SEVERE FIGHTING

Rotorua Morning Post, 1 March 1933, Page 5

SEVERE FIGHTING

JAPANESE ONSLAUGHT Rec. Feb. 27. A Mogi cavalry brigade is reported to have entered Namawafu, compelling the Ghinese to retreat in the direcition of ICienping. Marshal Chang* Hseuh-Liang's .troops are reported to be holding Lingyuan, where the Chinese intend fighting a decisive engagement. An Hatori Japanese brigade is proceeding towards the Jehol border from a westerly direction, and is en~ countering sharp resistance along the route. An aeroplane squadxon is preceding the troops, and bombing ithe Chinese positions preparatory to infantry attaclcs. The Japanese bombardment of Kailu has reduced the city to a briek heap. There is a remarkable lack of reaction towards the present fighting in other parts of China. Shangh'ai is recieiving the war reports w^ithouf manifesting- alarm or enthusiasm. Paiping, the nearest important city to the fighting, remaiins cairn, while the foreign authorities are exhibiting no anxiety in the event of the Chinese being forced to fall back inside the Great Wall. Japanese residents are evacuating Ghingwangtao. There is ,a lack of proper communications with the fighting* areas, and the censorship is making reliable reports scarce. It is generally knotvn, however, that the Japanese have made great s.trides despite the terrible Arctic conditions, the difficult terrain, and the determined Chinese resistance.