HANKOW FRONTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23593, 1 September 1938, Page 11

HANKOW FRONTS

CLAIM BY JAPANESE AN IMPORTANT ADVANCE FIGHTING IN FIVE PROVINCES SEVERAL VILLAGES CAPTURED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegrapli—Copyright) SHANGHAI. Aug. 30. . The Japanese announce that they loosed the full force of their army at four points and made an important advance, threatening collapse of the entire Chinese defences or Hankow. The fronts in the struggle for Hankow cover five provinces.

The Japanese capture of Fenglingtu, Liuan, and Hwoshan is officially admitted. An artillery duel between the Chinese and the Japanese is proceeding at Tungkwan. The Chinese claim that they are holding their own south of the Yangtse, repulsing with heavy loss Japanese attacks west of Juichang, also onslaughts at Shaho and Poyang, but the Japanese claim that they control the north bank of the Yellow River for 60 miles, capturing Changwangtsun, threatening Kwangtsi, and entering Hupeh province. Japanese planes attacked Shiukwan, slightly damaged the railway, and killed many civilians. MISSIONARIES IN SHANTUNG THIRTY RESUME WORK SHANGHAI, Aug. 30. The Japanese have permitted 30 Anglo-American missionaries to resume work in Shantung. WHEN THE WAR ENDS JAPANESE FRAMING A POLICY

TOKIO, Aug. 31. (Received Sept. 1, at 1.45 a.m.) As the Japanese drive to Hankow moves on there is talk of an early end to the war.

Prince Konoye is summoning the Cabinet for September 1 to consider the policy to be followed after the cessation of hostilities.

General Itagaki declared that plans were under consideration for the formation of a central Chinese Government by merging the pro-Jap-anees regimes at Nanking and Peiping. The Japanese claim to have occupied Nanpingmiao, the key point to the Liuhshangchen highway, in addition to Nayomiao and Shipotien It is stated that 200,000 Chinese are in danger of being cut off in the vicinity of the Kiukang-Nanchang railway.

MEASURES AGAINST JAPAN SUPPORT OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION (Peh United I'kkss Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 31. At the annual conference of the New Zealand League of Nations Union, the following Otago remit was passed:—"That in view of the aggression of Japan in China, recalling the official verdict against Japan as the aggressor in the present hostilities, this conference endorses all the measures for the granting of aid to China, and particularly in the supply of food, medical aid and financial assistance to sufferers from the war, and further welcomes the refusal by individuals and societies to purchase goods of Japanese origin as a step towards limiting the oVration of the present invasion of China." It was decided to communicate with the Australian League of Nations headquarters, asking it to bring pressure to bear on the Government of the Commonwealth to prevent the further exnort of scrao iron and other materials essential to Japan for use in warfare.