HAMPERED BY RAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 7

HAMPERED BY RAIN

JAPANESE INVADERS USE OF POISON GAS DEADLY SMOKE FROM SHELLS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Oct. 11, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 11. The Daily Mail’s Shanghai correspondent says that the Chinese troops believe that the rain preventing %ie Japanese attacks is dbo to the beneficence of the cloud dragon. The flood* are so hampering the Japanese at Shanghai that many are being provisioned by parachutes from aeroplanes. The Daily Telegraph’s Shanghai » correspondent says that Japanese poisonous searing gases are causing terrible mutilations in the Lotien lector. Officers who witnessed the gassing state that during the barrages on the sector, where the Japanese have been consistently defeated, the shells exploded normally but after a few seconds, greenish black imoke clouds rose from the grouncr, expanded, and remained in the hollows for several hours. The officers report that of 80 gassed 40 dieo. Chinese experts declare that the shells unquestionably show traces or poison and foreign experts have been invited to examine fragments with a view to an impartial opinion. USE OF GAS ALLEGED MANY CHINESE AFFECTED. RESPIRATORS USELESS. SHANGHAI, Oct. 10. Despite rain preventing major Jap- ' anese attacks, Shanghai planned an Ironic celebration of the “double 10 anniversary—the Chinese Republican revolution, October 10, 1911. The Chinese Ministry of Health at Nanking announced that over 1500 Chinese were affected by Japanese gas, believed to be mustard gas, in the Woosung Creek fighting. The Ministry also has informed the embassies of the aleged use of gas on a large scale at Shanghai, adding that the Chinese respirators were useless. The official announcement asserts that the gas was liquid and remained effective for a long period. A London message reports that the Chinese Embassy states that gas has caused 24 deaths, but the Chinese line is intact. It adds that 200 Japanese approached the Chinese wire entanglements at Lotien and all were killed before the task of wire-cutting vas accomplished. JAPANESE DENIAL HIGH EXPLOSIVE FUMES. SHANGHAI, Oct. 10. The Japanese spokesman denied the use of gas shells. He admitted that the most powerful types of Japanese high explosives possess “apparently a similar effect to gas, burning the | nearest victims and exuding cauoi. monoxide, often fatally.” SUCCESS IN HOPE; JAPANESE MOVEMENI ENEMY FLANK TURNED. LONDON, Oct. 10. The Tokio correspondent of The Tinies reports that the Japanese have turned the flank of the last Chinese defences in Hopci, and have entered Shinchiachwang. Japanese engineers, working in bright moonlight, threw bridges to sandbanks in the Muto River at Kuosuchen, 12 miles north of Pingshang. Troops waited on the sandbanks until dawn, and then forded the remainder of the river covered by a heavy barrage. The Chinese were thrown into confusion by the appearance of the Japanese behind their flank, and stampeded towards the Taiyuan railway. The Japanese advanced rapidly, and captured Chinese positions to the rear of Pingshang. Other Japanese forces later captured Shinchiachwang, despite desperate Chinese resistance. JAPANESE PARADOX AIMS IN CHINA PEACE BY THE SWORD. Received Oct. 11, 10 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 10. The Tokio correspondent of the British United Press states that the Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, said in an interview: “Because fighting is going on in China people abroad think it paradoxical to hear that our objectives are peace and co-operation. Nevertheless, such is the case. The aime of our operations is neither to gain territory nor to dismember China, hence it is clear that our forces are not in China to-day. Our condition for withdrawal is China's abandonment of mistaken policies. “I regret that there is so much misunderstanding abroad. Apparently there is tear that foreign rights and interests are endangered. That is the last thing in the minds of the Japanese Government.’’

A READY RESPONSE MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR CHINA. LONDON, Oct. 10. The Chinese National Anthem echoed through Trafalgar Square at the demonstration to raise funds for medical supplies for the Chinese Relief Committee. Ten shillings and pound notes fluttered from the crowd In response to the appeal for notes. Half crowns rained down when silver was asked for and the call for copper brought on such a shower of pennies that the speakers were forced to take cover. The speakers were loudly cheered, except by two Fascist interrupters, who were hustled from the crowd.