CHINESE STROKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1939, Page 5

CHINESE STROKE

STRATEGIC CITY TAKEN THREAT TO JAPANESE ON YANGTSE. CONDITIONS IN INVADED TERRITORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. CHUNGKING. February 18. The Chinese claim to hatfe surprised the Japanese garrison in a sudden attack and to have recaptured the strategic city of Hukowsien, dominating the northern end of Poylang Lake. The Chinese are now able to threaten Japanese shipping on the Yangtse and also to bottle-up Japanese warships. An official Chinese report declares that the sphere of Japanese occupation does not extend beyond the glitter of their bayonets. The Chinese claim still to control 92 per cent of the nin.e northern provinces which Japan has invaded.-The Japanese, it is claimed, mostly control only the country towns, and the countryside remains in Chinese civil and military hands. STRANDED FOREIGNERS. NAVAL RESERVE IN RULING. SHANGHAI, February 18. Lieutenant Commander Stafford, commander of the British gunboat Ladybird, And Lieutenant Commander Jeffs, commander of the United States gunboat Oahu, left Kiukiang today to evacuate 80 British and American missionaries and patients in a stranded sanatorium at the top of Killing mountain, 3500 feet high. The rescue party will travel 25 miles on foot to Killing, which is surrounded by Chinese, against whom the Japanese intend to launch an offensive after the evacuation of the stranded inmates of the sanatorium. Both sides have offered the naval party a safe conduct. WAR DEMANDS JAPANESE MINISTER'S DECLARATION. BIGGER AND BETTER ARMY NEEDED. TOKIO, February 18. The War Minister, General Itagaki, declared in the Diet today that the army must be built up in quality and quantity. The future might demand that every Japanese become a soldier. There also was a need to improve armaments and tactics. HAINAN OCCUPATION CHINESE OFFERING STRONG RESISTANCE. ATTEMPTS TO RECAPTURE TQWNS. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) CHUNGKING, February 19. A wireless message from Hainan Islands reports that the Chinese are strongly resisting the Japanese occupation. Vigorous counter-attacks have been launched over a wide area, and are threatening the recapture of several towns. JAPANESE MEASURES. “SECURING PEACE AND ORDER.” (Received This Day. 9.35 a.m.) TOKIO, February 19. With a view to “securing peace and order in Hainan Island,” Japanese military officials are establishing Chinese police bureaux in the two largest northern towns, Haikow and Kiunlshan. ATTACK REPELLED JAPANESE ATTEMPT TO LAND IN TAICHOW BAY. 1 ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SHIPS AND BATTERIES. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, February 19. Reuter's Chungking correspondent says the Chinese repulsed a Japanese attempt to land at Haimen, at the Yungan River in Taichow Bay. Warships approached on Friday, made a reconnaissance, and withdrew overnight, but reappeared at dawn on Saturday and crossed the boom at the harbour entrance. A landing party from four motor boats was driven back by the Chinese, whose batteries opened a two-hour battle with the warships, which then withdrew. KILLED BY TERRORISTS. • PUPPET" MINISTER’S FATE. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 19. Terrorists shot dead Chen Lo, Foreign Minister of Japan’s puppet Government at Nanking.

AMBASSADOR’S TOUR.

DISCUSSION WITH JAPANESE OFFICIAL. (Received This Day. 9.35 a.mJ LONDON, February 19. A message from Tsingtao states that the British Ambassador, Sir Archibald Clark-Kerr, arrived on H.M.S. Birmingham, in the course of a tour of inspection of North China, and had a three hours’ discussion with the Japanese Consul-General, Mr Denjiro Katoh, in reference to measures for the settlement of outstanding SinoJapancse issues, after which Sir Archibald Clark-Kerr left for Shanghai.