THE BATTLE FOR HANKOW

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22514, 23 September 1938, Page 4

THE BATTLE FOR HANKOW

BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORIES CHINESE REPULSE ATTACK ON KEY POSITION (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 22, 8.30 p.m.) HANKOW, September 22. The Chinese claim that after six days’ fighting in the hills surrounding Tienchiacheng, which is regarded as the key to Hankow on the Yang-tse-kiang river, they have repulsed the Japanese. They claim that the "Japanese suffered 4000 casualties. The Japanese claim that they have captured Sintien. 90 miles from Hankow, and Kwangshan, 12 miles south-west of Kwangchow. LEAGUES INVITATION REFUSED JAPAN DECLINES OFFER OF JURISDICTION (Received September 22, 8.30 p.m.) TOKYO, September 22. No formal statement accompanied Japan’s refusal of the invitation by the League of Nations to accept the League’s jurisdiction in the dispute between China and Japan. CHINESE ACCOUNT MESSAGE TO CONSUL IN NEW ZEALAND (.PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 22. A cablegram received from Hankow by the Chinese Consul states that the Japanese have captured the northern portion of Whangchuen but that the Chinese still hold the southern portion, which commands the northern part, and are still in a favourable position. At Shangchen the Chinese hold all the elevated positions on the outskirts of the city. One battalion of Chinese troops defending Wuhsieh refused to retire and fought until every man was killed. Severe fighting occurred yesterday, 10 miles north of Tsuikiashan and Tienchiacheng, which is west of Wuhsieh.