FIGHTING IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1938, Page 5

FIGHTING IN CHINA

GUERILLA FORCES ACTIVE IN NORTH WIDESPREAD OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED. CLAIMS BY BOTH PARTIES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. SHANGHAI, Aug. 8. Chinese guerrillas, taking advantage of the withdrawal of Japanese troops to Manchukuo, launched a widespread offensive in North China. The Japanese claim to have defeated them west of the Fenchen railway, killing a thousand. The Chinese say that they killed 1500 Japanese before evacuating Haiyen. JAPANESE AIR RAIDS. SHIPS BOMBED ON YANGTSE. TOKIO, Aug. 8. Japanese planes bombed Nanchang railway station, warehouses and munition dumps today. Naval planes destroyed two Chinese munition ships on the Yangtse River, blew up three minelayers and destroyed 15 grounded planes in a raid on Hankow. CANTON BOMBED SEVEREST RAID FOR WEEKS. MANY KILLED & INJURED. (Recd This Day, 9.55 a.m.) CANTON, Aug. 8. One hundred and fifty persons were killed and 200 wounded when the Japanese carried out what is .described as the severest air raid for weeks on Government offices, power stations and bridges. CHINESE OFFENSIVE NORTH OF THE YANGTSE. REPORTED HEADWAY. (Recd This Day, 9.55 a.m.) HANKOW, Aug. 8. The Chinese have launched a general offensive on the north bank of the Yangtse, towards Hwangmei, which, it is claimed, is steadily pressing the Japanese back. HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES. AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT. < SHANGHAI, Aug. 8. An unconfirmed report states that 4000 Japanese were killed in the Chinese attack on Susung. The attack was planned as an endeavour to swing decisively the campaign on the northern bank of the Yangtse. WARSHIPS DESTROYED. ■ CHINESE MOBILISING 2,000,000 MEN. HANKOW, Aug. 8. It is officially announced that Chinese aeroplanes and artillery destroyed seven Japanese warships on the Yangtse. It is further stated that the Japanese bombed Nanchang from the air today, 87 persons being killed and 63 wounded. The flood situation in the Hwangmei area is becoming worse. Civilians are evacuating 1160 square miles. The mobilisation of 2,000,000 men and 200,000 officers has begun in Kwangsi province.