JAPANESE REPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1938, Page 7

JAPANESE REPORT

PROGRESS MADE IN SPITE OF RESISTANCE BATTLE ON GRAND CANAL. TURNS AGAIN IN FAVOUR OF CHINESE. LONDON, April 7. The Japanese claim that in spite of fierce Chinese resistance they have progressed to within 15 miles of Hsuchow, states the Shanghai correspondent of “The Times.” The Chinese assert that a counter attack hemmed in the remnant of Japanese on the northern outskirts of Taierhchwang, and also claim that guerrilas defeated the Japanese at Kwangteh. An earlier message stated: — The see-saw battle on the Grand Canal has again turned in favour of the Chinese forces. They have driven back the Japanese advancing south to Suchow, so that the position is the same as it was seventeen days ago.

Military observers are surprised at curt Japanese bulletins dealing with the fierce fighting, and scent a Bannockburn on the banks of the Grand Canal. The Chinese infiltrated Chefoo and drew out and then ambushed the Japanese defenders, who were hurriedly reinforced from warships. Sharp fighting continues. A conference of representatives of the Peking and Nanking provisional puppet Governments agreed in principle to merge at an opportune moment, according to a Tokio message.