BID FOR CANTON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19915, 18 April 1939, Page 6

BID FOR CANTON

ADVANCE BY CHINESE OUTER ENVIRONS TAKEN DESPERATE TAP. DEFENCE COMPLAINTS IX TOKIO (Elec, Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. April 18, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 17. A message from Hong Kong states that the Chinese claim that one column is now only 12 miles from Canton. Another unit, coming from the north, covered 1G miles in 48 hours, and is now within IS) miles of Canton. The Hong Kong correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the battle for Canton overshadows all other operations throughout China. The Chinese offensive, which has been unprecedentedly well sustained, is irresistibly recovering the outer environments which the Japanese have held since October. The defenders are hurling lorries full of troops and :11 available mechanised units to the outskirts in order to reinforce the stricken fighters, but these apparently are counter-matched by the fresh., eager divisions which are steadily reinforcing tile Chinese. Commanderi 11-Chief, General Chang Fak Wei, is forging a passage to Canton in the hope of encircling the city from which to-day he was 18 miles distant. He is supported by subsidiary columns which are repelling the Japanese to the last defences.

A message from Tokio states that the Japanese War Minister, General itagaki, in a statement to-day said that assistance from foreign Powers was solely responsible for Maishal Chiang Kai Shields stubborn resistance. Japan did not intend deliberately to sever diplomatic relations. The commanders had ordered the troops to do their utmost to protect foreign lives and property, and even to sacrifice strategic advantages, but the soldiers deplored the concrete evidence of foreign assistance to the Chinese, said General Itagaki.