"CHINA'S VERDUN"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23333, 27 October 1937, Page 9

"CHINA'S VERDUN"

THE FIGHTING AT TAZANG DEFENDERS' LINES UNBROKEN INTENSIVE BOMBARDMENT (United Press Association) <By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 25. The Daily Telegraph correspond«nt at Shanghai, Mr Pembroke, Stephens, states: "The flower of Chinese youth is passing through the furnace," declares the Finance Minister, Mr Soong. " Thousands upon thousands have been killed, but the Chinese line, although bent like a bow, does not break. Tazang, China's Verdun, still holds . out against the whole weight of Japan's mechanisation. Despite Japan cutting the communications between Tazang and Nansiang, which are two of the objectives of their great offensive, the Chinese are still stubbornly defending a salient so deep that the position of the Chinese right wing at Kaingwan and Chapei would appear to be hopeless to a European army. Nevertheless, the Chinese, struggling for prestige on the eve of the Brussels Conference, refuse to retreat, regardless of casualties. Any advance has been literally blasted forward with the most intensive bombardments by hundreds of Japanese warplanes. Scores are bombing simultaneously with mass discharges of explosives so terrific that the single detonations are indistinguishable. To-day, on a- concentrated five-mile front, barrage after barrage accompanied the bombings, and thereafter 30 tanks followed the armoured cars and advanced over the smashed defences, but at the next creek, a few hundred yards to the rear, the imperturbable Chinese machine-gunners reopened on the Japanese infantry, and the vast mechanical apparatus had to recommence operations." DISAPPOINTMENT IN TOKIO TOKIO, Oct. 26. (Received Oct. 27. at 0.45 a.m.) The Japanese public is very disappointed over the failure at Shanghai despite the high casualties. MISSIONARIES KIDNAPPED PEKING, Oct. 25. Under cover of the confusion of the Japanese occupation of Chengtingfu bandits kidnapped the Dutch Bishop Schraven and nine other Europeans from the French Catholic: Mission. SHOOTING OF A RIFLEMAN THE JAPANESE VERSION SHANGHAI, Oct. 25. Rifleman McGowan was buried in the presence of three admirals, two generals, and contingents from all the naval and military forces. The British authorities in Shanghai declined a Japanese offer to send a contingent to the funeral. British troops have been ordered to fire on any aircraft coming dangerously close to the outposts. The Japanese renewed their expressions of regret. Tokio states that the incident is regarded as closed. The Japanese version is that a rushcovered British patrol shelter was mistaken for a Chinetie position. BRITISH LODGE PROTEST SHANGHAI, Oct. 26. (Received Oct. 26. at 11.30 p.m.) The British admiral and Consulgeneral protested against the shooting of Rifleman McGowan. The Government will order a general inquiry before further action is taken. The Japanese are making a strict investigation into the incident " witha view to necessary mer , sures against the aviators." They have also semi-officially promised compensation.

One hundred wreaths sent for Rifleman McGowan's funeral included one " from a girl he helped to shelter." ' The orders to the British to fire completely change the previous instructions, which were to fire on defeated Chinese rushing to the posts, but to permit the passage of Japanese advancing in good order. British Headquarters approved of Corporal Osborne's action in giving the order to fire on the plane. The German Consul-general protested against the Japanese aeroplane attacking two German riders. One Was thrown into a ditch and injured. MILITARY HOSPITALS APPALLING LACK OF SUPPLIES NANKING, Oct. 26. (Received Oct. 26, at 10.15 p.m.) The capital has become a city of troglodytes owing to repeated Japanese air raids. After the sounding of a second siren the whole Eopulation takes to dugouts, streets eing cleared and business suspended. When the all clear is sounded people emerge and resume their activities. 'ln addition to private dug-outs all the main thoroughfares have public dugouts. Even traffic policemen are supplied with small shelters alongside their posts. Japanese air raids have lost their terror and despite the fact that more than 700 bombs have been dropped, the total military damage is astonishingly small. Military hospitals suffer from an appalling lack of supplies, being completely unequipped to face the enormous casualties which are pouring in from all fronts. Dr JuihengluiL Minister of Health, declares that owing to a shortage of staffs at 150 hospitals he is arranging to recruit Austrian doctors who are willing to accept smaller salaries than the British and Americans. FIGHT AGAINST EPIDEMICS LEAGUE ASSISTANCE GENEVA, Oct. 25. (Received Oct. 26, at 9 p.m.) The sub-committee of the League Health Committee for technical collaboration with China considered means of aiding China in the struggle against epidemics in conformity with the League Assembly resolution. In accordance with the Chinese Government's desire the committee drew up a detailed plan within the limits of the credit of 2,000,000 Swiss francs voted by the Assembly. The plan is now before the Supervisory Commission.