THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 18, 1938.
GENERALISSIMO
CHINESE
REORGANISES
ARMIES
NORTHERN
Large-Scale Offensive Expected Within Two Weeks
Vital Battle For Railway Junction
Hankow, To-day.
Chinese military circles in Hankow believe that preparations for a Chinese offensive on all fronts are well under way, and that a general attack will be launched within the next two weeks.
General Chiang Kai-shek, it is stated, has per- sonally supervised concentrations of troops and has reorganised the Officers' Corps.
It is expected that the major battle will be on the northern front, where the Japanese are appar- ently determined to capture Hsuchow, the import- ant railway junction on the Tientsin-Pukow Rail- way, at all costs.
On the other hand, the Chin- Hangchow front. At the moment ese realise the vital importance it is extremely difficult to secure of the town, and are equally de- first hand knowledge on the deve termined to prevent its capture. topments on the Hangchow front, Chinese military quarters since the Japanese do not allow state that the offensive has
press representatives to visit the long been planned but that
fronts.. its carrying out has been de- layed by the necessity of eliminating "unreliable ofï- cers" beforehand.
TO PREVENT BREAK
THROUGH
Principal aim of the offensive will be to prevent the Japanese concentrating sufficient troops at any given point to enable them to stage
general break through.
a
It is believed that the offensive will begin on the northern front, where the concentration of Chinese forces along the Tien- tsin-Pukow, Peiping-Hankow and Lunghai Railways has now been completed. Trans-Ocean.
HANGCHOW ATTACK
Shanghai, To-day.
Military observers here believe, however, that the construction : of
fortifications which are now being built in Pootung and in the vicinity of Shanghai was decided upon in view of the situation on the Hang- chow front.-Trans-Ocean.
WAGE INCREASE FOR SCOTS BOY MINERS
London, To-day. Scots boy miners will have a wage increase after a year's negotiations. Altogether 6,000 boys will be affected, and they will be allowed adult wages from 18 years of age, instead of from 21, as at present, in England and Wales.
Japanese quarters here confirm At the age of 15, they will get a reports that the Chinese have laun-minimum wage of 4/1d a day for ched a concentrated offensive on underground work, and 3/1d for Hangchow, the large port south of above ground work. Shanghai, which was occupied by No boys under 15 years the Japanese shortly before Christ will be allowed to work
ground. -Reuter.
mas.
The Japanese were pparently completelly surprised by the attack and the Chinese are said to have gained considerable ground.
are
COLUMBIAN DELEGATE IN LONDON
of age under-
Yesterday the Chinese troops were only 10 kilometres southwest of Hangehow having reached Feyang, where five Chinese divisions now engaged in heavy fighting with
London, To-day. the Japanese. These five divisions
Dr. Eduardo Santos, delegate of have advanced rapidly on the road
the Republic of Columbia to the] running parallel with the northern League of Nations, who is now on bank of the Tsientang River and a visit to London will be guest of have joined forces with other units the United Kingdom Government at which had crossed the river.
The new Zoo at Dudley has three girl keepers who look after the birde and smaller animals.. Photo shows-Two of Dudley's girl keepers with some of their charges, seated on an old gun. The Zoo is in the grounds of old Dudley Castle. (Fox Copyright),
WILL YOU MAKE A FOURTH?
(Continued from Page 8)
licensed to dispense good fellow-
ship.
must seek a sympathetic ear into The golfer, after every game,
which to pour his sorrows and triumphs. True, they both speak at once and neither listens, but the point to note is the need for sym- pathetic contact.
I am not unmindful of the social dangers of obsession with these friendly games. I recall particu- larly the case of my friend the Vicar of Much Mucking, who could never rid his mind of golf. During service one morning he began to speculate, characteristically, on the problem of whether it would be possible to lift a ball from the top of the chancel steps over the heads of the congregation into the font at the other end.
GERMANO- YUGO-SLAV TALKS
Berlin, To này.
Herr Hitler yesterday received the Yugo-Sløv Premier, M. Stoy- adinovitch, in the Palace of Gen-
eral Goering.
Also present were the German Foreign Minister, Baron von Neu- rath, and the German Minister in Belgrade:
The conversations. lasted for over an hour-Trans-Ocean.
JUST ANOTHER MANOEUVRE,
SAYS HANKOW
Hankow, To-day. While the Chinese press regards the Japanese Government's mani-
large- festo as signal for a new offensive, scale
authoritative
It was still on his mind when he rose to preach. Coming to the sen tence in his notes, "How can such a task be achieved?" he paused and Chinese quarters believe that the said in a loud voice, "I believe it Tokyo statements is yet another at- could be done with a mashie shot!"tempt to persuade the Chinese Gov-
Many parishioners were shocked. ernment to accept the
conditions but to formulated by Japan in December. But to my mind it served show the natural, sociable desire of
In a statement to the press yes- the golfer to take other people into terday, Dr. H. H. Kung made it his confidence.
clear, however, that conditions im- plying violation of Chinese gover- to eignty would be unacceptable
China.
The beneficent social effect of ordinary games is better under- stood if you consider their origin. According to authropologists, all
China was willing to conclude a ball games originated in the ancient ritual of the scape-goat, by which, sincere and permanent peace, but in primtive societies, the sins of the only on honourable conditions.
Dr. Kung denied the Japanese people were ceremonially placed on
Central the head of a goat, which was then charge that the Chinese
wrie Government was pursuing dilatory expelled. from the community, car-
tactics. As time went on the ceremony de rying, it was hoped, the sins with it.
He explained that the initiative generated into a game, the animal at present was not resting with the Chinese Government since certain being substituted by a ball. Foot- The President of the Board ball symbolises the attempt of each points in the Japanese conditions re- quire further elucidation. — Trans- Trade, Mr. Oliver Stanley, will pre-side to keep sin out of their own
Ocean The only units which had crossed side, and Lord Cranborne and Ad-territory and get it into someone the river west of Hangchow were miral Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, else's. also Chinese troops and are now Second Sea Lord, will also be pre- only 15 kilometres from the city, sent.-British Wireless,
On the Shihsien road, a force of about eight Chinese divisions have advanced towards Yukang, which is said to already be in hands of Chinese troops.
YUKANG CAPTURED
The Japanese are rushing forcements from Shanghai
luncheon on Wednesday.
of
Suffering from the effects of gas the poisoning while cleaning a box at the Hong Kong Gas Co., Leung rein-Chee, a workman, was admitted to
the the Queen Mary Hospital.
dart or other missile, what you are really doing is ridding your- self of sin.
At the close of the game the los- ing side (that is, the one that has been landed with the sin) symboli- I trust I have explained the es- cally places the sin on the head of sential difference between bridge the referee, throws him into the and other more human pastimes, and harbour, and goes home to tea with convinced you that you need, not souls as white as snow.
worry about the behaviour of bridge Every time, therefore, you kick, |players. They are not like other throw or otherwise propel a ball, people.