FIGHTING IN HONAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1939, Page 5

FIGHTING IN HONAN

CHINESE CLAIM SWEEPING VICTORY EVACUATION OF WESTERN CITIES. SAID TO HAVE'BEEN ORDERED ’ BY GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) CHUNGKING, February 26. The Chinese claim a sweeping victory at Changyinchii, in Eastern Honan, killing a thousand Japanese and routing,the remainder. The Chinese Government has ordered the evacuation of Chungking, Chengtu and Kweiyang. NEW JAPANESE DRIVE. FIFTY MILES WEST OF HANKOW.' (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) z SHANGHAI, February 26. The Japanese have launched a new drive fifty miles west of Hankow. SHANGHAI TERRORISM MEASURES BY JAPANESE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT SURROUNDED. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) TOKIO, February 26. The Domei News Agency reports that the Nanking Government has sent, troops and militiamen to surround the International Settlement, “as a precautionary measure against further terroristic demonstrations.” Meanwhile the Japanese authorities at Shanghai are meeting today “to fixe final steps for coping .with the situation.” SILENT WAR AGAINST INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT. STATEMENT BY NANKING GOVERNMENT. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) NANKING, February 26. The Government, explaining its decision to send militia to the outskirts of the International Settlement and the French Concession, issued a statement: “We hesitate to brand British and French vessels on the Yangtse as enemy, but naturally there will be limits to Japan’s gentlemanly attitude towards the International Settlement and French Concession. If Britain and France do not change their attitude of assisting Chiang Kai-Shek, silent war must be declared against the International Settlement and vessels which are nothing but a base for operations.” JAPANESE COMMENT ALLEGEDLY “INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, February 26. An official of the Japanese Embassy in London described the reference to “silent war," which is quoted from the Domei Agency’s report, as a possible exaggeration in translation, but added that the Nanking Government was independent an that conditions on the Yangtse River were a matter of domestic policy.