CHINA’S GREAT OFFENSIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20731, 15 February 1939, Page 7

CHINA’S GREAT OFFENSIVE

250,000 TROOPS ENGAGED HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 14 The Chinese have launched a great offensive on the Hunan front, throwing 250,000 troops, equipped with new artillery and mechanised units, against 40,000 Japanese, says the Hongkong correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The Chinese attacked with bayonets, inflicting heavy losses and capturing hundreds of prisoners and much war material. They advanced several miles. The representative of the Independent Cable Service at Hongkong says it is estimated that there are only 300,000 Japanese south of Manchukuo facing 2,000,000 Chinese regular troops and 1,000,000 more guerillas inside their own lines. The reorganised Chinese air force also took the initiative for the first time, bombing and machine-gunning the Japanese trenches. The Japanese bombed Lunchow and Sian, important links in the munitions route from Russia. JAPANESE ON HAINAN ANGLO-FRENCII FEARS NEED TO END THE WAR (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 15, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 14 The Tokio correspondent of the Times says the Japanese Premier's answer* to the British Ambassador is intended to imply that the occupation of Hainan was a war measure and was not connected with the broader question of Pacific strategy. It is claimed that Japan is playing on Franco-British fears to induce the closing of routes across their territory, after which Marshal Ghiang Kaishek will be deprived of supplies and will be unable to continue a guerilla war on a national scale. The Times adds: “It is safe to suppose that the Japanese Admiralty has plans for the possible use of the Hainan base for Ihe southern advance, but it is doubtful whether visions of commanding the Pacific are calculations at present. The occupation is explainable by the imperative need lu end the war in China.” TWO TOWNS BOMBED LINKS IN MUNITIONS ROUTE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SHANGHAI, February 13 The Japanese bombed Lunchow and Sian, important links in the munitions route from Russia.