SURPRISE ATTACK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 42, 20 February 1939, Page 7

SURPRISE ATTACK

CHINESE FORCE RECAPTURE OF STRATEGIC CITY THREAT TO JAPANESE SHIPS ON YANGTSE (By Telegraph—Prefea Association--Copyright! (Independent Cable Service.) Received Feb. 19, 10.30 p.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 18. The Chinese claim to have surprised the Japanese garrison in a sudden attack and recaptured the strategic city of Hukowsien, dominating the northern end of Poylang Lake. The Chinese are now able to threaten the Japanese shipping on the Yangtse and also bottle up the Japanese warships.

NOT EXTENSIVE

JAPANESE CONTROL IN NORTH CHINA. Received Feb. 19, 7.20 p.m. CHUNGKING, Feb. 18. An official Chinese report declares that the sphere of the Japanese occupation does not extend beyond the glitter of their bayonets. The Chinese still control 92 per cent, of the nine northern provinces which Japan has invvaded. The Japanese mostly control only the country seats, the countryside remaining in Chinese civil and military hands.

JAPAN’S WAR MACHINE

EXTENSION NECESSARY FUTURE REQUIREMENTS EVERY CITIZEN MAY BECOME A SOLDIER Received Feb. 19, 8.20 p.m. TOKIO, Feb. 18. The War Minister, General Itagaki, in the Diet declared that the army must be built up in quality and quantity. He said that the futuie might demand that every Japanese become a soldier. There also was need to improve armaments and tactics.

ON KULING MOUNTAIN

NAVAL COMMANDERS LEAVE TO EVACUATE MISSIONARIES Received Feb. 19, 7.35 p.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 18. Lieutenant-Commanders Stafford, commander of the British gunboat Ladybird, and Jeffs, commander ol the United States gunboat Oahu, have left Kiukiang to evacuate 80 British and American missionaries and patients stranded at the sanatorium on the top of Kuling mountain, 3500 feet. The rescue party will travel 25 miles on foot to Kuling, which is surrounded by Chinese, against whom the Japanese intend to launch an offensive after the evacuation of the stranded inmates of the sanatorium. Both sides have offered the naval party safe conduct.

RICH OIL DEPOSITS

IN SINGKIAN PROVINCE AND NINGTSING MOUNTAINS SUFFICIENT FOR WORLD FOR 30 YEARS CHUNGKING, Feb. 17. The Minister of Economics is planning large scale exploitation of newlydiscovered oil deposits in the Singkian province and Ningtsing Mountains. Foreign experts report that the oil is sufficient for a world supply for 30 years.