KIUKIANG CAPTURED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1938, Page 5

KIUKIANG CAPTURED

IMPORTANT STEP IN MOVE ON HANKOW HUGE FORCE SWEEPS OVER DEFENCES. CRACK CHINESE TROOPS ESCAPE WITH ARTILLERY. ( SHANGHAI, July 26. After three days’ fighting the Japanese captured Kiukiang today. It is estimated that 200,000 Japanese, supported by warships and aircraft, swept over the defences. The retreating Chinese were subjected to shelling from warships. The Japanese admit, however, that the famous Chinese “God of War” battalions, defending the Lion Hill, escaped with their batteries. The next Japanese objective is the mountain resort of Kuling, from which all foreigners have been ordered to evacuate. A Chinese spokesman states that the Japanese are destroying progressively all the 'villages on the Yangtse. . COLLAPSE OF LINE. JAPANESE WAR OFFICE CLAIM. TOKIO, July 26. The War Office states that the fall of Kiukiang means the collapse of the centre of the Chinese eastern line defending Hankow and connecting the Tapieh Range with Nanchang. ■ The Japanese are crushing attempts to break their communications east of Hukow. -FRONTIER CLASH. SOVIET TROOPS REPULSED BY JAPANESE. TOKIO, July. 26. The Domei News Agency reports that 50 Soviet soldiers crossed the Manchukuoan border at Hunchun and were driven back by border guards. There were some Soviet casualties. ARSENAL EXPLOSION. SIGNIFICANT OCCURRENCE IN MANCHUKUO. PEKING, July 26. The belief that all is not well in Manchukuo is borne out by reliable reports that an enormous explosion took place at Mukden arsenal on July 23, believed to have been the work of incendiaries. There was heavy destruction of munitions.