OPPOSED CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1939, Page 5

OPPOSED CLAIMS

THE CONFLICT IN CHINA JAPANESE FORCE OUTFLANKED DEVASTATION IN ICHANG. PEOPLE PREPARING TO LEAVE HOMES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 12. The Chinese Embassy reports that the Chinese have outflanked the Japanese who were withdrawing to Fengloh, near Chungsiang, and slaughtered 900. Japanese casualties in the central Hupeh campaign are estimated to be 6000.

The Chinese clairh to have entrapped the Japanese in the walled city of Tsinglo and recaptured Nankung in central China. A Tokio message, however, states that the Japanese claim to have expelled the Chinese from the area east of the Han River, inflicting a loss of 21,000.

The Chungking correspondent of “The Times” reports that the citizens of Ichang have prepared to evacuate their homes in the face of 1500 deaths and widespread devastation which Japanese bombing raids have inflicted. British communications are being maintained through the medium of a gunboat. There have been no foreign casualties.

The local officials welcome the British loan of £5.000.000. but the Japanese have compared it with administering an injection to a dying man. Japan assumes that she has won the war and consequently is bewildered by Britain’s refusal to acknowledge that her future trade possibilities depend on Japan. The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says that the Chinese claim to be withstanding attacks on the Han River, and that guerrilla activity continues throughout the invaded provinces. Terrorists are even setting fire to houses in the Yangtzepoo section of Shanghai which is under Japanese control.