HUGE FIRES RAGE IN HANKOW

Southland Times, Issue 23650, 27 October 1938, Page 5

HUGE FIRES RAGE IN HANKOW

Japanese Entry Into Blazing City

CHINESE SEEK REFUGE IN FOREIGN AREAS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 26, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 25. Huge fires are raging tonight throughout Hankow, presenting a terrifying spectacle, added to which are the groans of the wounded and the dying, the crackle of wooden houses and the cries of Chinese seeking an escape from the flames.

The Japanese today occupied only part of the city. The last of the Chinese troops had gone before the first Japanese entered. It is now stated that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek abandoned the city to conserve the Kwangtung Army for a baffle in urestern Hunan.

Distressing scenes were witnessed in the foreign areas, to which distraught Chinese fled, hoping for refuge; but the British, French and American concessions are overflowing. The British and other concessions closed their gates at midday. Blue-jackets manned the barricades, but these were opened repeatedly, though all armed Chinese were refused admission.

It is impossible tonight to move along the pavements in the British area for destitute Chinese.

The Chinese systematically fired the public buildings before departing, and it is reported that the refugees were’ machine-gunned by low-flying Japanese aeroplanes as they streamed over the highways west from Hankow With the departure of the Government special administrative districts were created and handed over to the refugee zone committee. JAPANESE ENTRENCHED Striking from three points, the Japanese entered Hankow suburbs and firmly entrenched themselves in commanding positions. . > Dawn revealed an indescribably pathetic spectacle. The retreating Chinese troops were fleeing southwards and westwards and the streets were crowded with hurrying refugees and were littered with abandoned domestic and household goods. One hundred blue-jackets are billeted in the British Consulate .and the Italians and Americans are taking similar precautions. The gunboats Gnat and Tern are standing by, oS the German concession, and the American flagship Luzon is near the British concession. The Yangtze above Hankow has been closed.

The Japanese believe that Hankow’s fall will mark the final stage of the hostilities.

The Hankow correspondent of the British United Press says that the Chinese are blowing up aerodromes and other military posts in the Wuchang district. They set on fire a building in which two British subjects and eight Americans were marooned. A similar outbreak occurred at Hanyang. Foreigners are frantically pumping water from the river .in an endeavour to check the flames, as the normal city supply has been cut off. > The Japanese continue to occupy Hankow without resistance. SPECIAL SALUTE TO JAPAN ITALIAN MESSAGE OF GOODWILL (Received October 26, 8.10 p.m.) ROME,. October 26. After sitting for four hours the Fascist Grand Council, with Signor Mussolini presiding, issued a statement at 3 a.m. announcing that it had sent a special salute to Japan on the occasion of the Canton and Hankow victories: “The Italian people feel themselves bound to Japan by a deep ideological, spiritual and political solidarity which continues to find its greatest expression in' the Italian-German-Japanese Pact.” JAPAN PROFESSES FRIENDSHIP NEW AMBASSADOR TO LONDON LONDON, October 25. The newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to London (Mr Mammoru Shigeimitsu) in a statement, said: “The Japanese greatly admire the statesmanship of the British leaders, who are striving to guide the world in the path of peace. I pledge all my efforts to secure lasting friendship between Britain and Japan.” Officials of the Japanese China Sea Fleet in a statement said that the authorities believe that the bombing of the British gunboat Sandpiper was the result of a mistake and they are still investigating the incident. Eye-witnesses at Changsha "say that the gunboat had not moved for two days. She was flying the British flag and her superstructure was painted red, white and blue. Six bombers flew overhead slowly, suddenly veered and dived in mass formation. Each released a single bomb. Only one landed near the gunboat, the fragments rattling aboard, smashing the hatch and making holes in the cabins.

After representations made in Tokyo by the British Ambassador (Sir Robert Craigie) on his own ihitiative, the Japanese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs called on Sir Robert last evening to convey an expression of the deep regret of Japan at the bombing of the Sandpiper and gave assurances of an immediate inquiry into the circumstances and responsibilities. BRITISH NAVY REFUSES TO MOVE (Received October 26, 7.10 p.m.) SHANGHAI, October 25. The Japanese renewed their request to foreign shipping to move up the river, as it was difficult, they said, to guarantee that no attack would be made on Chinese taking refuge in the vicinity. The British naval authorities refused to move.

The Japanese naval headquarters reiterates that the bombing of the Sandpiper was accidental, and states that the British information led the Japanese naval command to believe that the Sandpiper was at Hankow.