1938-04-05 — Page 11

CHINA MAIL, APRIL 5, 1938.

STREET FIGHTING TAIERCHWANG

IN

Chinese Stand Up To New Japanese Offensive

HANKOW SURVEY Attack In Shanghai

OF WAR FRONT SITUATION

Hankow, To-day.

An interview in which the Chin- all fronts ese military situation on was reviewed, took place yester- day, afternoon at the Generalis- simo's headquarters at Wuchang.

General Chen Chen, garrison commander of the Wuhan cities, acting as spokesman, declared that the Japanese drives in Shansi, Shantung and Kwangteh were all frustrated, and that the biggest Japanese failure occurred in Shantung, where the Itagaki! and Isogai divisions were facing complete annihilation..

The Chinese forces had cut the Railway at Tientsin-Pukow Chiehho and Lianghsiatien, and were pushing south along the railway.

JAPANESE ENCIRCLED

The Chinese troops, crossing the Grand Canal and pushing north, attacked and encircled the Japanese forces between Lincheng and Han- chwang.

The Japanese line. between Yih- sien and Taierchwang had been broken through by the Chinese, spitting the Japanese troops into two groups, one of which is surrounded in the vicinity of Taier- chwang

now

The Japanese forces at Lingyi from March 31 had retired in two directions, one heading north Chuksien.

SEVERE FIGHTING

to

When the Japanese forces station- ed in west Shantung were trans-1

assault ferred to Lincheng for an down the railway, the Chinese for ces in west Shantung moved up and crossed the Chien Ho, cutting the railway at Tsouhsien and Tawen- kou.

:

telephone Yesterday morning, a message from Hsuchowfu stated that severe fighting was progress- ing north of Taierchwang. The Chinese "command expected to clear the outskirts of the town of Ja- panese troops by late last night- Reuter.

JAP. HQ CAPTURED

Hankow, To-day. report from General Tang Erpo from Taierchwang says that the 25th Division has re- captured-the headquarters of a Japanese detachment belonging the to the Itagaki Division, commander, of which was killed in battle:

Regarding the situation in South Shansi, the Japanese are stationing troops on the north bank of the Yellow River in or- der to prevent the Chinese from sending supplies and food to the

Area Meeting With Much Success

Hankow, To-day.

VATICAN

REPUDIATES

VATICAN

BROADCAST

Vatican City, To-day.

Holy See has now definite enndiated the adcast. from Vatican radio station on Fri day, in which it censured the ac

on of the Austrian Bishops in

the anschluss.

Chinese military headquarters claim not only that the Japanese have neither crossed the Grand Canal nor captured Taierchwang and Han- chwang, but that the Chinese still hold portions calling the populace to vote for of these towns and expect their complete eva- cuation by the Japanese at any moment. Chinese H.Q. also claim that the operations south-

west of Shanghai, where the Chinese a fiting by depletion of the Japanese forces who

are pro

"Osservatore The newspaper Romano states "It was purely a private expression of opinion, and was neither offciat, "semi-oficial nor inspired "Reut

have been withdrawn to reinforce the Tientsin-VATICAN RADIO

Pukow Railway front, are proceeding in highly satisfactory manner.

troops operating in the south- east of the province.

The Japanese are sending de- tachments from the Tungpu Railway to attack Chinese units in different places. They con- structed strong defences at Fenglingtu, but distovering a weak sector in the Japanese line in the vicinity of Pinglu and Yuanchu, the Chinese forces crossed the river and effected a junction with their comrades in south-east`Shangi.

COMMUNICATIONS CUT The Chinese have cut com- munications between Tungyang- kwan and Changchi.

The original Japanese plan was to clear Shansi. of Chin- ese troops and cross the Yellow

Shansi River from west

to

Shensi, while simultaneously the

Japanese troops in western Sui-

Juan would advance into Shen-

si

from

north-eastern

Shansi. After the failure of the

Japanese-drive in Shansi, the

Sniyuan campaign was aban doned.

The Kwangteh battle is by far the most important engage- . ment on the eastern front. After the capture of the town the Chinese troops cat the highway to Hangchow and Nanking:

KWANGTEH OPERATIONS

The Chinese spokesman maintains that Japanese re- ports to the effect that 20,000 Chinese have

at Kwangtaen surrounded

represented the original Japanese plan, which failed as their assaults had been checked. -

At Hangchow, Chinese troops crossed the Chientang River and re-occupied Haiyen.

The Japanese troops on the southern section of the TPR have been rendered inactive as the Chinese in the hills west of Pengpu, Chuchow and Ming- kwan are keeping the Japanese engaged continuously.

The Chinese review of the military situation was by a number of well mars

To-day it was officially claimed that Chinese have cut the Nan- king-Hangchow highway, while their forces expect to cut the Shanghai-Hangchow railway, less than 70 miles south of Shanghai,

Reuter. “at any minute.

CENSORSHIP

TO BE IMPOSED

Rome, To-day.

The Vatican Authorities have en- acted rigorous censorship of all messages used by the Vatican City STREET FIGHTING

broadcasting station, according to Shanghai, To-day. In spite of the Chinese and the the usually well-informed Corres- Japanese claims of the capture of pondence Diplomatic" which states Taierchwang, it is reliaby learn that this measure has been taken in ed that street fighting between consequence of a declaration con- broadcast the two forces is continuing mcerning the political attitude of the the streets of the town, which Austrian episcopate has not fallen finally to either without authority on Friday in the side.

Japanese planes are continutican City broadcasting station.

The Correspondence ously raiding the Chinese troops that the declaration in question was and Japanese re-inforcements are still pouring into the sector. Our Own Correspondent.

QUEEN MARY MAKING TOUR

IN SOUTH WALES

London, To-day.

absence of the Director of the Va-

confirms

made without the knowledge of the Papal Secretariat of State.

Informed quarters here believe that the Vatican authorities wish to disassociate themselves from the views expressed in the broad- cast.

NO COMMENT

The semi-official organ of a Vatican, "Osservatore Romano," has so far refrained from alluding to the incident. -

The German Ambassador to the Queen Mary left London yester Holy See is stated to be in com- day afternoon for a tour of South munication with the Papal Secre Wales. Her Majesty travelled in tariat of State on the subject- the Royal Saloon attached to an Trans-Ocean.

ordinary express train to Cardiff. Despite efforts to keep Her

Ma-Istation approaches and cheered jesty's departure as private as pos- Queen Mary when she arrived. sible, a large crowd thronged the British Wireless.

Those who know.... Insist on

EWO

Jardines-Tel. 30311