FURNACE OF WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 7

FURNACE OF WAR

Terrible Japanese Onslaughts LINE WILL NOT BREAK MINISTER’S STATEMENT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 25. To the Daily Telegraph correspondent Mr. Pembroke Stephens at Shanghai, the Finance Minister, Dr. Soong, said: “The flower of Chinese youth is passing through the furnace. Thousands upon thousands have been killed, but the Chinese line, although bent bowlike, will not break. Dazang is China’s Verdun and still holds out against the whole weight of Japan's mechanisation. Despite Japan cutting the communications between Dazang and Nansiang, which are two objectives of their great offensive, the Chinese are still stubbornly defending a salient so deep that the position of the Chinese right-wing at Kiangwan and Chapei would appear to be hopeless to a European army. NeverLhelesst, the Chinese are struggling for prestige on the eve of the Brussels Conference and refuse to retreat regardless of the casualties. Any advance has been literally blasted forward with the most intensive bombardments by 100 Japanese warplanes, scores bombing simultaneously with mass discharges of explosives so terrific that single detonations are indistinguishable. To-day they concentrated on a five-mile front, and barrage after barrage was accompanied by bombings. After that 30 tanks followed by armoured cars advanced over the smashed defences, but at the next creek a few hundred yards to the rear the imperturbable Chinese machine-gunners reopened on the Japanese infantry and the vast mechanical apparatus had to recommence its operations.” CONCENTRATED THRUST CHINESE RESISTANCE [ Per Press Ausociatiqp. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. The Chinese Consul has received the following cablegram from Nanking: Supported by an unprecedented concentration of mechanised power the Japanese troops launched a most determined attack at Kwangfu, but their gains were small. Kwangfu, Kiangwan, and Tazang are strongly defended. The Chinese command is confident, that the defenders can withstand the enemy thrust. SUNKIANG BOMBED MANY CASUALTIES BURIAL OF McGOWAN JAPANESE OFFER REFUSED PEKING, Oct. 25. Under cover of the confusion of the Japanese occupation of Chengtingfu bandits kidnapped the Dutch bishop Schraven and nine Europeans from the French Catholic Mission. A Shanghai message states that it is estimated that 200 people were killed and 400 wounded in the Japanese aerial bombardment of Sunkiang 18 miles south of here. Rifleman McGowan was buried in the presence of three admirals, two generals, and contingents from all of the naval and military forces. The British authorities at Shanghai declined the Japanese offer to send a contingent to the funeral. British troops have been ordered to lire on any aircraft coming dangerously close to outposts. The Japanese have renewed their expressions of regret. A Tokio message states that the incident is regarded as closed. The Japanese version is that the rushcovered British patrol shelter was mistaken for a Chinese position. JAPANESE INQUIRY PROMISE OF COMPENSATION Received Oct. 26, 11.10 SHANGHAI, Oct. 26. The British Admiral and the Con-sul-General protested against the shooting of Rifleman McGowan. The Government will order a general inquiry before further action is taken. The Japanese are making a strict investigation into the incident “with a view to necessary measures against the aviators.” They also semi-oflici-ally promised compensation. One hundred wreaths for McGowan’s grave included one “From the girl he helped to shelter.” The orders to the British to lire completely change the previous instructions, which were to fire on defeated Chinese rushing the posts but to permit the passage of Japanese advancing in good order. British headquarters approved of Corporal Osborne’s action. The German Consul-General protested that a Japanese aeroplane on Monday also attacked two German* riders. One was thrown into a ditch and was injured.