GREAT ATTACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 13

GREAT ATTACK

CHINESE ARMY NORTHERN FRONT REORGANISED FORCES HEAVY LOSSES CAUSED By Telograph—Press Association —Copyright (Received February 14, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, Fob. 14 The Chinese have launched a great offensive on the Hunan front, throwing 250,000 troops, equipped with new artillery and mechanised units, against 40,000 Japanese, says the Hongkong correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The Chinese attacked with bayonets, inflicting heavy loses and capturing hundreds of prisoners and much war material. They advanced several miles. The representative of the Independent Cable Service at Hongkong says it is estimated that there are only 800,000 Japanese south of Manchukuo facing 2,000,000 Chinese regular troops and 1,000,000 more guerillas inside their own lines.

The reorganised Chinese air force also took the initiative for the first time, bombing and machine-gunning the Japanese trenches. The Japanese bombed Lunchow and Sian, important links in the munitions route from Russia.

JOINT INTERESTS BRITAIN AND FRANCE CONSULTATIONS PROCEEDING British Wireless LONDON, Feb. 13 The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, was asked in the House of Commons to-day if he was aware that the Japanese had landed on Hainan Island, and whether he would immediately consult with France with a view to the joint protection of British and French interests. The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr. R. A. Butler, who replied, said: "Yes. The Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, is already in touch with France on this matter. No reply has been received from Japan to Britain s Note regarding China."

AMBASSADOR ACTS REPRESENTATIONS TO TOKIO (Received February 14, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, Feb. 14 The British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Robert Craigie, has made representations to the Japanese Foreign Minister regarding the occupation of Hainan Island. Sir Robert received the same assurance as was given the French Ambassador yesterday —that Japan had no territorial designs in Hainan and ■would occupy the island only so long as it was a military necessity..