THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 14, 1938.
Severe Battle Raging Across Hwai River: Japanese Claim Hankow Admits Retreat On Peiping-Hankow Line
CONCRETE EMPLACEMENTS BLOWN TO BITS
Hankow, To-day. The Japanese bomb- ardment which destroy- ed Chinese fortifications on the Hwai River lasted without intermission for several days.
Every available gun
battery
and aeroplane took part in the bombardment, which literally blasted to bits strong concrete emplacements and dugouts.
It is reported here that the Ja- panese have concentrated no few- er than 400 tanks along the Pei- ping-Hankow Railway.
Japanese destroyed bridges of the Peiping-Hankow Railway over the Yellow River yesterday, while Chinese planes bombed the pon- toon bridge over the Yellow River. -Trans-Ocean.
CURIOUS CONVERSATION OF M. CORBIN
London, Yesterday.
between the
The conference
Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, and the French
GOGA LEAVES RUMANIA FOR HEALTH
Bucharest, To-day.
The deposed Rumanian Fascist Premier, M. Octavian Goga, has left the country "for reasons of health,"
It is understood that M. Goga will spend some time abroad "re- cuperating.” His first stop will be Nice, on the French Riviera. Trans-Ocean.
SCORES OF MISSING JUNKS
STUBBORN RESISTANCE
TAKES HEAVY TOLL
Shanghai, To-day. The long-heralded battle for the Lunghai Railway, which promises to be the biggest engagement of the present war unless the Chinese collapse, has approached nearer with dramatic sudden- ness as a consequence of sweeping Japanese advances.
Chinese retreat from the Hwai River followed a bit- ter struggle in which their defence works were pounded by artillery and aeroplanes and al- most completely destroyed.
Official despatches claim the seizure by the Japanese in the bat- Canton, Yesterday.
the Hwai River of 173 Although hundreds of fisher- tle for
fokis machine-guns of Czecho-Slovakian men and trading junk have managed to escape after make, 360 rifles, one trench mortar 75,000 rounds of assorted their junks have been captured and or burnt by Japanese gunboats ammunition, while the Chinese are. off the coast of South China, stated to have left 1,500 dead on over 300 are still missing, ac- the field. cording to official figures issued here.
It is stated that these boat peo- ple which include many women and children, have either been drowned or shot by the Japanese marines.
About 150 junks are missing. This type of activity by the Japanese has extended along the South China coast from Swatow to Hainan Island.-Our Own Cor-
respondent. .
The Chinese claim that more than 1,000 Japanese were killed.
Another severe battle is now be- ing fought across the banks of the Hwai River with the Chinese, so Japanese at- far, preventing all tempts to cross.-Reuter.
PUYANG
TAKEN
Hankow, To-day.
The Chinese have blown up the railway bridge spanning the Hwai
Ambassador, M. Charles Cor- ALLEGED PLOTTERS River and are now facing the Ja-
bin, has aroused more than usual interest for several rea-
sons.
Political circles point out that foreign Ambassadors seldom con-
ARRESTED
Shanghai, Yesterday.
fer with the Prime Minister, but An anti-Japanese organisation
panese, who are exchanging fire with them from the southern bank.
Japanese forces operating in south Hopei have captured Puyang, only 60 miles from the nearest point on the Lunghai Railway, and are continuing their advance to- wards the Yellow River.
40-MILE ADVANCE
which is their base of operations, and then swept along to Kaotsun, only four stations north of Sian- sing, which is at the junction of the Peiping-Hankow and the Tao- kow-Chinghua Railways.
Reuter.
COUNTRYSIDE FLOODED
ese
Peiping, To-day.
The Japanese advance along the Peiping-Hankow Railway is likely to be slow, as the Chin- have completely destroyed miles of railway and embank- ments south of Changteh, and have also opened the canal bank, swamping the countryside.
Guerilla activities against the Japanese lines of communi- cation have been intensified in the past few days.
There has been fighting out- side Paotingfu, while irregu- lars have appeared near Chu- chow, 40 miles from Peiping- Reuter.
FINES BY INSTALMENTS
Proposal For Scotland
are usually received by the For- was discovered by the Japanese eign Secretary.
military authorities in Nanking a Mr. Chamberlain's action in re-few days ago, according to a be- from the ceiving M. Corbin is thus inter-lated report received
Occupation preted in some quarters as an in-abandoned Chinese capital.
of -Puyang marked dication that the Prime Minister Two Chinese were arrested in an advance of more than 40 miles in North Chung Shan since the Japanese broke the three- is taking a more active part in a house
The payments of fines by instal- British foreign policy.in
Road, and it is alleged that docu-
month deadlock and launched their
ments is proposed in the ¬ that Other circles believe
M. ments were found revealing anti- drive from Taming six days ago. Corbin's conference with Mr.Japanese plotting.
The Japanese apparently aim at ment's Criminal: Procedure (Scot- Chamberlain concerned financial The fate of the two men is not crossing the Yellow River for an at-land) Bill, the text of which has support for the French Govern- known, but it is believed that they tack on Kaifeng, which is only 10 been issued in London.
The amount of the instalments is very soon miles south of the great waterway. ment in the form of a British faced a firing squad
after their arrest.—Our. Own Cor-
The advance column is now head-to be fixed by the court of sum. ing along the highway leading to mary jurisdiction, and when any respondent,-
Changyuan, and from there will instalment is not paid at the time presumably press on Fengchiu, a ordered, the accused shall be liable town situated near the north bank to imprisonment for a period pro- the of the Yellow River.
portionate to the sum which unpaid instalments so bear to the in period specified by the court default of payment.
loan.
Rumours to this effect were suf- ficient to cause the franc, to re- cover slightly on the market yes- terday.
NIPPON RAIDERS DEFY WEATHER
The supervision of persons fined is provided for.
FRENCH DIFFICULTIES
ON YELLOW RIVER
Though there is as yet no de-
According to an unconfirmed re- finite information to support the
port, a force of from 2,000 to 3,000 rumours, financial circles say that
Canton, Yesterday.
Japanese troops has already been
Another proposal is that statu- without such support, the Chau- In spite of the rain and low sighted at two points on the north temps Government in Paris is in lying clouds three Japanese bank of the Yellow River south-tory offences punishable by penal a very precarious position, and planes appeared near the city west of Puyang, and the making an servitude may be tried in the Sheriff
court since another Government crisis after 8 a.m. to-day.
attempt to cross.
The bill was presented by Mr. in France would be extremely un- After cruising over Bocca Meanwhile, the Japanese push welcome to England at the pre-Tigris, they flew to Cheungmuk-down the Peiping-Hankow Railway Walter Elliot, Secretary for Scot-
land, and was supported by sent time, it is highly probable tau on the Canton-Kowloon is continuing successfully. that
the British. Government Line, and dropped bombs in the Striking along the railway with Lord Advocate, the Solicitor Gen- would be inclined to respect French vicinity of the Bus station. No amazing speed, the Japanese first eral for Scotland, and Scrymegeour wishes in this respect as far as serious damage was done,--Our captured Tangyin, 10 miles south Wedderburn, Under Secretary for possible. Trans-Ocean.
[Own Correspondent.
of Changteh, in North Honan, Scotland.
the