WAR IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1939, Page 6

WAR IN CHINA

JAPANESE REPULSE!) at san river AFTER HEAVY SHELLING & BOMBING. FAILURE TO EFFECT CROSSING. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) CHUNGKING, May 1. After heavy shelling and bombing the Japanese twice attempted to cross the San River, in Central Hupeh. The attacks were repulsed. TOKIO REPORT CHINESE COMPELLED TO RETREAT. LEAVING FIFTEEN HUNDRED * DEAD. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) TOK T O, May 1. Chinese troops, attempting to recapture Nanchang, retreated, in face of a fierce Japanese attack, leaving 1500 dead. SIGNAL SUCCESS CHINESE APRIL OFFENSIVE. SUBSTANTIAL GAINS HELD. (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Hong Kong correspondent says China’s April offensive is dying down on all fronts. The attempt to "recapture Canton evidently has been abandoned, but the Japanese are not attempting to regain the large areas around Canton they lost last month. ■ The Chinese are strongly entrenched seven miles from Nanchang. Though the Chinese have not succeeded in recapturing one of the provincial capitals, their offensive undoubtedly has been a great military success. Their gains represent the greatest part of the hard-won territory taken by the Japanese between October and March, after the fall of Canton and Hankow. Thus, from a Japanese viewpoint, April has been disastrous and the fruits of six months’ fighting have been lest at a cost of a thousand lives and a million sterling per day. The Chinese morale unquestionably never has been higher and the Japanese never lower today.