SERIES OF AIR RAIDS

Grey River Argus, 21 September 1937, Page 5

SERIES OF AIR RAIDS

ON NANKING Japari’s Threat to Demolish Capital [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] NANKING, September 19. After an air fight over Chingkiang Japanese bombing planes and fighters from the Shangahi bases delivered the eleventh and twelfth raids on Nanking since the commencement of hostilities. The first raid engaging 43 planes, lasted for 20 minutes. Chinese “Archies,” aided by interceptor planes scattered the attackers after bombs had been dropped with negligible effect near the waterworks, arsenal, aerodrome and broadcasting station. Twenty-three planes participated in the afternoon attack. The Chinese claim that they brought down six, killing two airmen and capturing five. The Chinese admit the loss of three planes, in which two airmen were killed and five injured. The Japanese assert that six Chinese planes were brought down, while their Shanghai spokesman asserts that all the Chinese planes engaged, numbering 26 were brought down. He admits three Japanese failed to return. The Chinese say that only 17 Chinese planes were engaged.

The Japanese threatened to destroy Nanking by air bombing, attacking “in the most serious way in order to conclude hostilities as early as possible, by destroying China’s chief war base.” This is the first such warning in history. It represents an attempt to reach a decision by bombing the capital out of existence, a development which is most dreaded and against which the nations have built up huge air forces and defensive preparations. SHANGHAI, September 19.

Admiral Hasewaga issued a warning that he intends to bomb Nanking on the afternoon of September 21. He urges all foreigners to move to places of safety and foreign warships and merchantmen to moor upstream out of the danger zone. Forty Japanese planes bombed the outskirts of Nanking to-day. The Japanese raided Paotingfu and Taiyuanfu, the capital of Shansi, where they brought down seven Chinese planes and defeated nine bombers. The Japanese also bombed military points on the Canton railway, destroying much war material U.S.A. MARINES LANDED, SHANGHAI, September 19. Fourteen thousand and thirty-five American marines were landed from the San Diego, commanded by Briga-dier-General Beaumont, including an anti-aircraft company of 150 men and fifty guns.

CHINESE RETREAT. ON NORTHERN FRONTS. PEKIN, September 19. Failing to envelop the Chinese forces south of Pekin, the Japanese armies, after establishing headquarters at Chochow are pressing along the Pekin-Paotingfu railway, towards Paoting, the chief Chinese base in North China, from where the invaders are forty miles distant. Troops under Nanking control, having, according to Japanese accounts, lost ten to twenty thousand effective men, though still numbering forty thousand, are making a fighting retreat towards Paotingfu. Sixty thousand additional Chinese are retreating cross country towards Paotingfu, after escaping the Japanese left wing, which quagmires delayed. The Japanese admit limited success in the encirclement, but contend that they shattered the Chinese forces. In northern Chansi immediately north of the Great Wall, the Japanese occupied Hunyuan. Chinese forces in this province are preparing strong defences inside the Great Wall, where a major engagement is imminent. Japanese further north-west, invaded Suiyuan and also took Fengchen. The battle for Chochow cost Chinest six' thousand dead. The Japanese lack facilities for feeding prisoners, and are therefore disarming and liberating those surrendering, which accounts for the few prisoners reported.