei. They have also been checked in their advance from Kiukiang southward and during the last few days they have moved westward and attacked Juichong, where they have been repulsed. Japanese losses at Kiukiang and other places totalled 20,000."