1938-04-11 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 11, 1938.

CHINESE ON

ADVANCING CITY

"MYSTERY"

Reports Of Possible Japanese Trap At Yihsien

No Serious Attempt DUTCH

200 FEARED

BURIED IN

FACTORY DEBRIS

Canton, To-day.

Yet To Re-Take Tsinanfu

Hankow, To-day.

Late last night rescue workers The Chinese forces are now advancing on Yihsien, the next big Chinese objective in their north- ward drive from Taierchwang from three sides, south-east, south-west and north-east, it is stated.

were still digging in the debris of the Tai Lee Knitting Factory which was bombed by Japanese planes. for bodies of employees of the factory.

Over 200 wounded men and girls have been admitted to local medical institutions, but almost 200 are still missing.

Seventy dead have been taken cut of the debris and rescue work is continuing this morning, al-

ABDICATION

RUMOURS "SILLY"

Ramrors that Queen Wilhel- mina of the " Netherlands“ would abdicate in the summer in favour of Princess Juliana are denied

at The Hague.

In official quarters the rumour is termed "a silly repor

The Chinese forces are proceeding extremely cau- BRITISH

tiously, however, in view of reports that there

are large concentrations of Japanese troops, ar- OFFICER WAS

tillery and mechanised units inside the city walls.

The Chinese are also expecting Saturday in Tsinanfu, capital of though there is little hope that a Japanese counter-attack at any, Shantung, claim Chinese reports.

the missing victims are still alive. Among the dead were a five- year-old girl and a boy about the age of seven years.

moment.

Chinese planes are co-operating in the attack, and yesterday Friends and relatives of the bombed Japanese concentrations employees of the Tai Lee Knit at Yihsien, "inflicting heavy ca ting Factory thronged the neigh-sualties," according to an Avia bourhood all night, but were not tion Headquarters communique allowed to approach the ruins, a strong police cordon being placed around the bombed factory. Our Own Correspondent.

CHARRED CORPSES

Canton, To-day.

The death-roll in yesterday's Japanese bombing is mounting as charred corpses are still be- ing discovered this morning.

It is believed that 450 were in the factory at the time of the bombing. Two-thirds were women, some with their chil- dren

Although the building adjoin- ing the factory was compar- atively undamaged, the terrible loss of life was caused by the incendiary character of the bombs. The walls of the fac tory collapsed like card houses.

It is feared the total death roll is over 200.-Reuter..

DAUGHTER OF H.K. PROFESSOR MISSING

PLANES SHOT DOWN

PISTOLS ONLY

MURDERED

Tokyo, To-day. The Japanese newspapers infer that Lt. Peacocke, the British officer from Singapore who was The reports assert that 2.000 missing while-sking in Japan, Chinese soldiers in civilian clothes was shot dead and robbed by his armed only with pistols, forced Japanese companion named Asa- their way into the town and oc- mura, after which the latter per- cupied the eastern gate.

They stormed the Tsinu Uni- versity and Kung Ho Hospital, near the southern gate.

ished in a blizzard

The police, after the post- mortem on Asamura's body, an- The communique also claims

nounced that Lt. Peacock's lea- that the Chinese shot down five Chinese flying columns, mean- ther wallet, three cheques on for- Japanese bombers out of six in an while, are attacking towns all eign banks and name cards were engagement west of Hsuchow yes-along the Tientsin-Pukow Rail-found in Asamura's possession.- terday.

way. Trans-Ocean.

It states: "At noon a squadrqui of six Japanese fight bombers! appeared above Manchu, a vil lage about 100 kilometres west of Hsuchow, on the Lunghai Rail- way, apparently attempting to bomb the railway and Chinese

roop trains,

"Chinese pursuit planes imme- diately took off to challenge the invaders. In the battle which en- sued over Manuchi, five Japanese bombers were shot down and all the Chinese fighter planes re- turned to their base safely."

TSINAN OPERATIONS

It is understood that the Chin- ese raids on Tsinanfu, capital of Shantung, are meant in the na- ture of harrassing guerilla tactics and that no serious attempt is likely to be made at present to capture Tsinan. Reuter.

Hankow, To-day. Street fighting, accompanied by much boodshed, broke out on

re

The daughter of Professor Hsu Ti-shan, of the Hong Kong Univer-Hankow and assist in war sity, has been reported missing lief work among the wounded

Chinese soldiers. since 8.30 am. on Friday. Nothing Mrs. Hsu said that previously has yet been discovered regarding her daughter had asked Profes- her movements since leaving her sor Hsu's permission to proceed to Hankow to do such work, and home at No. 25, Robinson Road it was quite likely that she left This morning Mrs. Hsu told secretly for Hankow. She left the "China Mail" that it was the house without taking any probable that her 19-year-old clothes other than those she was daughter, Miss Hsu Shan-hsien, wearing.

had left the Colony for Hankow. The parents of the missing girl A letter was found in the miss are now communicating, by tele- ing girl's box yesterday. It was graph, with the friend in Han- intended for one of her girl-kow, and it is believed that the friends in Hankow to whom she whole matter will be cleared up confided that she wanted to go to very shortly-

Reuter.

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