1938-06-28 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 28, 1938.

Page

BIG BATTLE FOR MATANG Both Sides Concentrating Heavy Reinforcements

Decisive Clash Expected To

Take Place Soon

Hankow, To-day.

Developments in the fighting near the Matung Boom, across Yangtse River below Kiukiang, would, according to report here, appear to in- dicate that a severe and perhaps decisive bat- tle may be expected there shortly.

Within the past few days large numbers of troops

SOVIET

NONSTOP

FLIGHT

Moscow, To-day.

The Soviet airmen, Kokkonaki and Briandinsky, who took off from Moscow at 8.36, local time, on a nonstop, 4,375 mile flight to Vladivostok, were reported to be just over halfway at 2.00 a.m.— Reuter.

MAJOR BATTLE IN PROGRESS AT MATANG

Shanghai, To-day.

Both Chinese and Japanese com-

mands are rushing all possible re- inforcements Matang and

HIGH POST FOR Hsiangshan, just eastward of Ma-

have been concentrated on both sides in this AIR MARSHAL

district and the main body of the Japanese

fleet is also stationed in the vicinity of Matung A. W. TEDDER

Reports here yesterday state that: the Japanese attempted to break through the Chinese positions in the direction of the boom but were re- pulsed. Chinese resistance is said be as vigorous as ever and various detachments of Japanese troops which have been landed on the River's banks have not succeeded in making any progress despite the constant arrival of reinforcements.

The Chinese are reported to have the recaptured Tikangchen where first Japanese troops were landed from warships on the southern bank of the Yangtse on June 21,

JAPANESE

FORCES CAUGHT

London, To-day.

tang, where a major battle is in

progress.

Considerable importance is at- tached to the outcome of the en- gagement as Japanese success would virtually seal the fate of Kiukiang and permit the Japan- Reorganisation of the Air Minis-ese to drive on Nanchang, thence try with a view to unifying control to Changsha to cut the Hankow- Canton railway which is Han- and the responsibility for the de-

kow's lifeline, velopment and production of air-

IN DEATH TRAP craft, was announced in the Com-

Japanese forces.

mons by the Air Secretary.

Sir Kingsley Wood said the pre- sent Air Member for Research and Development, Air Marshal Sir

Hangchow

This would automatically cut off the mainline retreat of the Chinese forces in Hankow and force them to fight a deci- sive battle in the Wuhan area. Hankow, To-day...

The Chinese- authorities in Han- kow admitted the possibility that that have Wilfred Freeman would, in future, the Japanese might strike toward landed to the east of Matang are be responsible for production as Nanchang in two directions: to for development and Kiuking on the north-east, and now caught in a death-trap, de- well as

on the north and to clared the Chinese Military research. Chinese aeroplanes were again spokesman, who stated that the

To enable him to carry out his then using the Chekiang, Kiangai- very active over, the Yangtse. They Japanese there have the Yang: increased duties he would have the Hunan railway for a drive toward are stated to have bombarded the tse on their north and the Tapeh assistance of a Director-General of Changsha, Reuter Japanese fleet in the neighbourhood Lake on their south and also the Production and a Director-General of Matung and have been engaged Chinese forces driving eastward of Research and Development.

from Matang, while another co- Mr. E. J. H. Lemon, vice-preši- in duels with enemy machines over

lumn of Chinese troops have cir-dent of the London, Midland and Anking, Matung and Nanshang.

cled around Tapeh Lake to at Scottish Railway Company would

Cairo, To-day. tack the Japanese rear from be Director-General of Production, TA KUNG PAO FIGURES

Siangkou.

assisted by staff with engineering The Giant German passenger According to the paper "Ta Kung

The Japanes at Fenglungshan and technical qualifications, and plane FW 200 Condor which ar Pao"-publisheds here 15-enemy war-are holding to a hill in the rear of would become a member of the Air rived here Monday noon from Ber- ships on the Yangtse have the south bank of the Yangtse and Council, and Air Vice-Marshal lin covered a distance-of-1970 miles.

been

heavily A. W. Tedder would be Director- separating two capitals at average either sunk or damaged by Chinese Japanese warships are

General of Research and Develop-speed of 225 miles an hour-Trans- bombers during the past three days, shelling the Chinese positions.

The Chinese and Japanese forces ment-British Wireless. The paper adds that during the same period, six Japanese

will be presently facing each other aero- planes were shot down

on the bank of the Yangtse and in the

the hills eastward of Taihu, while at Yangtse while four others were.

and destroyed in an air battle over Nan-Chengyungkwan the Chinese

chang. Trans-Ocean.

over

BREAK-THROUGH

Hankow, To-day.

In an interview with Reuter, a Chinese military spokesman declared that last night "the Japanese broke through one section of the Chinese line at: Matang, but Chinese reinforce- ments are moving up."-Reu- ter.

CHINESE FORTS INTACT

Kiukiang, To-day..

Japanese forces

are

L

each other across the Pi River, which at the present is swollen, bringing military operations to a standstill.

JAPANESE PROBLEMS

The Japanese advance towarda Hankow must overcome many com munication difficulties, declared the spokesman, and large scale mi- litary operations involving the use of five or more divisions is very difficult when they are so far away from railways.. For this reason the Japanese originally planned to seize Chengchow and use the Pel- ping-Hankow railways for the drive to Hankow, but the Yellow River flood upset their plans.

The Japanese advance westward along the Yangtse must rely on The Chinese forts at Matang re-warships to maintain communica- main intact in spite of constant at-tions and supplies, but serious dif- ficulties would be encountered if tacks during the last few days.

After the sinking of three more over three divisions were involved. Japanese warships by Chinese air- craft yesterday, the Japanese war-

THE DANGER

ships have not been so active. Many It is admitted, however, the pos- are said to have steamed down- sibility of the Japanese launching stream to avoid Chinese ir raids a drive toward Nanchang from

• "The Chinese are “mopping up" Hangchow, and/or Kluklang_and the

remnant Japanese at Hsiang then using the Chekiang-Kiangal shan and Slangkow which have and Kiangsi-Hunan railways in mak been both recaptured. Central ing a thrust toward Changaha News.

Reuter.

Ocean,

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