JAPAN’S OBJECTIVES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 9

JAPAN’S OBJECTIVES

LARGE SLICE OF CHiNA AND DECISIVE VICTORY AT SHANGHAI (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) TIENTSIN, Oct. 14. Mr. Matsuoka, president of the South Manchuria railway, and the youngest member of Japan’s "brain trust,” told journalists that the Chinese problem is insoluble until Shanghai and Nanking are occupied. He added that movements by General Chiang Kai-shek are unimportant and that the real Chinese leaders are at present in Shanghai. Interference by other Powers in the Far East would endanger peace. LULL IN LOTIEN AREA JAPANESE DIGGING LN. [ Per Press Association. ) WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. The Chinese Consul has received the following cablegram from Nanking; A line of 29 Japanese warships and 23 transports extend for 45 miles north-west of Shanghai. The Japanese have made no attempt to land troops since their failure a few days ago. There is little activity in the Lotien-Liuhang area. The Japanese troops are apparently waiting for reinforcements to land.

The Japanese bombarded the Wentsaopang Creek area and attempted to stop the Chinese advance. Japanese troops are digging in on the south creek after their failure in the push towards Dazang. Japanese 'planes bombed Chapei, but no damage of any military value was done. They also bombed villages beyond the battle lines, killing civilians. Chinese ’planes made a surprise raid on the Japanese military bases at Tientsin, doing considerable damage. They also successfully bombed a Japanese aircraft carrier and naval units in Lienyunkiang harbour in North Kiangsu. CHINESE AIR FORCE NEW ZEALANDER JOINS TASMAN FLIGHT RECALLED HONGKONG, Oct. 5. Mr. R. G. Whitehead ,the young Tasman flier, formerly of Wellington, New Zealand, and Mr. W. VynerWhite, have joined the Chinese Air Force. Mr. Whitehead has done commercial flying in Australia and New Guinea, but Mr. Vyner-W’hite’s flying has been confined to East Africa. Squadron-Leader Garnett Malley, the Australian chief of the Chinese Air Force, flew to the outskirts of Canton, where he picked them up and flew them to Nanking. Mr. Whitehead, who is 27 years old, was formerly a journalist in Wellington, where his parents reside. In November, 1934, accompanied by Mr. E. R. Nicholl, of Sydney, he made a spectacular flight from Gerringong Beach, New South Wales, to East Beach, South of Houhora Heads, North Auckland. The flight was made in a four-year-old Puss Moth machine, the Faith in New Zealand, the certificate of airworthiness of which had been cancelled by the Australian authorities. The crossing, described as without incident, took 14 hours 40 minutes. The most elementary forms of navigational instruments were carried and the machine was without wireless equipment. The airmen set out to land at New Plymouth, but owing to poor visibility decided to turn northward. No news had been heard of them since the Lake-off and fears for their safety began to grow when they failed to reach the appointed place. They made a safe landing at dusk on the lonely northern beach, where they lit a fire and spent the night. At dawn they took off again and flew to Mangere, which they had little difficulty in finding in the daylight. Their arrival 24 hours after leaving Australia, caused surprise and excitement .although when the machine made its unheralded landing there were only two persons there to greet them. They were subsequently charged in the*Auckland Magistrate’s Court with breaches of the regulations under the Air Navigation Act. They were convicted and discharged. After the Tasman flight Mr. Whitehead engaged in commercial aviation in Australia.

Early this year he left for New Guinea to take up an appointment with Guinea Airways, Ltd. From New Guinea he went to China.