CEASELESS RAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 15

CEASELESS RAIN

THE FLOODS IN CHINA HUGE AREA INUNDATED JAPANESE ADVANCE HELD UP CHINESE SINK MOTOR BOATS

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

SHANGHAI, June 16,

Chinese resistance to the Japanese advance on Hankow is stiffening as the floods swell under the ceaseless rain. The Yangtse-kiang is 20 feet above normal. The inundation has passed Fukuo, and is surging down to Onchowkiakow, the junction of the Kailu and Tasha rivers, 95 miles from the original breaches. Chinese artillery sank six Japanese motor boats and 20 canvas boats from which landings on the north and south banks of the Yangtsekiang were being attempted. The Chinese report the clearance of the south bank and the recapture of Chienkiangkow and Suitouehan on the north bank, where the infantry are doggedly attacking. SCENE OF DESOLATION JAPANESE UNITS MAROONED SHANGHAI. June 17. (Received June 18, at 0.30 a.m.) The rain threatens to cause worse floods in the Yellow and Yangtse Rivers. Correspondents report that various Japanese units which are marooned are being provisioned by aeroplanes Reuter’s special correspondent, who had a 1000-mile tour in a Japanese Army plane, describes the scene of desolation in Honan north and south of the Lunghai railway. A stream eight to ten miles wide is spreading in a south-westerly direction between Chengchow and Kaifeng, and seems likely to join the Yangtse via the Grand Canal. Two long sections of the Lunghai railway are submerged. At least 500,000 people have fled from their homes. Thousands of farm houses are submerged. Two small hills visible west of Kaifeng are teeming with refugees. Japanese Army pontoons are ferrying them to Kaifeng. The water is only four miles from Kaifeng, which has hitherto been three times destroyed by floods and lies 20 feet below the river’s bed. Missionaries of all creeds have united to succour the wounded. Forty thousand Chinese wounded from Hsuchow are passing through Kaifeng. , Cholera and smallpox have appeared. The Japanese say it :s impossible to repair the dykes under the Chinese Arc, so the flow of the Yellow River must continue till the normal autumn recession.

The Japanese Army leaders declare that the Chinese prepared the breaches in the Yellow River dykes three months ago in anticipation of retreat, and blew them up on June 11. Japanese engineers who attempted to effect repairs on June 12 were fired on by the Chinese, and 10 were killed. REJOICING IN CANTON BOMBERS BROUGHT DOWN CANTON, June 16. Canton is elated at the news that six Japanese bombers were brought down near Kwantung on the Honan border. They were raiding the Canton-Hankow railway. Ten fast Chinese chasers attacked and circled the Japanese, continuously machinegunning them until they crashed one after another. It is expected that the floods will join the Yangtse and Yellow Rivers, resulting in the inundation of the provinces of Honan, Anhwei and Kiangsu. ANTI-JAPANESE SENTIMENT IN AMERICAN SENATE WASHINGTON, June 17. (Received June 17, at 10.35 p.m. ) Anti-Japanese sentiment showed itself in the Congress when the Senate approved a resolution condemning “ the inhuman bombing of civilian populations,” which Senator Pittman introduced. The Congress adjourned sine die after a 420-day session, in which it approved record peace-time anpropriations amounting to 12,656,000,090 dollars, of which 5,691,000,000 is earmarked for relief.