FIGHTING IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 5

FIGHTING IN CHINA

BIGGEST BATTLE OP TEAR SOME TOWNS ABANDONED TO INVADERS. “SCORCHED EARTH” POLICY. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, March 6. The Hong Kong correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that what both sides claim will be the biggest battle of the year is now'approaching a climax after a 10 days’ struggle along a line 350 miles long in Kiangsu, Hunan, and Hupeh provinces. The Chinese have isolated the Japanese at Yoyang and recaptured the railway line from Tungting to Wuchang, though the Japanese are menacing Ichang, which is the gateway to the Yangtze gorges. The losses seem to be evenly divided. “The Japanese claim to have succeeded in crossing the Han River at Sanyangtien and to be menacing towns on the west bank, which, however, the Chinese set fire to in consonance with their “scorched earth” policy. TIENTSIN DISPUTE DISCUSSION WITH JAPAN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.22 a.m.) RUGBY, March 7. The acting British Consul-General at Tientsin (Mr Herbert) had a friendly discussion with General Homa, local Japanese military commander, on the live wire entanglements which the Japanese have erected around the British and French Concessions, and which have been the subject of protests by Britain and France and of questions in the House of Commons. The position is that Britain is awaiting Japan’s reply to a Note regarding the general situation in Tientsin.