ADVANCE CONTINUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1938, Page 8

ADVANCE CONTINUES

JAPANESE IN SOUTH CHINA KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CUT PLANES LEAVE TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION I By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. TOKIO, October 13. The Navy Spokesman announces that the Canton-Kowloon railway has been cut at several points and that the troops are advancing smoothly. Two thousand Chinese were wiped out an an undisclosed spot. The first major battle is expected at Waichow, where the Chinese are concentrating on favourable terrain with lakes and hills. One hundred Japanese planes swept Kwantung province, including Waichow, leaving a trail of destruction. SCOPE OF INVASION INDICATIONS OF LIMITED OBJECTIVE LONDON, October 13. The Japanese admit that 50,000 troops are insufficient to capture Canton, for which reason it is believed that the Japanese will content themselves at present with cutting the Kow-loon-Canton railway, which runs from British territory and has been General Chiang Kai-Shek’s lifeline. It is estimated that a million Chinese are available to defend canton. On the news of the invasion, British and other consuls in Canton, except the German, immediately advised women and children to quit the city, though the Canton authorities are confident of their ability to defeat the invaders. There are at present five British, one American and one Freryffi gunboat in Canton. JAPANESE PROMISE BRITISH RIGHTS AND INTERESTS TO BE RESPECTED I . (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. Reuter’s have learned that Japan has specifically given an assurance that British rights and interests in South China will be scrupulously respected. “PURELY MILITARY” JAPAN’S DECLARED AIMS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Consul-General for Japan (Mr K. Gunji) in Wellington, has been officially advised by cable message from Tokio as follows: — The spokesman of the Foreign Office, Tokio, has issued the following statement: — “The operations just undertaken in South China by the Imperial Japanese forces are purely military operations for the purpose of' intercepting the principal route for the supply of arms and munitions to the Chinese forces and destroying the important points of hostile machinations against Japan.” The policy, the statement continues, hitherto pursued by the Japanese Government of respecting the rights and interests of third Powers remains unchanged. “Although our best efforts will therefore be exerted for the prevention of any damage to them in the present operations, it is earnestly- hoped that third Powers will understand the real intentions of Japan and extend co-op-eration to the efforts of the Japanese forces and thereby preclude an occurrence of any untoward incidents.” ATTACKS OPPOSED CHINESE OFFERING FIERCE RESISTANCE PEARL RIVER CLOSED (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. The Shanghai correspondent of the British United Press says the Japanese troops invading South China, whose transports are still discharging troops in Bias Bay, encountered the first line of defence at points west of Hachung, where they tried all day, aided by bombing planes, to overcome fierce Chinese resistance. The scenes of the heaviest fighting were between Pingshan and Namshan. The Japanese bombed Tamshui into ruins. They sustained a repulse at Aotao. The Chinese destroyed the bridges leading to Waichow, the Japanese first main objective. The Hong Kong correspondent of ‘“The Times” says the Japanese continue the air bombing of railways. The Chinese admit the loss of 800 men in resisting the landing and assert that the Japanese lost 400. The Canton train service has been suspended. A hundred foreign refugees, including Germans, have arrived at Hong Kong from Canton. The Pearl River is closed, bottling up four British, one French and one American gunboats, and 12 British merchantmen. DEFENCE OF CANTON PREPARATIONS COMPLETED LOCAL FORCES CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) CANTON, October 13. The authorities report that defence preparations have been completed. It is expected that the landing on the Kwantung coast will ease pressure on Hankow. The Cantonese troops are expected to be able to protect the area without necessitating the aid of Government troops.