TOWN DESTROYED

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 20889, 22 August 1939, Page 5

TOWN DESTROYED

TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE ANTLBRITISH ACTIVITIES (United Press. Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 21 Three-quarters of the town of Kiating. IGO miles west of Chunking, the Chinese capital, was destroyed after a huge Japanese air raid which caused uncontrollable fires. No details of the casualties are available, but they are believed to have been enormous, the city walls preventing quick evacuation. It is assumed the raid resulted from a Japanese broadcast that Marshal 'Chiang Kai-shek had moved to Kiating, although he is still al Chungking. A ’ Grand Anti-British Association” has been formed in Peking to advise the puppet Governments upon methods of enlarging the anti-British campaign ail over Asia. Cinemas will in future devote tlie first quarter of an hour to anti-British cartoons. British cars, including those of the Embassy staff and the military authorities, have ceased Ilyins the Union Jack.

OVER 600 CASUALTIES MANY BUILDINGS WRECKED FOREIGNERS' NARROW ESCAPE (United Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (‘Received August 22, Noon) CHUNGKING, August 21 An air raid at Kiatingfu resulted in over 500 casualties. Among those who had narrow escapes .were Mr and Mrs Peter King and Mrs H. Mclntyre, Australians; Miss McClean, a Canadian; and Miss Thiering, an American. A Canadian church and clinic were demolished, and buildings in the business district were wrecked. Nine university students were killed. Treaty Violated The Exchange Telegraph Agency's Hongkong correspondent says that Japanese planes from warships anchored at Pakhoi, a treaty port, are reported to have bombed and machinegunned the surrounding country, violating Kwang Chowman, which was leased by the French in 1898 for 99 years.