PITCHED BATTLE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 5

PITCHED BATTLE

-Press Assn.-

North China Action FffTY-MILE FRONT Chinese Rcinforcing Defences at Shanghai JAPANESE USING TANKS

(By Telegrapl-

-Copyright.)

(Reeeived lb, a.m.j TOKIO, Sept. 15. "Aceording to a message from Tjentsin, tlie largest pitehed battle of the present clash lias beguP on a 50-miles front on the Plains of Hona, where the Japanese have launched an offensive against 300,000 Chinese, facilitated by the recent captnre of the Tatung railway junction. This attack is mainly directed against the Chinese between the Peiping-Hankow and PeipingPnkow railways, from where they are already partly dislodged, enabling the Japanese to cross the Ynngting river, on the west bank of which they have eaptured Knanehen and a number of small towns. At Shanghai the Chinese are* erecting defensive . works behind the "Hindenburg" line. _ The Japanese are rushing iip artillery and tanks. The Chinese detachments, nsmg the famons broad-swords, fiercely fonght hand to hand for a strong point at Ynngungehiao, west of Shanghai, which, according to report, has changed hands 10 times in 24 hours. Jl later message from Tokio reports that the battle in North China, _ xn which the Japanese are empjoying 100,000 men, has extended to a 79*nnie front from the mountains west of tho Peking-Hankow railway near Liangeiang, whero they are driving the Clnnese from their posxtions m the hrlis, to 30 mileis west of Tientsin. The Japanese claim that, despito heavy rain, they have advanced from ftve to nino milea on tho Wliole front, being halted only by tho fast-running Chuma river 12 miles from the railway. The Chinese fought stubbornly and eounter-attacked at Liangeiang. but wero drivon back. Another Japanese column occupied Kwangliang, 15 miles, south of Tatung, from where they are threatening the Chinese defending the Yenmen pass commanding the road to Taiyuanfu, capital of the Shansi Province. The British United Press Tientsin corrospondent pointSi ont that the Japanese penetration on wide fronts is complicating the difficulties of supplies and communications. Every day sees a further advance from the Japanese bases, while the Japanese forces are faeing increasing guerilla warfare. Ihe Japanese are preparing a new offensive from Uuho to Chapei, which batteries are already bombarding. The first naval battle oecurred in the Pearl river, five Japanese and two Chinese warships participating. The Japanese claim that they disabled the Chinese ships. The Chinese deny that their vessels wero damaged. The Frenchi, British, Italian, American and Dntch admirals have sent Notes to tho Chinese and Japanese pointing out that niissiles froxn aircraft guns being fired over the Settlement are killing many non-combatants. They nrge the cessation of aerial fighting. Gholera cases total 550, the deaths including a numuer of foreiguers. Hongkcmg reports that Chinese planes attacked 20 Japanese warships in Biaa Bay, including two aircraftcarriers, one of which was disabled.