JAPANESE ROUTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23463, 30 March 1938, Page 9

JAPANESE ROUTED

ON THE NORTHERN FRONTS CLAIM BY THE CHINESE SWEEPING VICTORIES INVADERS’ HEAVY LOSSES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyrighti HANKOW, Mar. 28. The Chinese claim sweeping victories on all fronts on the northern Tientsin-Pukow railway sector. The Japanese losses at Tsaochwang alone exceed 1000. Five tanks, two field guns, and 40 machine-guns were captured. The Japanese defeat is the outcome of the vain efforts of the forces in North and Central China to unite along the railway. They are still 100 miles apart, with the forces of a crack general, Li Tsung-Jen, between them. The Japanese, for the first time since the outbreak of the war, are fighting desperately They are aware that the campaign may depend on the struggle for Hsuchow which is 400 miles distant from their bases at Tientsin and Tsingtao. A quarter of a million Japanese on the Hsuchow front are facing half a million Chinese, who, for the first time, are more than holding their own in a fair fight. The Chinese commander-in-chief on the Tientsin-Pukow railway area telephoned to Marshal Kai-shek that the Chinese had completely routed the Japanese, and that their reinforced troops are at present advancing along the whole of the railway front. JAPANESE RETREATING A NUMBER ISOLATED HANKOW, Mar. 28. The city is celebrating the victories claimed in the commander-in-chief’s bulletin announcing that the Chinese offensive, which opened on March 26, recaptured Lincheng and Tsing, and at present the Chinese are encircling Tenghsien. They routed the Japanese, who are retreating eastward, but a number are isolated in the neighbourhood of Lincheng owing to the Chinese tearing up the Tientsin-Pukow railway at 30 points The Chinese also claim the recapture of Tawenkou, cutting the communications of the Japanese advancing towards Hsuchow. The Chinese have begun an offensive in south-east Shantung, causing the Japanese to withdraw to Chahsien. CHINESE CLAIMS REJECTED VILLAGES '‘ABANDONED” LONDON, Mar. 28. The Shanghai correpsondent of The Times says the Japanese army Spokesman largely rejects the Chinese claims, saying the villages which the Chinese entered were strategically abandoned, but the invaders have undoubtedly lost the initiative. Hankow messages give the credit of the Chinese successes to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, who has returned by plane from the various fronts, where he directed the counter-offen-sive. The Japanese admit that the Chinese crossed the Yellow River north of Honan., POSITION IN NANKING NEW REGIME INAUGURATED NANKING, Mar. 28. The new Japanese-sponsored regime was inaugurated with solemn ceremonial. The Spokesman declared that foreign Powers’treaties with the former Nanking Government would not be recognised, but th rights and interests in China of foreign Powers would be respected according to international law, custom, and precedent. Virtually only Japanese officials attended, the Chinese inhabitants remaining indoors, on the stadium. EXCHANGE CONTROL HANKOW’S SYSTEM FAILS SHANGHAI, Mar. 28. Foreign banks are discarding the gentleman’s agreement with the Finance Minister of the Hankow Government to maintain the Chinese dollar exchange at Is 2d and have lowered the sterling rate to Is. Outside brokers quoted IOJd The collapse is attributed to the failure of Hankow’s system of exchange control leading to a shortage in the allotments of foreign exchange required by Shanghai bankers and traders. CLAIM BY JAPANESE SLAUGHTER OF OPPONENTS LONDON, Mar. 29 (Received Mar. 30, at 1.15 a.m.) The Times correspondent at Peking says the Japanese claim that they inflicted terrific slaughter on the Chinese at Shantung and Shansi. General Li Ying, vice-commander of the partisan army of the Central Government, is reported to have surrendered at Linhsien