TO WIPE OUT NANKING

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1937, Page 5

TO WIPE OUT NANKING

JAPAN’S AIR FORCE Intensifying Raids [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] SHANGHAI, September 20. The Japanese twice bombed Nanking to-day, making four raids, in 24 hours. They dropped hundreds of bombs and great damage is reported. LONDON, September 20. “The Times’s” Shanghai correspondent reports that yesterday’s two raids at Nanking were carried out by 35 to 40 bombers, estimated to have dropped at least thirty tons of high explosives, representing a destructive power ten times greater than the biggest Great War raid. The Japanese claim great damage, including the destruction of the Army headquarters and other important Chinese buildings. The Chinese deny the damage was excessive, but report that many noncombatants were killed or wounded. NANKING, September 20. With fears accentuated by the preliminary bombing. Nanking awaits what may be the most terrific air raid the world has ever known, in which three hundred war ’planes are expected to participate, only fifty fewer than those performing the mass formation flight at the Hendon air display in June.

The Japanese, though undertaking to conserve foreign interests as far as possible, decline to assume a responsibility which the Foreign Powers seek to place upon them for the safety of foreginers remaining in the city. Foreign militarists, despite limitations of the anti-aircraft defences, scoff at the threat of utter destruction, in view of the ineffcctualness of preliminary raids, but it must be remembered that Japan’s plans contemplate the employment of over fivefold the number of ’planes hitherto used, outnumbering the Chinese aircraft by ten to one. TOKIO, September 20. Japanese air raids on Nanking have so depleted the Chinese Air Force that only seven engaged to-day’s attackers, who claim to have shot down four, leaving only three to defend the capital. LONDON. September 20. The Australian Associated Press understands that Britain is considering a protest against the Japanese threat to wipe out Nanking, which so far, has not been conveyed officially to Britain. The Government is most perturbed over the safety of 300 nationals, although the British Embassy has taken safety measures. The Chinese have built extensive dug-outs to shelter non-combatants.

Japan’s Big Push SWEEPING CHINESE BACK. ON NORTHERN FRONTS. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] TOKIO, September 20. The Japanese claim that they are pressing on in North China, and have occupied Hingho, an important strategic centre, south-west of Suiyuan. Tney are consolidating their positions on the Tientsin-Pukow railway, and attacking the Chinese at Tsangchow and Tacheng, the latter of which is on the eve of capture. PEKIN, September 20. Mongol cavalry, supporting the Japanese invading Suiyuan province, occupied Shanktu, defeating 1,500 Chinese. Japanese air-bombed Haichow and Suchowfu on the Lunghai railway. IN HOPEI PROVINCE. TEN CHINESE DIVISIONS IN DANGER. PEKIN, September 20. Japanese troops in the Hopei province advanced seven miles along the Pekin-Hankow railway, to a line bordering the Yishu river. The vanguard is constantly • engaging skirmishing parties of Chinese firing from the cover of millet fields.

Ten Chinese divisions along the Pekin-Hankow line, and twenty along the Tientsin-Tsian line, are desperately building defences in the hope of checking the Japanese, but the situation is precarious, owing to lack of artillery, tanks, and planes.

IN SOUTH CHINA. JAPANESE SUCCESSES. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] SHANGHAI, September 20. Japanese, in South China, hotly pursuing the Chinese, occupied Kucheng, 25 miles from Paotingfu. CHOLERA AT SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI,. September 20. The cholera outbreak has reached epidemic proportions. Two Britons are suffering in Hongkong. PLAGUE IN MANCHUKUO. TOKIO, September 20. Black plague has broken out in Manchuria, 198 cases being reported at Shingking, where quarantine has been established. RUSSIAN PROTEST. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] MOSCOW, September 20. Russia is strongly protesting to Japan against attacks on the staff of the Russian embassy in Tokio, including the wives of two members, who were insulted.

FOREIGN WARSHIPS. REFUSE TO MOVE AT NANKING. SHANGHAI, September 20. Admirals Little and Lebigot, commanding the English and French Asiatic Fleets, rejected the Japanese request to move the warships upstream from Nanking, adding that the Japanese would be held responsible for killing English and French nationals. Admiral Yarnell informed the Japanese that United States warships must remain at Nanking while Americans were there. He asked that airmen avoid his ships. AT GENEVA. GENEVA, September 20. The American diplomatic representative in Switzerland is instructed that Ihe United States will be represented on the committee of twentythree countries, formed at the time of

Japan’s aggression in Manchuria, and now to be re-summoned to advise the Assembly about the latest Far Last developments. The United States Minister at Berne will be the delegate, attending rather as an observer, than as a plenipotentiary. [British Oflicial Wireless]. RUGBY; September 20. In a speech at Geneva, Mr Eden said that all efforts by British and other third parties to avert hostilities in the Far East had failed. If co-operation had succeeded, an appalling loss of life would have been avoided, to say nothing of the harm done to trade.