1937-12-20 — Page 12

JAPANESE FEELER OPERATIONS

Shanghai, To-day.

The Japanese forces quicken- ed the pace of their military preparations in Chekiang, Kiangsu and Anhwei as they engaged the Chinese forces in brief position testing engage ments at half a dozen points, where large scale drives are believed to be likely to break out as soon as groundwork for the campaign is completed.

According to Chinese re- ports, Japanese troops which crossed the Yangtse at Chin- Kiang and captured Yangchow, launched an attack against the Chinese forces north of Yangchow.

»

Japanese

Objective of the troops is said to be Kaoyu, 45 miles north of Yangchow.

Meanwhile, on the Tientsin- Pakow Railway front, the Ja- panese forces are stated to have staged several raids on the Chin- ese lines near Wuyi, with, the intention of testing the strength of the Chinese forces in that sector

BID FOR HOPEI Another Japanese unit opera- tion north of the Yangtse, at- cording to other Chinese reports, is preparing for a drive along the Hweinan Railway.

This force, which crossed the Yangtse at Wuhu, is said to have gained a foothold near Yuchikow, Hanshan and Hobsien, on the river bank.

Main objective of this army is the strategic Anhwei city of Hofei, located some 90 kilome- tres inland.

Japanese troops at present are consolidating their positions "at the southern terminus of the railway before launching their drive towards Hofei

BRIDGES BLOWN UP The Chinese are reported to "have blown up all bridges along

GREAT SEAS GREAT SEAS BREAK RIGHT TOVER HOOVER

Taihosu, To-day.

It is feared that the Pre- sident Hoover broke her back last night during a gale of intense violence.

The ship is now regarded Eng doomed.

Huge seas are breaking over her and she is gradually breaking

up.

THE CHINA MAI DEGIME

SOVIET EXPERTS TR

Building Up Hunan And Kweichow Recruits

Shanghai, To-day.

IMPORTANT changes in the High Command of the Chinese army are foreshadowed by several local vernacular papers.

The 8th Route Army, formerly the to the two Governors of A skeleton crew and salvage ex-Communist army, is expected to take ese provinces in North perts are still on board the liner, over the Shansi and Shensi fronts. General Mao Tze-tung but it is expected that they will be where all Chinese forces will be En-li, both of whom hase compelled to abandon ship before united under the command of the Nanchang, in Kingst long.

former Red Army chief

the Generalissen They have reported by wireless The front formed by the Peiping Soviet military that the heavy gale during the Hankow Railway will be made over assigned the task of night caused very serious damage to to General Li Tsung-jen, who is at Chinese recruits the hull and the engine-room is now present commanding forces on the Kweichow. Trans-Ocean full of water-Our Own Correspon-Tientsin-Pukow Railway. dent.

CONSCRIPTION WOMEN

The latter forces will be given to General Tang Sheng-chih.

FOR Much

Warsaw, To-day.

The Polish Government has decid- ed to sponsor a bill for extending full-term compulsory military ser vice for men and for applying the principle of military conscription to

women

If the bill passes the Sejm, all

CONFIDENCE IN PEI

significance is attached to the appointment of General Pai Chung-hsi to the post of comman- der of the forces holding the im- portant Kiangsi and Anhwer fronts.

This commander is the right hand man of General Chiang Kai-shek. who is apparently expecting battles of a decisive nature in this parti cular war zone.

1)

SOVIET NOTE

OF PROTEST TO POLAND

Warsaw, To-day-

The Soviet has sharply pro tested to the Polish Foreign Office against "continual provo- General Chang Fa-kwei, chief of cation" by the Polish authorities,

SOUTHERN COMMAND

Polish able-bodied men between the the famous "Ironsides," is to be and particularly against the

ages of 18 and 60, will be liable to placed in command in Chekiang and Soviet-Polish frontier incident in Fukien, while all Chinese forces in which, according to a semi-official service, while all able-bodied women between the ages of 19 and 45, will the Canton zone are to be under the Soviet statement, two members be enrolled in ambulance units, etc supreme command of General Li of the staff of the Soviet train

Chai-sum

were unlawfully detained Trans-Ocean

Bumour also has it that a num- The detention followed discovery ber of important changes are about of burning rags in a compartment to be made in the political sphere which was apparently set on fire by as well, mainly with a view to bring-ja Polish citizen. ing about co-operation between the The semi-official Polish agency Kuomintang and the Chinese Com-fatly denies these lying allega- ions," and claims the fire was munists.

the railway.

is

Constituting a separate field of Japanese military operations, the Chekiang-Anhwei area believed likely to be the scene of a bitter struggle between the Chinese and Japanese forces when the Japanese drive gets under way-Renter.

Bringing Up Father

WELL- I'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME-SO I MIGHT AS WELL SEE IF 1 KIN GIT TOM HANJERRY

ON THE PHONE-

SOVIET AID

tarted or the Soviet side of the

There is talk, for instance, of frontier and was due to defects in

Government posts, being given he Soviet train Reater.

high

HELLO-GIVE ME PLAZA-SEVEN- SIX-FIVE-TWO-

A Fre

a ship from s near Paris, I Photo shows.

WHAT HAPPE

We you

THAT'S THE HIDEOUT

WE'RE TOO LATE THE

LAST

T-EVER NE-OF-Y

YOU DO

EM

KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED

TRK

INTO-A

LIVE BEEN A STUBBORN FOOL, BUT I }IFI WIFE OUT THESE KILLERS MAYES. HITËL MAKE AMENDS FOR ALL THE

SUFFERING IVE

LE CAUSEDA

RANGE

WAR BY

DAGGE

AND

THE

REMNANTS

DARGETT'S

CANG

7827

Copr. 1953, King Features

CH, DAD,