CHINESE OUTFLANK JAPANESE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 143, 13 March 1939, Page 9

CHINESE OUTFLANK JAPANESE

Success Claimed In Central Zone ICHANG MAY BE EVACUATED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. (Received March 12, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 12. The Chinese Embassy reports that the Chinese have outflanked the Japanese who were withdrawing to Fengloh, near Chungsiang, and slaughtered 900. Japanese casualties in the central Hupeh campaign are estimated to be 6000.

The Chinese claim to have entrapped the Japanese in the walled city of Tsinglo and recaptured Nankting in central China. A Tokio message, however, states that the Japanese claim to have expelled the Chinese from the area east of the Han River, inflicting a loss of 21,000. The Chungking correspondent of “The Times” reports that the citizens of i Icluuig have prepared to evacuate their homes in the face of 1500 deaths and widespread devastation which Japanese bombing raids have inflicted. British communications are being maintained through the medium of a gunboat. There have been no foreign casualties.

The local officials welcome the British loan of £5,000.000, but the Japanese have compared it with administering an injection to a dying man. Japan assumes that she has won the war and consequently is bewildered by Britain’s refusal to acknowledge that her future trade possibilities depend on Japan. The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says that the Chinese claim to be withstanding attacks on the Han River and that guerrilla activity continues throughout the invaded provinces. Terrorists arc even setting tire to houses in the Yangtzepoo section of Shanghai which is under Japanese control.