STOUTER SHOWING BY CHINESE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21179, 28 October 1938, Page 9

STOUTER SHOWING BY CHINESE

FIERCE FIGHTING IN PROGRESS Japan’s Heavy. Losses on Yangtse Populace Suffering in Hankow United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received October 27, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. The Shanghai correspondent of "The Daily Telegraph” says: Heavy fighting is progressing as the main body of the Chinese is retiring to the south-west. Along the Hankow-Canton railway rearguards are stoutly resisting the Japanese attacks. A Chinese military spokesman at Chungking states that a new line of defence has been established outside Wuhun. China’s policy is based on prolonged warfare. The forces at Wuhun have resisted the enemy and inflicted heavy casualtie? for six months. JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF HANKOW WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION BY CHINESE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright HANKOW, October 26. Ten thousand Japanese troops landed to-day from 30 ships in the Yangtse river after which the naval and military officers pointly “occupied” the city. They were welcomed by a score of Chinese bearing a huge banner. Otherwise the city was practically deserted and virtually cut off. Some of the fires are still burning and the biggest destruction was done in the Japanese concession which is a mass of smouldering ruins. The Chinese before their evacuation, removed a vast amount of portable goods which might possibly be seriveable to the Japanese, including factory machinery, pontoons and even iron sewer covers. War’s Grim Toll The Hong Kong correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” reports that the damage in Canton is at least £100,000,000. Damage to the steel works, arsenal, the Hanyang cotton spinning and other factories at Wuchang is estimated to exceed £30,000,000. British trade with China through Hong Kong has been brought to a standstill since October 15 and supplies are being shipped via Cacao and also to French IndoChina, from where they are despatched through the province of Yunan. An official message from Chungking, where Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek is now staying, states that he is not resigning and is not desirous of peace with Japan, irrespective of the British Ambassadors’ rumoured representations concerning the matter. Japanese warships and six destroyers have steamed up the Yangtse River past the boom and are anchoring at the Japanese concession. Soldiers who are disembarking have fraternised with Italian and German sailors.

British Official in Orient A British Official Wireless message states that the British Ambassador (Sir Archibald Kerr), who is on a tour of China, was due to arrive at Yunnanfu this evening where he will meet Mr Greenway, who has been in charge of the Embassy Office at Hankow. The possibility of a meeting between Sir Archibald Kerr and Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek during the former’s tour is not excluded. JAPANESE AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT BRITAIN’S PREDOMINANCE ENDED Unirefl Press Association—By Electric Teletrranh —Convrleht (Received October 28, 1.21 a.m.) BERLIN, October 27. The press publishes an Interview with the new Japanese Ambasador to Italy (M. Shiratori) in which he declares that Britain's predominance in the Far East is ended and that China was becoming a second Manchukuo supplement.