JAPAN'S OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23218, 12 December 1938, Page 12

JAPAN'S OFFENSIVE

SOUTHERN CHINA , YANQTSE RIVER INCIDENT ESCORT FOR GUNBOATS NON-APPARENT DANGER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received JDecember 11, .7-40 p.m.) TOKIO, Dec. 10 A message from Chungkiang says the Japanese have resumed the offensive in South China and the Yangtße Valley and are threatening Chaoching. For the first time since the outbreak of hostilities, the bottled-up French and American gunboats Amiral Charner and Luzon steamed down from Hankow under the escort of, Japanese destroyers, says a message from Shanghai. Apparently to justify the contention that the Yangtso is still dangerous for free navigation, the Japanese destroyers mado a great show of mine sweeping. Then, above Wuhu, they signalled: "Enemy sighted in force" and vigorously shelled the deserted river-bank for half an hour. The French and Americans saw not the slightest signs of danger. Fifteen British, 15 American, six German, two Swedish and fivo Chinese nurses have been evacuated from behind the Chineso lines at Kuling, a Central Chinese summer resort, where, according to the Japanese version, the Chinese held them as hostages after the Japanese encirclement of Kuling mountain.

As the result of the Japanese encirclement of Hongkong, imports in November, compared with November last year, declined 64 por cent and exports dropped 68 per cent. Trade with the interior has been eliminated.

NORTHERN CHINA JAPANESE COMMANDER FORMER MINISTER OF WAR TOKIO, Doc. 9 The former Minister of War, General Sugiyama, assumed the supreme, command of the Japanese forces in North China on November 29, succeeding Count General Terauchi, who has become a war councillor. After holding several positions in connection with Japanese military affairs. General Sugiyama became Chief of the Army aviation headquarters in 1933. The following year he was appointed vice-Chief of the General Staff, and in 1935 he was made a member of the Supreme War Council. He became Minister of War in 1937.