1938-06-18 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 18, 1988.

SPECTRE OF DISEASE HAUNTING KAIFENG

City Fearing Disaster: Refugees Crowd In

FLOOD ALREADY

WITHIN FOUR MILES OF TOWN

Peiping, To-day.

Kaifeng, where Reuter's special correspondent landed yesterday, is anxious as to its fate, as although the city is protected by a 15-foot dyke, the city is 25 feet below the level of the river bed, and the water is now less than four miles from the south-west corner of the city.

GUERILLAS ACTIVE ON LUNGHAI LINE

} -

Hankow, To-day. Chinese mobile units are active on the Lunghai Railway in the vi- cinity of Mingchuan, 35 kilometres eastward of Lanfeng, and at Kwei- teh and Liuho, west of Hauchow-

fu, according to a Chinese mili-

tary communique..

They are reported to be des-

telephone and telegraph" wires and attacking Japanese units.—- Reuter.

troying rail tracks, tearing down

Sixty missionaries who formed a committee to SOVIET PROTEST

take care of 30,000 war refugees, are now faced with the task of caring for thousands of flood refugees.

REJECTED

Tokio, To-day. The spectre of disease haunts Hwai River, the Japanese unit A Soviet protest against Japanese the city owing to jeopardising of which recently captured Cheng-air raids on unprotected Chinese sanitation, and epidemics of small-yangkwan has not

towns was sharply rejected by the pox and cholera, are feared.

progress. But the Japanese troopsterday.

Japanese Foreign Office here yes-

from Shouhsien, Fengtai and Hofei are preparing to attack Liuan.

NO RELIEF TILL AUTUMN

Before hostilities in the area had

been brought to a standstill, the British Cathedral at Kaifeng had been occupied by the Japanese army, who at present are concen- trating on withdrawing their own units stranded in the floods, as well as Chinese refugees.

The Japanese authorities claim that it is impossible to make at- tempts to repair the dykes-under the threat of Chinese gun fire, and the water must continue to run till the normal subsidence of the Yel- low River in the Autumn.

The flood is expected to worsen, as the river has not yet reached the Summer peak-Reuter.

ANKING SITUATION

Hankow, To-day.

Whilst the south bank of Yangtze River is now cleared

the of

made further

was

AIRMEN'S REPORTS ON FLOOD HAVOC

«Peiping, To-day.

ex-

The floods caused by overflow- ing of the Hwang Ho have tended to a point between 50 and 60 miles south of Kaifeng.

the other hand, the bed of the river, which makes a sharp bend to the north-east at Kaifeng, is almost dry.

Kaifeng itself which lies 25 feet below the level of the river, would appear to be out of danger as a result of the hard work of the in- habitants in co-operation with Ja- panese troops.

It is stated that about 100,000 persons, that is one-fourth of the total population of the city, have remained at Kaifeng, which is be- lieved to be effectively protected against the flood.

are

AIRMEN'S REPORTS Airmen who flew over the flood-

In addition, some 13,000 refugees, mostly women and children, are ac- Moscow's right to make, repre-commodated in a number of camps sentations in this connection

and several thousands more

Japanese operations

In Honan, General Chen stated, challenged by the Foreign

Office expected. which advised Soviet Russia to in- are greatly

struct its own pilots in Spain to hampered by the flood. The major- cease the bombing of open towns ity of the Doihara Division at and to avoid interference in Chungmow on the Lunghai way have been withdrawn to Kai- feng whilst the rest have into the city.-Central News.

Rail- Sino-Japanese conflict.

the

ed region near Chungmu, which is the most westerly town on the Lung- hai railway, still occupied by the Japanese, state that the flood has The Japanese answer, further-not yet reached the town itself. retired more, declared that

Chinese The water in this district is esti- towns were not bombed indiscri- mated not to be more than six to minately but that such cities as seven feet deep.

ADMIRAL NOMURA AND BOMBING

Shanghai, To-day.

The Japanese Admiral Nomura, receiving foreign journalists here yesterday described foreign press criticism of the bombing of Canton as unfounded.

According to the Admiral, bomb- ing of a "fortified" city like Canton was admissible under the laws of war. Similar action had been

Japanese troops, the position of taken by other countries.

the Japanese at Anking, on the

north bank has been shaken by a He pointed out that the Japan- furious Chinese counter-attack, de-ese authorities had repeatedly

clared General Chen Cheng,

+

new

Chairman of the Hupeh Provincial Government reviewing the war situation in a press conference.

Chinese troops, he said, have reached the immediate suburbs of the city."

warned Chinese civilians and for-

eigners to leave fortified zones.

Moreover, in moodern war it was inevitable that a certain number of non-combatants should be kill- ed-Trans-Ocean.

General Chen confirmed the sink HELEN WILLS

ing of a Japanese warship and the damage of another by Chinese agri- al bombings. on June 10, and the recapture of Chienklangkow, and Liushoushan near Anking.

·LIUAN MENACED:

BEATEN

London, To-day.

minor sensation occurred on the eve of Wimbledon when Mrs. Sperling defeated Mrs, Helen Wills- Moody, the former Wimbledon In central Anhwei, the Japanese champion, in straight sets by 86, column attacking Shucheng, about 6-2 in the semi-final round of the 50 kilometres southwest of Hofel Ladies' Singles, in the London is held up in the villages in, the Championships, which are being suburbs. Owing to the rise of the held at Queen's Club, Reuter.

the

Canton, Nanking and Hankow which Thousands of people could be seen possess extensive fortifications were on the hills around Chungmu, where singled out for air raids.—Trans- they had

refuge. Trans- Ocean.

Ocean.

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