JAPANESE RETREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23470, 6 October 1939, Page 8

JAPANESE RETREAT

CHANGSHA DRIVE FAILS HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED (Received October 5, 11 p.m.) HONGKONG, Oct. r, It is officially stated that the Japanese are retreating after heavy losses and the abandonment of much equipment 15 miles from Chajigsha. The Chinese have recaptured five strategic points on the railway north of Changsha. An independent Japanese force, attempting to outflank Changsha, is beleaguered in mountains 10 miles from the Hunan border. Conflicting Chinese and Japanese communiques each claim enormous losses of men and material by the opposing side. Heavy fighting occurred in Hunan and reports that the dead number up to 25.000 have been received from each side. Neutral observers sav that while the battles have undoubtedly been vicious, the claims are excessive.

When the Japanese were within striking distance of Changsha last week the Chinese said they would not waste men in an attempt to save the city, because strategically it was not important. Now the Japanese say they may give up their plan of capture because the military value of the city is nil'. DIPLOMATS ON STRIKE NEW MINISTRY FORMED LOSS OF POWERS FEARED (Received October •">, p.m.) XEW YORK. Oct. I The Tokio correspondent of the New York Times says the entire staff of the commercial department of the Foreign oflier; is oil strike against Cabinet's decision to merge the department and four other departments in a new Ministry of Trade. The latter has been created largely as result of the Army policy. The Foreign Office fears that, the Minist,rv will take economic diplomacy from them in the same way as the creation of the China Affairs Hoard last year took China policy away.