1938-06-17 — Page 7

MAJOR YANGTSE BATTLE Struggle Looming Closer In Hankow Area

CHINESE REACH ANKING SUBURBS

Hankow, To-day.

Since the Japanese operations in the plain of Ho- nan have been unexpectedly interrupted by the overflowing of the Hwang Ho, it is general- ly assumed that the centre of fighting will be transferred to the Valley of the Yangtse Kiang, where strong Japanese forces belonging to all arms, are now concentrated in view of com- bined military, naval and aerial attack on Hankow.

According to reports here yesterday the Japanese so far have only succeeded in gaining a footing on the northern bank of the River.

CHINA DENIES SINO- FRENCH TREATY

Hankow, To-day.

A spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Office categorically denied yesterday the existence of any se- cret treaty between France and China for the purpose of assist- ing China through Indo-China to defend the Island of Hainan, at the entrance of the Gulf of Ton- king.

The French Ambassador in China, who returned to

Hong Kong yesterday declared to pre- sentatives of the press that the

umours were pure inventions. Trans-Ocean.

It is added that the town of Nintushan, on the south-CHINESE

ern bank, is still in the hands of the Chinese..

Other reports, also from Chinese sources, assert COUNTER-ATTACK

As

routes.

that Chinese troops now attacking in the

vicinity of Anking have succeeded in reaching ON ANKING

the suburbs of that city.

previously reported

the ports.

contact and their vanguard is First army advancing on the ported to be about 50 kilometres road from Hofei to Hsinyang, is from Hankow. co-operating with detachments in Messages from Hankow state

Kweichih (Anhwei), To-day. The Chinese counter-attack on

DEFENCE LOAN HEAVILY OVER-SUBSCRIBED

London, To-day.

The new Defence Loan has been fully subscribed, and dealings' open- ed on the Stock Exchange yesterday morning at around 7/16 premium.

It is understood that applicants for amounts up to £5,000 received the allotment in full, while higher applications received approximately two-thirds, as the loan was mated to have been over-subscribed one and a half times.-Reuter.

esti-

re-

River between Wuhu and Anking. STRATEGIC HILL RECAPTURED

Ufficial reports confirm the capture of Liushoushan, a strategic hill below Anking by the Chinese on June 15 in a furious counter- attack. The Japanese who occu- pied the hill on June 13 had mount- ed field guns on its summit and had been intermittently shelling the

Japanese are endeavouring to Japanese forces from Anking march on Hankow along three and Luchowfu (Hofei) have made Anking is progressing apace, ac-Chinese positions. Braving a dren-

recording to military advices from!

ching rain and heavy fire, two Chinese columns counter-attacked the front.

the Japanese from right and left With the arrival of heavy re-on the night of June 14. After a the captured town of Chenyang-that the Chinese authorities have inforcements the Chinese are bitter battle, the Chinese retook the kwan, to the north of Liuan. already begun to evacuate civilians closing in on the city, and have hill the next morning. The Ja- Second army, advancing on and non-combatants from the sur- already reached the immediate panese withdrew, leaving some 200 Hwoshan, which is south of rounding suburbs, and that thou-suburbs. The Japanese have casualties behind. Liuan, is said to have been held sands are leaving the city along suffered between, 200 and 300 Latest reports state that Wusha- up by the Chinese in the moun-jthe Yangtse.

casualties in checking the Chin-cha, on the south bank of the tainous region some 12 miles Japanese planes started bombing ese drive.

Yangtze River, 23 kilome.res west east of Hwoshan.

the Chinese troops which were Six Japanese motor boats and of Kweichih, and Chienkiangko on Third army, advancing along sent out to intercept the Japanese over 20 small boats loaded with Ja-the north bank below Anking, the road from Anking to Han- from Anking, but so far the ma-panese troops in the Yangtze Rive: where the Japanese have made re- kow with Tienshan as its imme-chines have not yet attempted to near Anking have been sunk by!peated attempts to land, are still in diate objective, is stated to have carry out the threatened mass raid Chinese fire during engagements in Chinese hands. been brought to a standstill by on Hankow itself. Our Own Cor- the last few days. Many Japanese At Tatukow, opposite Anking, the the Chinese near Tungcheng. respondent.

were killed. It is said that about Chinese are "mopping up" the Ja- 100 Japanese warships and trans-panese who

had landed.-Central, ports are massed in the Yangtze News. 31633

KIUKIANG BOMBED

Japanese airplanes are reported to have bombed Kiukiang, which is the most southerly town on the Yang-

RUMANIAN

tse, between Anking and Hankow, FASCIST

FASCIST LEADERS

and also to have attempted to drop bombs on the boom erected across the river by the Chinese in the vicinity of Madang Forts.

known It is, however, not yet whether the Japanese destroyed the boom and thus cleared

way for passage of their ships.

Large numbers of junks have been assembled by the Japanese

PARDONED

Bucharest, To-day. Three prominent members of the dissolved Fascist Iron Guard organ- isation, who were interned after the dissolution of that body, were pardoned and released yesterday.

The three released men, the Uni-

for the purpose of transporting versity professors Dragos Protopo-

troops up river.

The authorities in Hankow mean-Colonel Biberescu, a retired army pescu and Luka Teodorescu, and while are actively engaged on the

officer, had addressed a petition for task of carrying out plans for de pardon to the Government by which: fence of the city. All around the they pledged themselves not to en- city, fortifications have been streng-gage in any political activities dur- thened and all roads within a wide

ing the rest of their lives. area which lead to the city and which might serve the Japanese at tack, have been blown up.

The two University professors, moreover, assured the Government that they would devote all their CENTRALISATION OF DEFENCE time exclusively to scientific work In connection with appointment if reinstated as University profes- of the Commander-in-Chief of the sors.Trans-Ocean. Hankow garrison General Chen

Cheng, as Governor of the province

of Hupeh, it is stated in informed

Admiral Chan

quarters here that this appointment Chak's New Post

is destined to facilitate' centralisa- ̃ tion of the work of organising the defence.-Trans-Ocean.>

GREAT BATTLE IMMINENT Shanghai, To-day.

Chungking, To-day, Admiral Chan, Chak, former com- mander of the Bocca Tigris Forts, was appointed counsellor of the One of the greatest battles of the Military Advisory Council by a war will be fought around Hankow mandate Issued by the National and is likely to break out any mo-Government. yesterday, ment, according to Japanese re- News.

Central

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