Defenders Unable to Resist The Japanese Sweep

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 207, 17 September 1937, Page 5

Defenders Unable to Resist The Japanese Sweep

-Press Association-

STRATEGIC P0INTS CAPTURED t

(By Telegraph—

— Copy right)

(Received 17, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16. The Japanese this morning began a raajor offensive against the Chinese on the Chsku Plain, between the Peiping-Hankow and Tientsin-Pukow railways. The Japanese claim to have captured Paochow and other strategic points, despite the fierce resistance of the ill-equipped Chinese. According to the Japanese, the slaughter has been heavy. Japanese aeroplanes bombed Taiyuan and set on fire the arsenal and military depots. Other planes dropped pamphlets urging the Chinese irregulars not to fight. It is claimed that 500,000 rounds of ammunition and 5000 hand grenades were captured by the Japanese at Tatung. A London news agency's correspondent at Peiping says that, unable to resist the Japanese sweep from Liangsiang, eiglit Chinese divisions are retreating in disorder in the direction of Antingfu. An overnight Chinese attack to drive a wedge in the Japanese front at Hongkew (Shanghai) and recapture the eastern wharves, thus preventing further landings,- did not succeed. Bitter fighting with machine*guns and trench mortars occurred in the unlighted streets and alleys, and the Chinese retired to their original positions. 'Desperately resisting overwhelming mechanised equipment, the Cihnese, fighting in brilliant moonlight, failed to prevent the Japanese from crossing the Ghuma river in the face of a storm of , machine-gun and rifle fir§ in continuance of their southward advance on a 60-mile front in the rectangle bounded by the Hun river, the Peking-Paotingfu railway and the Tientsin-Tsangchow railway, which lines have hitherto heen regarded as defensible flanks of the CJimese position. The Chinese, though destitute of mechanised weapons, are fighting a furious rearguard action to oover the retreat of their main body towards Paotingfu.