Rapid Advance on Nanking

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 51, 23 November 1937, Page 5

Rapid Advance on Nanking

-PreBS Assn.

JAPANESE BOMBING Planes Scatter the Chinese Concentrations POPULACE IN DUG-OUTS

(By Telegraph-

— r'onvriclit.i

(Received 23, 1.15 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Nov. 22. Tke Japanese are advancing so swiftly towards Nanking tkat aeroplanes are provisioning tke vanguard, but the capture of Wusih is still unconiirmed. The invaders are consolidating tkeir position soutk-of Lake Tai. They kave besieged Wusliing, otkerwise Huchowfu, tke great silk-producing town, wliose population has fled. Even Japanese war planes ineffectually bombed and maekine-gunned troops leaving Nanking to occupy tke defensive lines. Tkousands of citiens kave taken refuge in dug-outs, some of wkick are mere holes half-filled witk water. Otkers are cemented and electricallylit struetures capable of uso as offices. Retaliation is difflcult, as tke majority of anti-aireraft batteries kave gone to Hankkow, but the Ckinese are using mackines from Russia. Tkey claim to kave shot down two bombers wkile losing one figkter, Tke new Chineso pursuit plane is far faster tkan its predeeessors. Foreign embassies and Ckinese ofiicials are concertiug a plan for tke approval of tke Japanese Higk Command to delimit a neutral zone. Tke Times Skanghai correspondent says that tlie Japanese are bombing every centre from Wusih to Nanking, particularly tke Chinese positions between Wusik and Kiangyin. Tke Japanese artillery then lays a barrage in advance of the infantry after the bombers have made way for tke armies crawling beliind tkem by damaging the Ckinese defensive positions, scattering troop concentrations and paralysing troop movements and tke transportation of supplies. Tke process, without aerial resistance, is simple and effective and cannot be opposed by armies so unequa-Liy equipped as the Chinese.