CHINA MAY REGAIN CANTON

Southland Times, Issue 23794, 17 April 1939, Page 7

CHINA MAY REGAIN CANTON

DESPERATE EFFORTS BY JAPANESE —- \ LONDON, April 14. Although the outcome of the Chinese general offensive cannot yet be assessed, the Chinese clearly maintain the initiative, says the Shanghai correspondent of The Times. They are apparently about to recapture Canton, on which they are driving after taking Tsengshing and Sheklung. The Japanese have evacuated the aerodrome and are making desperate efforts to prevent their encirclement. They have plunged into a major defensive battle around Fungchung and Kiuyfu, 15 miles northwest of the city. The Chinese offensives in the provinces of Shansi, Hupeh, Honan and Kiangsi continue in the full flood of victory. Casualties since the inception of the offensive are computed at 69,000 Chinese and 48,000 Japanese killed and wounded.

Street fighting in Kaifeng, which the Chinese invaded after mopping up the Japanese on the outskirts, resulted in 700 Japanese casualties. Heavy fighting continues in Chungsiang and Yangshih. Three Japanese war aeroplanes shot down a Junkers passenger aeroplane belonging to the joint Chinese and German Eurasia Company near Laokas. The German pilot was wounded but the passengers were not hurt.