KIUKIANG TAKEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19693, 27 July 1938, Page 5

KIUKIANG TAKEN

JAPANESE CLAIM

BIG INVADING FORCE

DESTRUCTION OF VILLAGES

TROUBLE IN MANCHUKUO

RUSSIANS CROSS BORDER

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 27, 11,30 a.m.) LONDON, July 26.

■ Reports from Shanghai state that the Japanese claim to have captured Kiukiang after three days of fighting. It is estimated that 200,000 Japanese, supported toy warships and aircraft, swept over the defences. The retreating Chinese were subjected to shelling from warships. The Japanese, admit that the famous Chinese "God of War" battalions defending Lion Hill escaped with their batteries. .... . . "... ......

The next objective is the mountain resort of Kuling. All foreigners have been ordered to evacuate.

The Chinese spokesman states the Japanese are .destroying progressively all villages in the Yangtse Valley. The Japanese War Office states that the fall of Kiukiang means the collapse of the centre of the Chinese eastern line defending Hankow and connecting the Tapieh range and Nanchang. The Japanese are crushing attempts to break the communicatioils east of Hukow.

The Domei News Agency at Tokio reports that 50 Soviet troops to-day crossed the Manchukuoan border at Hunchun and were driven back by border guards. There were some Soviet casualties.

The Pekin correspondent of The Times says the belief that all is not well in Manchukuo is borne out by reliable reports of an enormous explosion in the Mukden arsenal on Saturday last. The explosion is believed to have been the work of incendiaries. Heavy destruction of munitions resulted.