THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 6, 1938.
POSSIBLE EVACUATION OF HANKOW CIVIL POPULATION Suggestive Measures Taken By Government
Japanese Claim
Fall Of Kaifeng
To Be Imminent
Shanghai, To-day.
TWO RAIDS ON RETREAT FROM
FENGTAI BARCELONA
BY INSURGENTS AND SHOUHSIEN
Barcelona, To-day.
The insurgent air force attacked
Liuan, To-day.
After exacting a heavy toll of Japanese quarters here claim that the fall of Kai-Barcelona twice on Saturday, drop- the Japanese troops advancing
ping numerous bombs.
from Mengcheng, Chinese forces have abandoned Fengtai and Shou- First raid took place in the early hsien, in west Anhwei, approxi- morning, and a second group of raiders, which consisted of amately seventy kilometres south- The Japanese forces which are advancing on Kai-squadron of seven planes, appear-west of Pengpu.
ed over the city shortly after one
feng, capital of the province of Honan, is im-
minent.
Part of the Japanese force, con- tinuing their drive towards the now engaged in heavy the Chinese in the vicinity of Chengyangkwan, twenty kilometres west of Shouhsien.
The planes flew at an extremely west, are high altitude and cruised over the fighting with city for some time.
It is declared that the bombard- ment caused considerable material
feng from the east along the Lunghai Railway o'clock. are now only 16 kilometres from the city. Since other Japanese units which are advancing on the city from the south-east have closed all roads running southwards from Kaifeng, the damage. main body of Chinese forces is retiring in a western direction towards Chengchow, junc-bardment is not available so tion of the Lunghai and Peiping-Hankow Railways.
JAP. LANDING CRAFT SUNK BY GUNFIRE
Kinhwa, To-day.
More than A dozen Japanese steamiaunches, loaded with large numbers of men, were hit and sunk by Chinese shells on the Chientang River when the enemy made an abortive landing attempt in the vicinity of Pingyao, fifteen kilome- tres north of Yuhang.
Information regarding the num- ber of victims claimed by the bom- far,
however.
The authorities believe that Gen- eral Franco will shortly launch
a
Following a series of exhausting battles in its vicinity, a general lull has descended on Hofei.
At Yungchao, the Japanese have withdrawn to Tungchongchai, with only a small forcè manning the blockhouses there.
Another unit which launched a heavy assault on Hsukiaokuai has Traffic on railway line from Han- new large-scale offensive since mes-also retreated in the direction of kow to Chengchow is still being sages from the front between Teruel Yungehao-Central News. maintained, but the civilian authori-and the coast report that ties have already begun to evacuate pressure on the loyalists is becoming the city.
stronger and stronger. Ocean.
Other messages report that Chin- ese forces in the region south of Kweiteh are retiring towards Han- kow on a broad front.
enemy
Trans-
Barcelona, To-day.
day inviting military and air at- taches of both countries to visit. the scene of the bombing and "satisfy themselves that recent insurgent aerial attacks were carried out not the The Spanish Government here on military objectives but on According to Chinese reports, Chinese troops have been ordered to handed a note to the Ambassadors of defenceless civilian population." hold the line Hankow-Chengchow France and Great Britain on Satur-Trans-Ocean, at any price.
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It is expected therefore that violent battle will develop in this sector during the next few days.
HANKOW MEASURES
.
Certain measures taken by the Chinese defenders kept up a con-Chinese civilian authorities in Han- stant barrage of artillery and ma-kow appear to indicate that systema- chine-gun fire on the Japanese ves-tic evacuation of Hankow is part sels, which replied with ineffective of the general strategic plan drawn light guns. When the
command invaders up by the Chinese
future. were finally driven back to the eas-operations of the near tern bank, at least a dozen boats Trans-Ocean. had capsized.-Central News.
FUNERAL OF CHINA AIR VICTIMS
Hankow, To-day.
RECAPTURE KWANGPING
for
Hankow, To-day. Kwangping, north of Taming, in south Hopei, has been recaptured, a military report just received states.
Violent fighting is in progress on the Linfen-Kuwo sector in, south] Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shansi, where the Chinese are bat- shek personally attended the tling against a Japanese attempt to memorial service held here yester-break through the Chinese cordon. day for four Chinese airmen who The Japanese, numbering about were killed during recent air battles 1,000 men, including cavalry and with Japanese raiders at different artillery units, launched attacks at places.
four points in an attempt to force
The service, which was held in the a way out of the Chinese ring. Local Chamber of Commerce, was Three attacks were beaten back also attended by General Chien Ta-with heavy losses. The fourth co- chun, Chief Aide-de-Camp of the humn, forming the main body of Generalissimo,
the Japanese forces, is still hotly
The four airmen who lost their engaged-Central News. lives were Sub-Squadron Leaders Chang Shou-hsien and Yang Chen- crashed to the ground during the hsien, Pilot Chen Hwai-min and air combat with Japanese planes Pilot King Chang-sze, Sub-over Wuhan on - May 31 in which Squadron Leader Chang Shou-fourteen Japanese machines were
Central News. hafen was killed when his plane shot down.
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