1938-02-17 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 17, 1938.

TURN

IN

THE

TIDE

Page

FOR

CHINA ON WAR FRONTS

Well Prepared Positions Along Yellow River

CONSOLIDATION

ACHIEVED: STRONG

COUNTER-OFFENSIVES

Hankow, To-day.

The Chinese forces have finally succeeded in con- solidating their positions, according to Chinese réports from the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and Peiping-Hankow Railway fronts, and the mili- tary authorities express confident belief that the situation is now taking a turn for the bet- ter for the Chinese.

This development followed an anxious week in which Japanese troops on both fronts launch- ed simultaneous drives against the Chinese

positions.

and

that

JAPANESE CLAIMS

SHANGHAI POSTAL CENSORSHIP

Shanghai, To-day-

The Post Office Commissioner, M. Chaplain, has been officially informed of the intention of the Japanese to institute a censorship of the Post Office,

The exact date on which the censorship will begin, however, and the manner in which it will be exercised, has not been deter- mind-Trans-Ocean.

BUTENCO TURNS UP IN BUCHAREST

Rome, To-day.

CHINESE SUCCESSES IN HWAI R. REGION

Hankow, To-day, The big counter-offensive launch- ed by Chinese troops on the western side of the Tsinan- Hsuchow branch of the T.P.R. has led to further important successes, according to Chinese claims.

Intense fighting in this region is still in progress and both sides are said to have suffered heavy losses.

to have Japanese from

The Chinese claim driven out the Lianghsiatien,

a station on the T.P.R., and to be within striking

In the Tientsin-Pukow Rail- It is also reported that another way, the Japanese forces have column of Chinese troops at pre- threatened Hsuchow, and on the sent is attacking Mingkwan, north charge d'affaires in Bucharest,

M. Theodore Butenco, Soviet distance of Chowhsien. Peiping-Hankow Railway they of Pengpu.-Renter.

An unconfirmed report says that have menaced Chengchow

who, Kaifeng.

according to "Giornale Chowhaien is already in Chinese Meanwhile,

Shanghai, To-day. d'Italia," has now

hands. reports state

been found in Heavy fighting is also raging at Following an intensive bombard-Rome after his mysterious disap-Teining, with the outcome uncer- Chinese military officials are not ment in which many tons of ex- alarmed at the sudden Japanese ad-plosives were flung against the Chin-pearance, is alleged to have told

tain. vance southward along the Peiping-ese fortifications, the Japanese yes- his story to the newspaper.

HARASSING REAR Hankow line, pointing out that theterday made a breach in the first

In the Chinese positions south of Changtehline sector of defence on China's fled from

The paper says that M. Butenko Chinese are still concentrating on -

Hwai River region the represent a salient vulnerable to at-left wing north of Weihwei, accord- Ogpu, which was gradually en-

the iron ring of the harassing the Japanese rear. tack.

ing to Japanese despatches.

. This kind of warfare leads to no circling him. IRREGULARS AT FRONT Led by tanks and amoured cars

He is said to have told "Giornale ese command is said to be highly spectacular results but the Chin- The Chinese positions north

Japanese infantry poured through d'Italia" that he knew his life was pleased with what has been achiev- of the breach and engaged the enemy menaced because Ogpu agents called. Weihwei are defended by irregulars, in sanguinary hand-to-hand fight-ed on him at the Legation and tried including former Manchurian troops ing. commanded by Gen. Wan Fu-lin, and

to lure him outside.

Chinese planes are in action FENGCHIU CAPTURE.

more and more these days, and it the 29th Army commanded by Gen.]:

He hid in Bucharest for four is evident that Soviet planes are Meanwhile, the Japanese claim days before being able to cross the now arriving in greater numbers. Sung Cheh-yuan.

Crack Central Government troops north of Kaifeng, which they as-

the capture of Fengchiu, 18 miles frontier. Reuter.

-Trans-Ocean. are defending well-prepared posi-sert will enable them either to cross tions in the vicinity of the Yellow the Yellow River; and attack Kai-imposed by the Government of For-[reported to the local Health

Quarantine restrictions have been Twenty-two cases of smallpox were River, "whose crossing, if it is ever feng or execute a flanking move-mosa against arrivals from attempted by the

Au- Japanese, willment against the iron belt north of Kong on account of Small-pox.

Hongthorities in the last 24 hours. All prove exceedingly expensive for Weihwei.

were in Victoria. them."

CHINESE CLAIM

Chinese despatches record a coun- ter-attack against a number of The Chinese military authorities and Tsingtao, and also claim

towns situated between Yenchow further emphasise that although Ja- have cut Japanese communications to panese troops have reached Chang-along the T.P.R. south of Yenchow. yuan and Fengchiu, only 30 miles !

Trainloads from the river, they will "find

of Japanese troops it are reported to be rushing from -very difficult to cross" in order to Manchuria to reinforce the Japan- attack Kaifeng, capital of Honanese forces on the T.P.R. and P.H.R. and an important point on the Lung- Various Chinese hai Railway.-Reuter

successes. are claimed in the area between Nan- Anticipating such a move by king and Hangchow, including re- the Japanese troops, the Chin-capture of two towns on the high- ese command long ago stationed way linking the two cities. Reuter, strong detachments to guard the Southern bank of the Yellow River in the vicinity of Kaifeng. The Chinese military authorities

- explain that "crossing of the river

is no easy task?

COLONIAL M.O.

London, To-day. Doctor AJ, R, O'Brien, at pre- sent Assistant Medical Adviser at the Colonial Office, who had a dis- tinguished career as medical officer in the Colonial Service, is to suc- ceed Sir Thomas Stanton as Chief British Wire-

COUNTER-OFFENSIVE. Meanwhile, the Japanese ad- va ce northward on the T.F.R. from Pengpu to Hsuchow is stated Medical Adviser. in Chinese reports to be meeting

less. with difficulties.

The Chinese forces are launch-

The next General Meeting of, the ing a strong counter-offensive at HK. University Engineering Society Kaochen, south of Kwaiyuan and for the year 1937-88 will be held on -south-west of Fengyang.

Monday, 21st February, at 8.45 pm. The Japanese forces are stated in Room "K," "when Mr. F.JM. to have withdrawn part of their Bourdrez, of the League of Nationg, troops from the north bank of the will deliver a lecture entitled "Work Hwat River to the south bank in along the great rivers of China," order to check the Chinese ad- (with lantern slides). All interest-

vance.

'ed are welcome.

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