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THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 9, 1989.
Вийский
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REUTER MAN PRAISES CHINESE DISCIPLINE
Peasants Give
Voluntary Aid To Military
(From Reuter's Special Correspondent)
With the Chinese forces in Central China. Conditions appearing favourable to the Chinese Army were found when I inspected the Chinese line in the Han River opposite the town of Chung- siang (called Anlu on old maps), situated 120 miles west-north-west of Hankow.
Travelling by truck to Kingmen, on the Siang- yang-Ichang highway, I rode the 30 miles from there to the Han River.
The country between the river and Kingmen somewhat favours defence, consisting of rolling fertile ridges, with a succession of flooded rice- fields between them.
The natural difficulties of the terrain have been accentuated by the complete destruction of the
Chungsiang-Kingmenį highway.
HIGHWAY TORN UP
road
I saw the tearing up of the high- way in its last stages. Bands of pea- sants were digging tank traps on higher ground, and where the crossed rice-fields water buffaloes were being used to harrow the embankment into the water, leaving unbroken stret- ches of swampy rice-field in its stead. This work, was told, was entirely voluntary on the part of the peasantry. Since every village along the highway had been bombed heavily, little persua sion would have been necessary, in any
case.
PREMIER TO RESIGN IN NOVEMBER?
London, June 2.
Mr. Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, is to resign from his post following the next gen- eral elections, the News Review announced to-day.
Meanwhile, the Manchester Guardian stated that the Liberal and Labour parties were getting ready for the elections which will most likely take place in Novem- ber this year. Havas.
--M. Maisky, the Soviet's London Ambassador, left Paris on May 20 for Geneva where he met Lord Halifax with the view of settling the three power alliance between Britain, France and the 'Soviet. Photo shows M. Maisky and his wife leaving the Gare de Lyon en route for Geneva.
British Naval Plans For Pacific
London, To-day. The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, said in the House of Commons yesterday that the report on the New Zealand conference as re- gards the Pacific had been received and was being considered.
On reaching Army headquarters, 1 was, as usual, hospitably received by the commander and his staff. They were all Northern Chinese, tall, heavy- set men, who had eaten raw spring onions and drunk fiery local wine, and, tor all belonged to North China divisions were in the form of recom- thus fortified, had settle down to opsions, Their bearing a Chance dant, mendations to the three Govern K pose the Japanese doggedly.
and they had gained a fine local repu-ments concerned (Britain, Austra- tation for their fighting qualities.
The proceedings could not be published as they
were confidential. Moreover the conference conclu-
Next day, I visited the front. The line was then quiet, as the Japanese, foiled in several attempts to cross the river at this point, had proceeded to move the main force northwards the day before.
fire.
Their discipline and equipment were good, but they suffered from lack of heavy artillery. The spirit of the men was also high. Indeed, nowhere on the north Hupeh front have I encoun- tered any sign of defeatism among the soldiers or anyone else.
lia and New Zealand).
It followed therefore that no statement could be made until the Governments had had time to com- plete their study of the report.
ex-
FLEET AT SINGAPORE The conference had proved tremely satisfactory and had afford- ed an opportunity for a frank inter- change of views on matters of mu- tual concern in the Pacific..
TRENCHES INSPECTED With an officer as guide, I inspected trenches along the Han River. As at War-weariness, unrest and grumbling Suihsien, the trenches were of an un- there is, but no trace of any serious usually solid construction and includ-for Immediate · peace. ed dugouts.
The Chinese commanders much ap- Only a handful of sentries were prove of the present tactical policy: manning the lines at that hour, the To hold good position as long as fea- main force resting in the rear, where sible and, at the same time, to attack they were out of the way of shell-the enemy's rear with guerillas.
Lt. Comm. R. T. H. Fletcher (La- On this day, an order was given for bour) asked if the Australian re- We found ourselves directly opposite one regiment to cross the Han River presentatives had expressed any Chungsiang City, the walls of which to the south of Chunghsiang, could be seen plainly. The river at northward to attack the Japanese, and defence of Australia was based on move views regarding the fact that the this point is more than half a mile then join the nearest Chinese forces wide, a shallow stream, not over swift, in the Tahungshan region.
a fleet of capital ships being in -with many sandbanks breaking the "The fact that this is possible," a Singapore, and that there appear- surface of the water. It was this Chinese officer told me "reveals the led to be no prospect of such a fleet width, combined with machine-gun fire weakness of the Japanese claim to from the banks, that had foiled Ja-have encircled 100,000 Chinese troops being stationed there in the panese attempts to make good their in this area."
mediate future. hold on the west bank.
The Chinese troops holding, this sec-
MOHAMMED AND THE MOUNTAIN
London, To-day.
"Apparently Mohammed and the mountain show little inclination to
..
NO ANSWER
شهره
im-
DUMMY GUN BOMBED On the way back, I saw a dummy gun position surrounded by craters Mr. Chamberlain replied thats he made by Japanese Herial bombs. This could not accept that view, and subterfuge is one of which the Chinese thought he could not add anything are particularly fond. The sight of the to what he had said.. Japanese wasting bombs
great elation.“ .
Rives them
Lt.-Comm. Fletcher asked if the
The health of the soldiers was al- Prime Minister was not aware that ready beginning to be a problem that view was the considered opin- throughout Hupeh. Malaria was claim-ion of the Australian Defence Min- ing its victims, although mosquitõës were scarce; while skin diseases, par- ister.
ticularly scabies, were rife, and theNo answer was given, Reuter. meet each other half way," says insanitary conditions prevailing prev the "Daily Mail" in connexion with saged outbreaks of cholera and dysentry contended and loyal are borne in the sending of Mr. William Strang, terý later, as the weather grew warm mind. of the Foreign Office, to Moscow,"to Shortage of quinine made the work
accelerate the pact negotiations.
The present Chinese tactical policy envisages a, war lasting over a period of keeping malaria under control mere of years, and is directed at exhaustion of the enemy's strength? For this end, M. Potemkin, says the paper, did dimcal. FIND BY ANIMA
ABUNDANT HARVEST
An abundant food supply is essential.. not go to Geneva, and Lord Halifax
This policy has been so far success- There are signs, that China's har- is not going to Moscow.
FAR
this year, is goingato, bi is ahun-ful in that. It has brought about what Mas last year ofhis is ho gmall la at present a virtually military stale-. for the continued prosecution mate which, Chinese officers believe, war when, feeding, the. Anu will not be changed until the Japanese
need for
the peasans (bring in more troops.
The News Chronicle" insists that Lord Halifax should go to Moscow,
Trans-
IN
OPENING TO-MORROW
the What this country's looking for is Shirley turning on sunshine in this great big beaming picture
Shirley TEMPLE
JUST AROUND THE CORNER
CHARLES FARRELL JOAN DAVIS AMANDA DUFF BERT LAHR BILL ROBINSON. SO FRANKLIN FANGBORN CORA WITHERSPOON
· BENNIE BARTLETY Dirattad irving Co
Cummings
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