YANGTSE DRIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1939, Page 6

YANGTSE DRIVE

NEW OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED BY JAPANESE FIGHTING ALONG HAN RIVER. BRIDGES BUILT UNDER HEAVY FIRE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON. June 1. The Hong Kong correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says the Japanese have launched a new and large scale offensive along the Han River, in Hupeh Province, apparently directed against the Yangtse treaty port of Ichang, 120 miles distant. In the face of withering machine-gun fire, engineers sacrificed their lives constructing pontoons, enabling the Japanese to cross the river at three points. Simultaneously, gunboats landed troops at Lake Tungting, apparently in readiness for an attack on Ichang from north and south. WHOLESALE MURDER JAPANESE AIRMEN SLAUGHTER CIVILIANS. IN FOOCHOW AND SWATOW HARBOURS. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The Shanghai correspondent of “The rimes" says that eighteen Japanese □lanes bombed Putien, causing havoc n crowded areas. A seaplane landed at Foochow and raked the ferry, killing 32 persons and wounding 80. Many people were drowned through jumping into the river to escape the hail of bullets from low-flying planes, which also slaughtered civilians aboard lighters in Swatow harbour.