JAPANESE GAINS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 244, 14 October 1937, Page 7

JAPANESE GAINS

STRATEGICAL SUCCESSES MECHANISED FORCES ADVANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received October 13, 5.15 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 12. The Tokio correspondent of the Times states that Japanese motorised columns are pushing forward as speedily as possible to gather the fruits of the Shihchiach-wang victory on the 70-mile crescent-shaped front on the western tip of Tsinghsing, in western south-west Lwancheng. They have already captured Chaochow and Yuanshih, 20 miles south of Shih-chiach-wang, the furthest advance reached. Kaoyi is another ten miles to the southward, where the Chinese are concentrating. The Japanese bombing of the Chinese avenues of retreat by troop trains continues. The Japanese are still pressing their advance toward the Peking-Hankow railway. The Chinese, some of whom are fighting a desperate rearguard action, are hastily digging defences in the neighbourhood of Changteh, a large walled town of Northern Honan, in the hope of stemming the general retreat. The Japanese capture of Tsinghsing is important, as it cuts the railway to Taiyuan. Japanese from the north have captured Hsinchol, 40 miles north of Taiyuan, which is isolated from the railway. CHINESE LINES POUNDED THE SHANGHAI FRONT PRELUDE TO BIG OFFENSIVE Received Oct. 13, 5.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Oct. 12. The pounding of the Chinese lines north of the International Settlement continued all day, it is believed as a prelude to the great Japanese offensive, for which the weather is now favourable. After artillery lire, aeroplanes terrifically bombed the Shang-hai-Woosung railway near the North Station. The Chinese spokesman claims That artillery scored direct hits on two Japanese transports unloading troops at Whangpoo. The following cablegram was received by the Chinese Consul at Wellington from Nanking last night:— Japanese units east of the LiuhangTazang highway were driven back to the edge of Wentsaopang. To hold off the Chinese attack the Japanese used poison gas cylinders, which burst upon landirfg among advancing Chinese troops. The Chinese successes on this front threaten the Japanese rear. The main Japanese forces are concentrated on the Wentsaopang line, their objective being Tazang. A general attack was launched this morning and heavy fighting is proceeding.

Japanese ’planes, in relays, attempted to bomb the Chinese reinforcements at Tazang. Chinese troops are counter-attacking all along the line with effective artillery support. The Chinese batteries at Pootung successfully bombarded Japanese ships, and three are reported to nave been damaged by direct hits. USE OF POISON GAS l Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. The following cablegram was received by the Chinese Consul from Nanking this afternoon: The Japanese at the Shanghai sector are using poisonous gas and many casualties are reported. A statement signed by the chief surgeons of the Nanking Red Cross Hospital, who are the representatives in China of the health organisation of the League of Nations, describes positive symptoms of gas poisoning of three patients under review. The gas belongs to the mustard group, which was released from gas bombs or shells. Other cases are under examination and further reports of the use of poisonous gas are still coming in.

CHINESE COUNTER-ATTACKS JAPANESE DRIVEN BACK SHANGHAI, Oct. 12. The Chinese repulsed an attempted landing north-west of Liuho and Havockong by the Japanese with machine-guns. Chinese counter-at-tacks hurled back the Japanese advance on a two-mile front at Tazang. JAPANESE WHALER BOYCOTT AT FREMANTLE. Received Oct. 13, 9.5 p.m. FREMANTLE, Oct. 13. The coal lumpers to-day ignored a call for labour for the Japanese whaler now in port. The whaler will now replenish her supplies in the Antarctic from a ship to be sent from Japan. Stores of oil and water will be loaded at Fremantle by the ship’s own crew. Sir George Pearce, Minister of External Affairs, deprecated boycotts of this kind by individual organisations. JAPANESE GOODWILL STATEMENTS REITERATED. LONDON, Oct. 12. Japanese commercial organisations have sent a long cable to the Association of the British Chambers of Commerce reiterating the now familiar declarations of Japanese goodwill to China and denials of bombing atrocities, urging the association to check anti-Japanese propaganda and assist Anglo-Japanese friendship with a view to developing trade. The association has replied that the messages will be very fully considered.