1938-05-31 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 31, 1938

Page

CRITICAL HOURS IN LUNGHAI RLY. BATTLE Japanese Effort To Save Doihara Division Three Columns Attacking To Relieve Pressure

Hankow, To-day.

The occupation by the Japanese of the town of Kweiteh in the eastern corner of Honan pro- vince and immediately south of the Lunghai Railway was officially admitted in a Chinese war bulletin.

According to reports reaching here from the fight- ing front, the Japanese columns, operating in the Lunghai sector are still advancing west- wards.

A cheery invitation to the deck from two charming yacht girls at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Yachting is just coming into full swing in Eng- land now that the winter is past and the fair weather is ahead. (Copy- right).

Whilst the Chinese are making an abortive attempt to gain possession of the Japanese military bases at Kuisingchi and Sanyichi near Lan- feng, the Japanese seized the opportunity to Chinese military authorities have send three columns to carry out an attack on received no official confirmation, Lanfeng itself.

lopments are quite possible,

IN ANHWEI

the

at-

GENERAL TOJO'S NEW POST

Lieut-

front. Trans-

The first of these columns, re-¡declares the Chinese military In Anhwei the Chinese are ported to be 4,000 men strong, spokesman..

Tokyo, To-day. tacking Hofei, and severe fighting The War Ministry announced yes- started from Kweiteh and advanc- Chinese troops, he asserted, on is going on in the vicinity of Tashu-terday the appointment of ed not along the highway which Sunday night stormed Sanyichai, shan. runs immediately south of the one of the three villages at present

nant-General Tojo, hitherto the Lunghai Railway from Kweiteh held by the Japanese, and reached panese troops from Mengchen have tung Army, to the post of Deputy In north-western Anhwei, Ja-Chief of General Staff of the Kwan- to Lanfeng but on a rural road the south gate of the village.

advanced north-westward and fight-War Minister. which strikes out from Kweiteh "When the Japanese 14th Divi-ing is now progressing at Koyang in a westward direction. Yes- sion under Major-General Doihara and Pohsien. Mengchen has been ed that his predecessor, General At the same time, it is intimat- terday, this column had reached captured Lanfeng on Tuesday last recaptured by the Chinese. Ningling, nearly twenty miles week, in an attempt to drive west-

Umezu, will be given an important west of Kweiteh.

Since the Japanese column com- post on the China ward along the Lunghai Railway prised mainly cavalry and mechan-Ocean. The second column which set towards Kaifeng,the Chinese ised units, and with Mengchen in out from the south-western cor-forces counter-attacked and recap- Chinese hands, the Japanese ner of Shantung province is re-tured Lanfeng three days later, having difficulty in obtaining sup- of No. 2, Norfolk Road, Kowloon are An 18-year-old lad, Victor Grott, ported to have reached Tung-taking 200 rifles, 19 machine-guns, plies from the rear. kongtao, east of Lanfeng.

three heavy guns, nine tanks and

Tong, was fined $7 by Mr. K. M. A. It is believed the Japanese co-Barnett The third Japanese column is 80 motorcars.

at the Kowloon Police lumn will not attempt to advancel Court this morning for driving advancing on Lanfeng from the

further westward. Reuter. south and is at present engaged in

cycle-without-rear brakes-and-bell. an attempt to capture Pohsien, which is still being defended by "Of 3,000 Japanese troops defend- ing Lanfeng, only 700 succeeded in The fall of Pohsien is held to be withdrawing towards the north- imminent as the Japanese are at-west. tacking here in great force assist- ed by artillery and aircraft.

the Chinese.

is

The greater part of Pohsien reported to have been destroyed and the Chinese defenders are believed to have suffered heavy losses.

"ONLY 700 ESCAPE

1

"Three thousand Japanese troops at Kuangtai recently crossed the Yellow River in an attempt to reach Doihara's Division at Lanfeng.

"The Chinese troops operating on the north and south banks pre- vented further crossings.

"Since the Lunghai Railway is badly torn up both east and west of Kweiteh, it is very difficult fox the Japanese at Kweiteh to reach Doihara's Division.

CHINESE COUNTER The Chinese command is doing its utmost to prevent contact be- tween the Japanese column at Pohsien and the one near Lanfeng. Chinese motorised units have been

"The Japanese who reached rushed to the scene to hold up this Tangshan from the north are now concentric advance on Lanfeng.

marching in the direction of Kwei- Whereas the situation on the teh, which city was exacuated by Lunghai Railway is developing to

the Chinese on the night of Satur- the advantage of the Japanese, day.

other war news shows that the

CHANGE OF PLANS Chinese have achieved successes in southern Shanst with the recapture Lanfeng, the Japanese command "Following Doihara's defeat at of Fenlingtu on the north bank of changed its plans. Their troops the Yellow River, thus, placing the concentrated at Wenhsien and Chinese in a better position to de- Minghsien are now moving fend Tungkwan, the key to the ward towards Sinhalang. ··

east- Both province of Shensi. Trans-Ocean.

DOIHARA, TROOPS

SURROUNDED.;

Hankow, To-day,

Wenhafen and Menghsien have been re-occupied by Chinese troops, who are now attacking Sinyang and- |Ponat.

"In Shansi, Chinese troops are The Japanese forces surrounded now attacking Linfeng and... · Yung- in villages north-west of Lanfeng chen.”

are still holding on desperately to Press reports claim Chinese re their positions, awaiting the arriv-occupation of Yungchi (Puchow) al of reinforcements from Kweiteh, and Fenglingtu. While such deve

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