JAPANESE SETBACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1939, Page 7

JAPANESE SETBACK

RETREAT AFTER HEAVY LOSSES

FAILURE OF CHANGSHA v OFFENSIVE.

FIVE STRATEGIC POINTS RETAKEN BY CHINESE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) HONG KONG, October 4. It is officially stated that the Japanese are retreating, after heavy losses and the abandonment of much equipment, fifteen miles from Changsha. The Chinese recaptured five strategic points on the railway north of Changsha. An independent Japanese force, which was attempting to outflank Changsha, is beleaguered in the mountains, 40 miles from the Hunan border. AIR ATTACK i ■■ CHINESE BOMB HANKOW. HEAVY DAMAGE PiEPORTED AT AERODROME. NEW YORK, October 4. The Hankow correspondent of the American United Press says that eight Chinese planes, flying at a great height, bombed the Hankow aerodrome at 1.30 p.m. today causing a series of gasoline explosions which rocked the city. The Japanese said that nine bombs dropped and 26 cases of gasoline were destroyed. The Chungking correspondent of the American Associated Press, says that Chinese authorities claim at least 50 Japanese planes were destroyed at the aerodrome. They assert that about 180 planes were lined up on the field when the Chinese fliers appeared. The explosions caused huge columns of smoke which were visible for many miles.