AN AERIAL BATTLE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20274, 17 August 1937, Page 8

AN AERIAL BATTLE

4.30 O’CLOCK EDITION

PLANES BROUGHT DOWN. SEVERE FIGHTING AT SHANGHAI. MESSAGE TO N.Z. CONSUL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Chinese Consol has received a telegram from Nanking stating that 20 heavy Jaj>an->*‘ bombers from Forniosa attempted .1 second raid on Hang »;ho\v Hus morning. four of which were Shot down. The aerial battle is still progressing. Eleven two-motored Japanese bombers participated in the first raid yesterday. three being shot down in the vicinity of Hang Chow and fTve being badly damaged and forced to land in various places in che-Kiang, only three returning. Severe fighting continued at Shanghai throughout the night, with the Japanese warships shelling -Chape! and th*- Chinese making determined attacks in the Yangtse-Poo district, where additional Japanese reinforcements sought to effect a landing. Another division of Japanese regulars is expected to arrive at Shanghai |o-day. The Japanese attacks at. -Nankow during the last three days have so far proved abortive. Official reports placed the Chinese casualties at. .’>oo and the Japanese casualties at almost double. Tension Prevails. Extreme tension prevails in Tsingtao as a result of an Incident yesterday. In which one Japanese was Injured. According to Chinese eye-witnesses tho fracas was between two Japanese seamen and one Japanese civilian in Europan clothes, but the Japanese Consul insisted that the victim was •hot by a Chinese. It Is feared that tho Japanese ore going to use the Incident as a pretext to start hostilities at Shantung.