GASSING CHINESE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19884, 10 March 1939, Page 7

GASSING CHINESE

HAN RIVER FIGHT INVADERS ACCUSED THREAT OF ISOLATION WIDE AREA OF YANGTZE MASSED AIR ATTACKS (Eliv. Ti-1. Copyright — United Press. Assn.) (Reed. March 9. 3 p.m.) LONDON, March *. The Shanghai correspondent of The Times says that the Japanese made a mass air attack on the Soviet arms route, raiding the remote Kansu corridor between the Tibetan and Mongol borderlands and bombing Yunchang and two other towns west of Lanchow.

The Hong Kong correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that Chinese wounded who are pouring into Tchang front the Han River area allege the wholesale use of poison gas which, combined with artillery and aeroplanes, broke the Chinese lines, permitting the Japanese to cross the Han River.

The loss of Chungsiang paved the way for the Japanese advance on Ichang, this threatening the isolation of the Chinese over a wide area o! the Yangtse elbow. Many towns are reported to have been set on fire, including Sanyangtien, which lias been razed.

Incessant heavy fighting is taking place in the Tienmen sector where Japanese reinforcements prevented a Chinese break-through. The Chinese continue the drive south of the Yangtse and are within five miles or' Yoyang.

HOSTILE TO BRITAIN AIMS OF JAPANESE BOAST OF FASCIST CHIEF (Reed. March 9, 2.50 a.m.) SHANGHAI, March 8. The Japanese Fascist leader, Mr. Seigo Nakani, in a speech to-day, said: “Japan .aims at ending the Imperialist invasion of China by the British, who, the moment the Japanese withdraw, would extend their influence, but there is no need for Japan to worry, because England and France are not in the position to send armies to the Far East ”