MANY AIR RAIDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 10

MANY AIR RAIDS

JAPANESE BOMBERS FOOCHOW IN RUINS NUMEROUS CASUALTIES HEAVY BLOW TO CHINA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 5, 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 4 The Shanghai correspondent of the Times says casualties in the Japanese air raid on Chungking include over 70 killed on a ferryboat. The Japanese continue to launch air raids on ports south of Shanghai. Tho Chinese report that thero wore over 1000 casualties in Foochow, where tho business section is in ruins. Ningpo also suffered severely. There are many Japanese warships off the coast. The situation is again threatening. An Independent Cable Service message from Hongkong says Chinese sources state that the Japanese practically without stopping, launched air raids on Foochow for the past three days. The city is almost destroyed. Casualties are estimated to be at least 1200. A message from Chungking says Japanese heavily bombed tho densest parts of tho city. Many fires have occurred, and there were heavy casualties. but they cannot be accurately computed. A Tokio despatch claims that 10 Chinese aeroplanes were 6hot down in the raid on Chungking. Military establishments were effectively bombed. Tho British Ambassador at Tokio, Sir Bobert Craigie, has been notified that Japan has demanded the reorganisation of the International Settlement at Shanghai, with increased representation on the Municipal Council, which Japan contends is dominated by the British. An Admiralty pamphlet complains that Western Powers are building up Far Eastern armaments in order to hinder Japan's construction' of a new order in East Asia. The pamphlet refers to British and United States Pacific fortifications, mentioning Singapore, Darwin, Alaska, Wake, Midway, Johnston - and tho Aleutian Islands, and alleges that the Soviet is concentrating 60 submarines and 1500 aeroplanes in Eastern Siberia.

JAPANESE CLAIMS ALL ATTACKS REPULSED SERIOUS CHINESE LOSSES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION"] "WELLINGTON, Thursday The Consul-General for Japan, Mr. K. Gunji, has received advice transmitted by cable from Tokio to Australia as follows: "It is true the Chinese forces actively attacked Japanese positions in North, Central and South China from the end of March to April 20. Although it has been often reported by press cables from London that the Chinese had gained considerable ground, driving back the Japanese forces and inflicting heavy casualties, information available at Tokio gives quite a contrary account. "As a matter of fact, the Japanese armies during the above-mentioned period have repulsed all attacks by the Chinese forces everywhere with serious losses to the latter. According to information issued by the intelligence office of the Japanese Northern Army during the period from the end of March to April 20, a total of 14,278 Chinese soldiers were killed and 278 taken prisoners. Japanese casualties totalled 219 killed arid 57 wounded. The ratio of killed was 65 Chinese to one Japanese. "In Central China during the abovementioned period 24,000 Chinese soldiers were killed and 8630 were taken prisoners. The Japanese also captured 103 guns. The total number of Chinese soldiers killed in North and Central China was nearly 40,000, and nearly 9000 had been taken prisoners. "The intelligence office of the Japanese South China expedition issued a statement on April 25 that sinco tho end of March 4262 Chinese soldiers had bean killed, and the number wounded was estimated at about 10,000. Prisoners taken by the Japanese totalled 51, including the commander of a Chinese division. The Japanese had also captured 45 guns. Japanese casualties comprised 123 killed and 351 wounded. "It was also announced that four divisions of Chinese troops in South China had been badly shattered, especially the 150 th Division, which had been almost annihilated. Wang Ching-wei, former vice-president of the Kuomintang, discussing the situation, stated that the activities of the Chinese forces had been very favourably reported by the Chinese Government at Chungking as propaganda, but he personally questioned whether there was any truth in their claims to having retaken even one city."