CANTON BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1939, Page 8

CANTON BATTLE

JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS POURING IN Endeavour to Break Chinese Encirclement SUCCESS CLAIMED BY BOTH SIDES By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Dav, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Hon" Kong correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph’’ says Japanese reinforcementshave been landed from transports in the Pearl River and are pouring into Canton in an endeavour to break the Chinese encirclement of the city. A fierce battle in in progress south-west of Tsengshing, each side claiming success. The Japanese have succeeded in halting the Chinese drive east of Canton, but have not yet driven a wedge into 'the Chinese lines, which now extend from the mouth of the East River and round Canion northward. Chinese planes raided the invaders’- air base in the vicinityof the White Cloud Mountain and claim to have inflicted considerable damage. In the meantime, the Chinese offensive on all fronts appears to be slowing down with the arrival of Japanese reinforce- 1 merits. The Hong Kong correspondent of “The Times” says that according to an unofficial Chinese report, the Japanese recaptured' Tsengshing, which the Chinese abandoned in face of superior force.

JAPANESE CLAIM TWO THOUSAND CHINESE KILLED. ENGAGEMENT IN KWANTUNG. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) TOKIO, April 19. A Japanese dispatch claims that 2000 Chinese were killed in an engagement in Kwangtung Province.

FIGHTING ALONE .CHINESE AMBASSADOR’S DECLARATION. ASIATIC AXIS PARTNER “MORASSED.” (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Chinese Ambassador, Mr Quo Tai-chi, said he was satisfied with President Roosevelt’s inclusion of the Axis in his statement on April 15. He added that China was fighting her own fight alone, and keeping the Asiatic Axis partner morassed.