YELLOW RIVER FLOODS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1938, Page 7

YELLOW RIVER FLOODS

ANTICIPATIONS OF TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE DEVASTATION OF PROVINCES POSSIBLE. JAPANESE IN NORTH CHINA MENACED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. SHANGHAI, June 15. There is no definite information as to how many Japanese soldiers perished in the Yellow River floods. The Japanese believe that the army escaped in the vicinity of Shengchow, which is submerged under five feet of water. The Japanese consider that it is not possible to repair the dykes owing to the rapidity of the current and the continuous rain. Railway experts point out that maximum normal flooding occurs at the end of July and freely predict a major catastrophe. They fear the river will burst at the bend opposite Kaifeng and resume its old bed, devastating Shantung, North Honan and North Kiangsu and enter the sea at Haichow. It will thus hold up and imperil the whole Japanese army in North China. INUNDATIONS IN HONAN. POSITION DAILY BECOMING MORE SERIOUS. LONDON, June 15. “The Times” Shanghai correspondent says that, owing to further breaches in the dykes of the Yellow River, floods are pouring over the Honan plains. The position is daily becoming more serious. LANDING REPELLED. ACCORDING TO CHINESE REPORT. WELLINGTON, This Day. The following cablegram has been received by the Chinese Consul from Hankow:— “About 50 Japanese warships and eight transports steamed up the Yangtse River and endeavoured to land troops at three different places between Kweichih and Anking, but were completely repulsed. We killed 800 of the enemy and captured several motorboats and 40 machine-guns. There is no change in our lines in east Honan.”

BANKS BURST AT JUNCTION OF RIVER AND GRAND CANAL. WATERS SPREADING WIDELY IN SHANTUNG. (Recd This Day, 9.40 a.m.) SHANGHAI, June 15. The Yellow River has burst its banks at the intersection of the Grand Canal, 100 miles eastward of the existing gaps. The water is rushing in a southeasterly direction, partly submerging the Japanese controlled province of Shantung. A flood, five miles wide, separates the Chinese and Japanese between Kaifeng and Chengchow and is overrunning the Lung Hai Railway. Peasants are in desperate plight and are fleeing en masse. RIVER OPERATIONS. PLANES BOMB HIGHWAY TO INDO-CHINA. (Recd This Day, 9.40 a.m.) TOKIO, June 15. Japanese units swept up the Yangtse River 45 miles from Nanking. The fall of Wangkaing is expected. Japanese naval planes, flying 1250 miles, bombed Kweilin, on the motor highway to French Indo-China. NEW GOVERNMENT IN HUPEH. HANKOW, June 15. The Chinese claim that warplanes sank two and damaged two Japanese war vessels in the vicinity of Anking. General Chiang Kai-shek has established a military Government in Hupeh, controlled by the noted strategist General Chen Cheng.