BIG PITCHED BATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 5

BIG PITCHED BATTLE

RIVAL FORCES IN NORTH CHINA JAPANESE ADVANCE ON RAILWAYS CHINESE DIGGING IN AT SHANGHAI (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 16, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, September 15. According to the Domei News Agency (Tokyo) the largest pitched battle in the present clash has begun on a 50-mile front on the plains of Hona, where the Japanese have launched an offensive against 300,000 Chinese. Facilitated by the recent capture of Tatung, a railway junction, the attack is mainly directed against the Chinese between the Peiping-Hankow and Pei-ping-Pukow railways—from which they are already partly dislodged—enabling the Japanese to cross the Yung-ting river, on the west bank of which they have captured Kuan-chen and a number of small towns.

At Shanghai the Chinese are erecting defensive works behind their “Hindenburg Line,” to which the Japanese are rushing up artillery and tanks. Chinese detachments using their famous broad swords, fought fiercely hand-to-hand for the strong point of Yungun-chiao, west of Shanghai, which is reported to have changed hands 10 times in 24 hours. Four divisions of crack Chinese troops entered Pootung in order to prevent the Japanese investing the town by. crossing the Whangpoo and enveloping the Chinese on the Shanghai bank. The' Shanghai correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says the Japanese have lost heavily, and truck loads of dead and wounded are pouring into the International Settlement. Japanese nurses in the field hospitals say that the deaths from wounds are appallingly numerous. It is estimated that 5000 Japanese and 6000 Chinese wounded have been sent to hospital in Shanghai. OFFENSIVE PROBABLE The Japanese Chief of Staff (General Fujita) says that the landing forces are now united and have ample room in which to develop an offensive. The Chinese, aware that a fen-like area separates them from the Japanese, remain undemoralized and declare that they do not mind the bombardments. They advise Nanking to keep aeroplanes in reserve, because the Chinese can withstand prolonged warfare better than the Japanese. The Chinese are equipped with an odd variety of uniforms. Some are clad in civilian clothes and some are wearing felt hats, running shorts and gym shoes, with badges containing a photograph of the President (Marshal Chiang Kai-shek). Some are smoking expensive cigars which have been presented by wealthy merchants. The Japanese ciaim to have defeated finally 50,000 Chinese converging on the Peiping-Tientsin area in an attempt to invade the Jehol province. The Japanese are battering the walled city of Tsang-chow and are overcoming transport difficulties in the quagmire countryside by using fast motor launches on the canals.

A squadron of Chinese bombers claims to have sunk a Japanese destroyer in Kwangchow Bay and also to have damaged two Japanese warships.

CLASH WITH RUSSIA EXPECTED ELABORATE AIR DEFENCE DRILL IN TOKYO TOKYO, September 14. For five days from tomorrow the Tokyo region will be the scene of the most rigorous and elaborate air defence manoeuvres yet held. This is the latest confirmation of the public’s expectation that the long foreseen clash with Russia must now not be far distant, as there is a very slim chance of a Chinese air attack. PLAN FOR PACIFIC PACT DROPPED

CANBERRA, September 15.

The Federal Attorney-General (Mr R. G. Menzies), reviewing the international situation, announced that the plan outlined by the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) to the Imperial Conference for a regional Pacific pact had been dropped, at least for the time being, because of the events in China.