CHINESE STRATEGY

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

CHINESE STRATEGY

-Press Association.)

Japanese Gains Have Been Expensive FIERCER BATTLES AHEAD

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. The Chinese Consul has received the following cablegram from Nanking: — "The military spokesman confirmed the withdrawal of the Chinese troops yesterday from Yinhsing village, the centre near Kiangwan, and points to the northern fringe of the Yangtsepoo district. The Japanese have already advanced to the civic centre, but Kiangwan, two miles further west, is still in Chinese hands. Sufficient forces are concentrated there to check a further Japanese advance. "The fall of Yuepoo and Yanghang north-westward of the civio centre, exposed the Chinese positions evacuated yesterday to the danger of being outManked if a withdrawal were not made in time,. "It is at present estimated that the Japanese control over the narrow strip of land from the river was gained at the price of over' 10,000 casualties. "Now that the battle has been carried farther inland, all advantages no lonver lie with the Japanese, said the spokesman. "It was revealed at the beginning of hostilities that the Chinese hoped to clear the International Settlement of Japanese forces before further reinforcements could he landed. This task was progressing with the utmost satisfaction when large numbers of Japanese troops , under cover of a outside Shanghai. Neither the landing of the Japanese reinforcements nor the naval barrage, landed at various points subsequent push inland could effectively be prevented, for as the Chinese counter-attacked and advanced near the river-bank the Japanese warships blazed into action and brought down upon them the concentrated. fury oi the naval batteries. "The spokesman expressed himself as being satisfied with the result of the fighting so far, and predicted that fiereer battles lay ahead."