1938-07-25 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 25, 1988.

Page.

JAPANESE DRIVE TOWARDS KIUKIANG IN FULL SWING Foreign Property Damage Reported From Town

Progress In Spite Of Stubborn Resistance

Hankow, To-day.

The Japanese drive towards Kiukiang, which be- gan on Saturday, is understood to have con- tinued throughout yesterday.

Although it has been confirmed that the Japanese have not yet reached Kiukiang, Chinese mili- tary circles admit that the Kiukiang drive is now in full swing with the Japanese troops, which landed at Kutang on the night of July 23, advancing in two columns.

defence works, casting an iron.ring along the network of waters.

Heralding the Japanese offensive, Kiukiang, Sintze, Kutang, Sinkiang and Wukiamen were heavily bomb- ed by numerous raiding planes, while Chinese positions at Sin- the and Lion Hill were chuan targets of heavy barrages from Japanese naval craft.

FIRST ATTACK REPULSED

Early on Saturday morning, in a heavy storm and under a pitch black sky, about 700 Japanese

marines, covered by warships, made a determined assault north of They tried to force a landing at three points but were repulsed with

Kutang in scores of steamlaunches.

heavy losses..

the Chinese positions, while broad-

Having lost more than a dozen launches and scores of men, the Japanese made another attempt air and One of these is striking westward and the other is with a combined land,

naval⠀⠀ attack. Twenty planes advancing southward. Fighting is now taking rained more than 400 missiles on place at Machushan. Simultaneously with the drive, tse yesterday about 8,000 soldiers side after broadside was emptied

into the Chinese trenches. Kiukiang is being subjected to in- and 40 tanks advancing from Hu-

Stiff Chinese resistance held the tensive aerial bombardmente and kow in the direction of Kiukiang. Japanese planes yesterday raided Since further Japanese reinforce-Japanese advance in check until their defence works were complete" the city continuously the day long.ments now being rushed to Hukow

ly destroyed. From foreign reports from Kiu-extensive operations are anticipat-

With their success in forcing a kiang, it is estimated that some ed in this sector,

foothold on this point, the Japan 200 bombs, landed in and around

ships 21 Japanese war

ese forces near Kutang have now Kiukiang yesterday and about 100 were steaming up the Yangts: from increased to 3,000 men, scattered Japanese planes in relays partici- Hukow have made repeated attacks between Peikwang, Sikiao, and pated in the bombings.

to land troops on the north bank, Chowkialing. Unconfirmed foreign reports but, according to Chinese sources, The Chinese positions, acording. state that the Asiatic Petroleum

have been unsuccessful. Chinese to military reports, have been con- planes bombarded Japanese ships solidated and in several skirmishes near Hukow · yesterday. Trans- important gains have already been Ocean.

scored Central News.

Company and the Socony installa tions, three miles below Kiukiang, were hit by the bombs.

A landing was effected by the Japanese at Kutang shortly after midnight

hundred by several Japanese in motor-launches, escort- ed-by three warships.

which

JAPANESE FAIL TO ISSUE COMMUNIQUE

Shanghai, To-day.

TABLES TURNED

Kuling, To-day.

SHIP ON FIRE

BEACHED AT SHARP PEAK

The 8.s. Shinfu, 1400 gross ton- nage; belonging to Mr. G. L Shaw, registered in Manchuria, caught fire at 2.30 am yester- day off Sharp Peak, Foochow, and the fire obtained a very strong hold due to the fact that she was carrying timber. ・・

-To save the ship sinking as she made water, it was beached. H.M.S. Grimsby, was present at Sharp Peak and rendered such assistance as was neces- The fire was extinguish- sary ed at 1.30p.m. Sunday.

There were no casualties.

YELLOW RIVER FLOODING

Chengchow, To-day. sharp rise of

of the Yellow River its middle stretches in Honan is heavy rains continue, feared forcing the water level up to touch a new high at Huayuankow, fifteen kilometres west of Chengchow. Central News:

heavy losses were inflicted on the invaders.

For a time the position was critical, but the timely arrival of a - full division of reinforceme saved the day. Large quantities Chinese positions at Kutang of military supplies were abandon- Although no official communique have been strengthened as the re-ed by the Japanese. Central the sult of an all-day battle in which News. regarding the activities on Kiukiang front has been forthcom- The Chinese artillery heavily ing it was stated in authoritative shelled the Japanese troops in the circles yesterday that Japanese attempt to prevent them from military headquarters are planning landing.

HEAVY ATTACK

Squadrons of Japanese planes at dawn took off from the Nanking aerodrome and bombed the Chinese artillery positions and swept the Chinese troops with a heavy machine-gun fire.

to land a great number of soldiers on the west bank of the canal which joins the Poyang Lake and the Yangtse.

A new offensive is also being organised against the fortifications on Lion Hill which commands the Due to the Japanese aerial and approach to Kiukiang from the naval bombardments the Chinese river. Since the Japanese bare forces have withdrawn towards counting upon strong Chinese, re- Machushan. Reuter.

BIG CONCENTRATION

Hankow, To-day.

sistance it is believed they will open an offensive on a big scale during the next few days.

A large number of Japanese The Japanese have opened the warships have arrived here during offensive on Kiukiang. The Japan- the past days and it is planned to ese are concentrating their forces send them upstream as soon as

Kiukiang falls.Trans-Oceàn. on the west bank of the Poyang Lake and have succeeded in land- ing troops near Kutang, 16 kilome tres southeast, of Kiukiang. Artil lery fire from Chinese batteries

BIG BATTLE IMMINENT

Nanchang, To-day. Following a long ominous lull,

brought about cessation in the changes in events presage the landing operations at seven o'clock imminent out reak of a big battle in the morning but the troops on the western ba of the oyang narrow- neck already on land succeeded in hold- Lake and

more uipped

ing a small strip gainst the at-where it empties its mighty tacking Chinese

Chinese panse into the Yangtze. military circles express the hope A combined Japanese infantry, that further attempts to land troops artillery and cavalry for can be frustrated and the small than 10,000 is amassed, force can be mastered before reins with more than 100 armoured cara forcements arrive.

and tanks and supported by air squadrons, ready to force a land- Ingon vantage points. Pitched at against this invading force are Yang- crack Chinese unita behind strongl

NORTH BANK, ATTACK

on the north

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