CHINESE OFFENSIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 247, 18 October 1937, Page 7

CHINESE OFFENSIVE

IN NORTH SHANSI SAID TO BE SUCCEEDING HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES REINFORCEMENTS NEEDED Bj Pel egraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Oct. 17, 5.5 p.m. NANKING, Oct. 15. These Chinese claim that a great offensive in North Shansi is succeeding. The Chinese have captured Lanyuan, and another column is attacking Taichow. The Chinese Red Army is conducting guerilla warfare behind Japanese lines. It is hel' ved that the Japanese are badly in need of reinforcements as a result of heavy losses. JAPANESE ROUTED CHINESE COMMUNIST SUCCESSES Received Oct. 17, 8.5 p.m. NANKING, Oct. 16. The Communist Eighth Route Army, in a three-day battle in which they employed their celebrated manoeuvring tactics, are reported to have annihilated over a thousand Japanese and captured much material. Two other Japanese divisions are in a critical position as the Communists have cut off their communications with Kalgan. A Peking message says that Communists under the leadership of General Peng Teh-huai feinted a retreat for several days and then carried out a lightning flankward march, assailing the Japanese centre near Yuanping and routing a Japanese column of 3000. They attacked Sibsien the next day, driving the Japanese back and then surrounding them after tierce hand-to-hand fighting. CHINESE INITIATIVE RAIDS AT SHANGHAI ALL-NIGHT OPERATIONS SHANGHAI, Oct. 15. The Chinese Air Force, taking the initiative from the Japanese at Shanghai, raided the Japanese positions all night, and destroyed several Japanese ’planes at Yangtzepoo Aerodrome. General Shih Yuen, commander of the famous “Ironside Troops,” has been appointed commander-in-chief at Shanghai, with instructions to vigorously prosecute a counter-offensive. Chinese officials estimate the Japanese casualties at Shanghai at about 20,000.

Sixteen Japanese bombers, nne of which was shot down, attacked the rail communications between Hongkong and Canton, blowing up the Sheklung Bridge. Four trains, carrying 3500 passengers, were forced to return to Hongkong. Chinese frustrated an attempt by 32 transport and 23 warships to land reinforcements on the banks of the Yangtze Kiang, 43 miles from Shanghai.

FIGHTING DIES DOWN SUFFERINGS OF REFUGEES NEW-BORN BABIES DESTROYED Received Oct. 17, 7.30 p.m. SHANGHAI, Oct. 16. The fighting has died down on the Shanghai front apart from desultory bombing, including an attack on the Hangchow station. Many casualties are reported among children in Shanghai’s refugee camps, where 123 already have died from malnutrition. An average of 700 babies daily is born to refugee mothers and numbers are born in doorways or other exposed places, many being abandoned or deserted in the streets or thrown into the river or even on to refuse heaps to spare them from misery. Others clothed in newspapers will be most fortunate if they survive the onset of the winter. EXPLOSIVES FOR CHINA SHIPMENT FROM AMERICA Received Oct. 17, 6.35 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 16. A Wilmington message states that 300 tons of T.N.T. valued at 125,000 dollars has been sold by the Dupont Company to China and has been shipped via Germany. The company issued a statement in which it said the company had not accepted orders from China or Japan since the conflict. The shipment represents a previous commitment. BRITISH PROTEST JAPANESE ATTACK ON EMBASSY CARS TOKIO, Oct. 15. The British Ambassador protested against the machine-gunning of the Embassy cars near Shanghai on October 13. The Foreign Office Is investigating. STILL HELD UP CARGO BOAT SILKSWORTH OBJECTIONS OF CHINESE CREW Received Oct.. 17, 6.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 17. Contrary to expectations the Chinese crew refused to return to work on the Silksworth. They now take up the attitude that they will not be parties to transporting flour and gypsum to the attackers of their own countrymen. The executive of the Newcastle Labour Council is now calling on all

British and Australian seamen to refuse to man the Silksworth. A “hands off China” rally will be held at Newcastle to-morrow. The Chinese Consul and also the Silksworth’s crew will attend.

The Silksworth is a British cargo boat but is chartered by a Japanese firm. She was first held up at Newcastle when her Chinese crew declined to risk their lives by continuing to a Japanese port. It was reported on Saturday that the dispute had been settled, the Chinese Consul, Dr. Pao stating that the vessel would would leave for the neutral port of Manila where the crew would be discharged and repatriated to China at the expenses of the Silksworth’s owners. MOVE THE OLYMPICS AGITATION IN AMERICA Received Oct. 17, 8.10 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 16. An organisation styled a “Move the Olympics Committee” has launched a campaign to oppose the holding of the Olympics at Tokio. A statement was issued declaring: “We are dealing with a country which during the last few weeks alone has 'forfeited membership of a decent society.”