THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 23, 1938
CHINESE
LAUNCHING
Page
BIG
OFFENSIVE FROM CHEKIANG
Bid To Breach Hangchow-Wuhu Communication
GRIM
ON
OF
DISCOVERIES RECAPTURE CHANGTEH
Hankow, To-day.
The Chinese forces on the south-eastern front, comprising eastern Anhwei and northern Che- kiang, are launching a general offensive in the near future, in an attempt to smash the Japan- ese line between Hangchow and Wuhu, accord- ing to Chinese sources.
CHEFOO- CABLE CENSORSHIP
Peiping, To-day.
The Japanese, authorities at Chefoo are refusing to accept coded telegrams from British and other businessmen and are not agreeing to a consular guarantee, such as in force at Shanghai. Reuter.
TWO CHINESE
Although the Japanese are said to be holding Wuhu NEWSPAPERMEN
and Hangchow in force, they are believed to have stationed only small garrisons at points between these two cities.
Chinese troops launched an attack on Wuhu on Feb. 13 and a
drive on Hangchow on Feb. 16, but
INTERESTING
ARRESTED
Shanghai, To-day.
The proprietor of the Chinese newspaper "Jen Pao" and two of his assistants were arrested yes-
capturing strategic VIENNA CIRCULAR terday for unknown reasons by
points near the cities, were com- pelled to withdraw because of heavy artillery bombardments.
The Chinese high command, it is understood, plans to make the next
drive between Wuhu and Hang-
chow.
ATTACKING HUCHOW
CHINA PROTEST TO GERMANY POSTPONED
Hankow, To-day.
The circumstances leading to Germany's decision to recognise Manchukuo are believed to have been explained to General Chiang Kai-shek by Dr. Oscar Trautmann, German Ambassador, in an inter- view in Hankow on Monday after-
noon.
Meanwhile, the Chinese For- eign Office has decided to post- pone despatch of its intended protest against the German deci- sion pending careful study of the original text of Herr Hitler's Reichstag speech.
Versions of the Fuehrer's ad- dress circulated here show con- siderable differences. Reuter.
the International Settlement po-papers publishing libellous state-
Vienna, To-day. lice, accompanied by two Japan- ments. A manifesto to which signa- | ese officials. tures are requested is now being circulated in all industrial and commercial firms in Vienna.
The manifesto states that workers are at all times ready to fight for Austrian independence Any threat to Austrian indepen In the Hangchow area the Chin-dence would not only entail disas- ese are stated to be attacking trous consequences for the Aus- Huchow, on the southern shore, trian working classes but also
with the object of threatening the
Shanghai-Hangchow Railway, while would increase the danger of a in the Wuhu sector the Chinese European war, with all its terri are attempting to capture Hsuan-ble results for Austria.-Trans- chen and Kaochun, points on the Ocean. highway between the two cities.
Central Government forces are to bear the brunt of the forth- coming offensive, as it is intended to employ Government troops for attacks and provincial troops for defence of positions in quiet sectors.
MINISTRY FOR ASIATIC AFFAIRS
Tokyo, To-day..
Meanwhile the Chinese claim › Germany's intention to recognise that Kwangteh, midway between Manchukuo has helped the Japan- Nanking and Hangchow, was re-ese Government to expedite in- captured on January 30.
STARK DESOLATION
auguration of the "Ministry for Asiatic Affairs" designed to guar- antee a uniform course in the con- |duct of Japan's Asiatic policy by Normally with a population of co-ordinating and centralising the 80,000, the city is stated to have working of various departments. been without a single inhabitant such as the cabinet committee for when Chinese troops re-entered the Manchukuo, the Asiatic Bureau, place, while no building had a the Chinese department of the For- roof. All were either burnt down eign Office and the ministry for or destroyed.
administration of Japanese posses- sions overseas. Trans-Ocean.
Four hundred dead bodies were picked up in the streets and among the ruins of buildings.
Kwangteh is said to have been ANTI-RED PACT
recaptured without much fighting as the Japanese garrison was com-, pelled to withdraw following Chin- ese occupation of the highways surrounding the city.
Tokyo, To-day. Reports from Dairen state that Manchukuo has joined the Anti- Comintern Pact-Trans-Ocean.
This followed reports in Shanghai newspapers that Jap- A Japanese news agency intianese sailors had plundered the mated yesterday that drastic ác-seized by the Japanese authori- Greek steamer which had been
tion would be taken against news- ties, Trans-Ocean.
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