THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 4, 1938.
CHINESE TRIUMPH TAIERCHWANG
AT
Violent Japanese Attacks Turned Into Retreat
Gen. Li Chung-Jen Tells Story Of Battle
Hankow, To-day.
L
Recounting the story of the bat tle for Taierchwang, General Tsung-jen asserts that the Ja- entered the to wa panese forces:
from the north-east and succeeded in occupying the northern section: The Chinese, holding two-thirds ofļ the town, tried to dislodge the enemy with hand-grenades and des perate bayonet charges, but the Ja panese succeeded in holding out against the assault. -
HEAVY CLASH
ON NEW
BATTLE FRONT
SHANGHAI, TO-DAY. SANSHANCHEN, a STRATE- GICALLY IMPORTANT TOWN HOUSES SET ON FIRE Sunday found the town of Taierchwang, on the
The Chinese then tried to, smoke: 13 MILES SOUTH-WEST OF RECAP- southern border of Shantung, still in the hands
tc WUHU, HAS BEEN of the Chinese, who have now resisted for over the Japanese out, setting fire
houses in the occupied section, buTURED BY THE CHINESE, a week every attempt by the Japanese to gain
the Japanese still held their posi ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL
CHINESE REPORT.
Japanese troops advancing a decisive success in this vitally important tions.
Finally the Japanese withdraw sector.
from Taierchwang late on Saturday northwards from Nantung, the industrial centre on the southern According to Chinese reports, the Japanese troops evening.
shore of the Yangtsenear another messag near Taierchwang which were completely cut According to
Chinese near Tungtai, 85 off several days ago are still holding out des- from Hsuchowfu, the Japanese are Shanghai, have been halted by perately in spite of severe losses sustained in tention of joining their comrade miles north of Nantung, says a warding off what appears to be inevitable an- at Halanchen, 20 miles south-wes Chinese report. nihilation.
retreating north-east with the
in-the
With the arrival of heavy re- of Lingyi
The Chinese are reported to have inforcements the Chinese launch- re-occupied Hanchwang, accomed a furious counter-attack and lorry plishing this feat after crossing the severe fighting is raging near
Tungtai-Reuter. motor Grand Canal.
bun-
During the last 48 hours, this bushed a Japanese motor
is believed to column and destroyed 180 Japanese force have lost a further 2,000 dead lorries and captured several
dred rifles, ten trench mortars and and wounded.
Both sides are fighting with four field guns --Trans-Ocean. undiminished fury in an effort to gain the upper hand.
Military circles in Hankow maintain that the war has taken a definite turn in the favour of China
JAPANESE CLAIM
Shanghai, To-day.
it
RETREATING ON LANLING
An official Chinese communique U WEATHER FORECAST
says that only a small number o Japanese troops at present 231
stationed at Yihsien, and the main The Royal Observatory reports body of the enemy of Yihsien is re- that the anti-cyclone over China has ported to be retreating on Lanling attained moderate intensity, pres- All information received in Shang-in order to effect a junction with sure being highest to the north of. hai on the Shantung fighting in-the retreating Japanese forces the Yangtse Valley. A deep depres- dicated that Taierchwang has chang from Taierchwang.
sion covers Hokkaido and Japan, COLUMN SURPRISED ed hands several times.
The reverses suffered by the Ja-and the southern depression is ap The Japanese military here claim panese on the Tientsin-Pakow Rail-parently filling up over the Visayas. Local forecast: N. E. winds, mo- Messages last night claim that a Japanese column of 2,000, hast-they now hold the town, saying way front, have greatly encourag
oned Chinese circles in Hankow, and derate; fine to cloudy. ening to the relief of their com-was retaken from the Chinese
Saturday.
confidence is growing that the at rades near Taierchwang,
They cite as confirmation of their tempt of the Japanese to capture subjected to a surprise attack by Chinese forces at Hsicashing, claim the fact that Chinese despat-Hsuchowfu will be further delayed ches from Hankow reported that if not completely frustrated Ren north of Taierchwang.
Other Japanese reinforcements yesterday the Chinese troops launch-ter. sent from Tsingtao are reporteded an attack on the town.-Trans- to have been checked at Lingyi. There was a lull in the Lingyi fighting last night.
Was
Trans-
Ocean 3
ITAGAKI DIVISION
EXHAUSTED
Ocean.
JAPANESE IN FULL RETREAT
Shanghai, To-day. After fighting unceaselessly for nearly two weeks, during which the Hankow, To-day. Chinese captured and abandoned The Japanese early yesterday Taierchwang several times, they morning made an attempt to turn are now in full control of the town, latest messages the battle now going on in south according to the Shantung to their favour by call-from that area.
ing upon a division of fresh The Japanese have been driven off troops which had been hastily and are in full retreat before the summoned from Tsingtao.
pursuing Chinese troops.
The town is in ruins, filled with They took over the positions held by the exhausted Itagaki Division, dead bodies of soldiers and civilians. which had suffered heavy casualties Not a single building seems to have
Chinese. dags in the course of operations on Fri-escaped unhit.
now flying from the tops of those
day.
are
One column of fresh troops, con-buildings still standing up.-Our sisting mainly of reservists, was im- Own Correspondent.
mediately dispatched to relieve the
Japanese troops which after their LI CHUNG-JEN
retreat from Taierchwang are still
held up in Yihsien.
CHINESE OFFENSIVE
Meanwhile, the withdrawal of Ja-
south
REPORT
Hankow, To-day.
Complete Chinese re-occupation
panese forces has made itself felt in late on Saturday night of Taierch- north Honan and
Shansi, wang and Hanchwang is claimed where the Chinese have started an by General Li Tsung-jen, who adds offensive and are pressing the enemy that the towns were re-occupied fighting lasting from the Yellow River at the wes- after desperate tern border of Shansi Province in twelve days and nights. the direction of the main railway Both sides employed crack troops and the engagements were marked artery.
In the south-eastern part of Shan-by fierce hand-to-hand fighting as si, between Lichen and Tungyang-well as the use of mechanised kwan, Chinese troops yesterday am- units and aircraft.
The RMS. "Empress of Asia” is due at Shanghai to-day at 2:30 pm and leaves for Hong Kong and Manila to-morrow at 10.30 am..
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