WAR IN CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1939, Page 5

WAR IN CHINA

JAPANESE DENY CHINESE CLAIMS “ADVANCES AND VICTORIES." FOREIGN OBSERVERS CONFIRM DENIALS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, December 24. Tile Japanese army spokesman, slates a Shanghai message, issued a blank denial of all Chinese claims to advances and victories. He declared that Chinese losses at Nanning were so heavy that the winter offensive had been abandoned. It was untrue that Nanning was surrounded, and communications with the coast had not been, severed. Japanese forces were not endangered, lie said. The Shanghai correspondent of tlie Associated Press of America says that the Japanese army claims Hint troops invading lite Kwtingsi Province reached tlie border of Indo-China and cut Chinese supply lines. The Japanese commander shook hands with tlie commander of tlie French garrison at Langsoil. Seizure of huge quantities of military supplies at Nankwan and Lungchow, which were occupied for 48 hours and then abandoned, is claimed by the Japanese. The Shanghai correspondent of tlie -New York Times,” Mr Abend, supports ‘lie foregoing. He believes tlie Japanese charges that Chinese claims of victories counter-attacks are mendacious are born out by the most reliable foreign witnesses. Instead ol Japanese at Nanning being endangered, French ollicials in Indo-China confirm reports of Mr Abend and tlie Associated Press correspondent. Chinese claims that they were successfully attacking Nanchang were exploded today when two foreign newsmen (lew over the city and neighbourhood and discovered no signs ol military activity. Similarly the (lew over south-west Wuchang, where Chinese are claiming victories, and found all quiet and Hie peasants farming.