THREAT TO HANKOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1938, Page 6

THREAT TO HANKOW

JAPANESE STAFF PLANS OCCUPATION ORDERED BY END OF MONTH. PLANES DROP WARNINGS TO FOREIGNERS. SHANGHAI, September 2. The Japanese general staff is reported to have ordered the occupation of Hankow for the end of September, but the front-line commanders state that it is impossible until mid-October. They are meeting stubborn resistance. Aeroplanes again dropped leaflets today urging foreigners to take refuge in safety zones as soon as possible. The authorities promise to respect the safety of foreign commercial planes provided they specify their course. FIERCE FIGHTING CHINESE OFFICIAL REPORT. ADVANCE BY TWO ROUTES OPPOSED. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Chinese Consul has received the following cablegram from Hankow: “There has been severe fighting both north and south of the Yangtse. The enemy’s object is to advance westward by two routes, via Juichang and Lu-an where the enemy is heavily concentrated. On the Juichang route, the enemy fiercely attacked Moshan, but met a stubborn resistance. On the Lu-an sector, the enemy also fiercely attacked our lines. The terrain round Lu-an being flat, we fought until August 29, when we moved to elevated positions. The enemy, with the object of dividing our military strength, has lately commenced to threaten various Yellow River crossings in the south of Shansi and West Honan, but we have taken ample precautions.” FLYING-BOAT CRASH. ADMIRAL & THREE OTHERS KILLED. TOKIO, September 2. Rear-Admiral Kotoh and three other naval officers were killed when a fly-ing-boat crashed near Anking.