1937-10-19 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOB

Page

JAPAN'S RAPID ADVANCE

REPORTED CROSSING OF HONAN BORDER

Tientsin, 9 am, To-day-

The rapidity of the Japanese advance down the Peiping-Han- kow Railway occasions no sur- prise as reliable reports indicate that the fighting at Shunteh consisted of little more than a holding engagement and that the Chinese withdrew on carefully prepared defence lines at Chang- tehfu.

A further factor is the employ- ment by the Japanese of armoured train units, who are "capturing” towns by passing through them.

Although claims that the Japanese have crossed the Hopei-Honan bor- der are not disputed, it is evident that the Japanese have not crossed in any force.

It is reported here that the for- ward movement has come to a halt. with the capture of Matauchun and that some time is likely to elapse before the Japanese are in sufficient strength to test the quality of the Chinese defences at Changtekfu Our Own Correspondent.

FENGLOCHEN ATTACK

Shanghai, To-day.

are

A Japanese report from Tientsin says that the Japanese forces extending the field of hostilities far- ther inland, and yesterday launched an attack on Fenglochen, the first station in Honan on the Peiping- Hankow Railway.

Japanese units are stated to have crossed the Hopei-Honan border at 4.30 yesterday morning, as they pur- sued Chinese-troops who had been driven out of Hautan, 442 kilome- tres south-west of Peiping-Reuter

ARMOURED TRAIN OVER BORDER

The team of Staff and Departments, led by last week. CMail photo).

Seth Smith, whic

Polo Cap

SOVIET,

FRANCE

AND SPAIN

Paris, To-day.

The Premier, M. Camille Chan- temps, received the Soviet“ Am- bassador this morning.

It is understood the talk was chiefly in connection with the question of withdrawal of "volun- teers from Spain-Reuters

REPORTED

BOMBING OF HOPAO ISLAND

Canton, To-day.

MINORCA SEIZURE PLAN WARNING ISSUED BY NATIONALISTS

Paris, To-day.

The press campaign in favour of occupation by Britain and France of the Balearic Island of Minor- ca, on the ground that an Italian force in Majorca is preparing to seize it, has led to the issue of a warning from the Spanish Nationalists.

The warning contained H message from the Spanish press service quoting an official state- ment issued in Salamanca.

The warning decla that domination of the Balearic Islands is purely Spanish and will remain, so that Spanish possession of the islands need not occasion the fear of measures that might injure the Mediterranean interests of any other State. The bombing of Hopao Island, which was recently occupied by French activities in the Bal- Japanese bluejackets as a temporary earics, says the warning, can supply base and airport, is reported only serve the purpose of the here, although no confirmation is Valencia Government in creating possible.

- a situation dangerous for Euro two- Members of crews aboard

pean peace-Beuter boats from Chungshan and Shek Ki stated that the same reports were current there and that farmers saw

Chinese planes flying towards Hopao NORTH ATLANTIC

Island.

While declining to admit or deny the report, an Air Force official

SHIPPING RATES

Hamburg

Peiping, To-day pointed out that Hopao Island is a

North Atlantic assenger rates The Japanese flag is flaunting desirable place for planes to take off in another Chinese province follow and land, as mountains nearby shield are to be increased by an average ing crossing of the Horan border the planes against winds, but the of $5, or £1, says an annor ceme from Hopei by an armoured train island is too small to acco nodate made here yesterday after a spectacular dash ahead of a large number of machines. He The increase will apply to the main Japanese forces operating said that the island is not itable entire summer season, which in the Peiping-Hankow railway for the storage of arms and ammuni

́zone.

tion

The train was part of a flying The official admitted, however, column which, according to that Chinese planes had Japanese military communique ed over the island- had reviously occupied Tzechow News seven miles north of the border. -

Farther north, Japanese troops are still constantly engaged with mobile bodies of Chinese on both sides of the railway. Rente

HEAVY DEFEAT

-COMMUBIą

heavy

narrow tip of Hopei Province Honan and Shantung, eports the capture of Kwang ping, 19 miles north-west of

QUEEN

KING AND AT HOUSE OF LORDS

London, To-day.

The King and Queen visited the House of Lords yesterday afternoon for nearly half an hour. one of inspection in

of the State opening of Parlia

day week

Earlier in the day, before return ing to London from Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, their the visited Windsor Castle and inspect-

tions and in

for

fo

American harbours is from May 23

to July 24, for eastward passag and from July 25 to September

for we

ward

For Canadian harbours the crease will be in effec

30 to July 17 for eastw

and from July 25 to

ave be carried ou

eir

fireles

for westward tripe-Trais ce LONDON HOSPITAL

WEDDING ANNOUNCED

The forthcominy wedding

Brian Thomas Flanagan, of No.

7. Garden Terrace, and is

Hope Giles, nursing sist

EXTENSION

Hospital

aches

goods

Rem

has been announced.

Wire