Hankow, May 31.
A desperate air battle, the first to be staged over. Hankow since the terrific combat between Chinese and" Japanese planes just over a month ago, took place, this morning, in the course of which, according to independent reports, fourteen out of 34 Japanese planes were shot down by Chinese aircraft. y /Chinese Aviation Headquarters an-hounced that fifteen Japanese planes were shot down, twelve at Hankow, and three at Hukow, about ten miles east of Kiukiang.
Aviation Headquarters gave the number of planes taking part in the engagement as 54 Japanese, and 60 Chinese.
Just as the Japanese planes drew near to the north-western suburbs Of the city, according to Chinese reports, Chinese aircraft, which were patrolling high above the city waiting for the raiders, swooped down like hawks on the Japanese formation, A furious aerial engagement followed at a high altitude, the reports. stated, three groups of Chinese and Japanese aircraft taking part in the life and death struggle staged against a background of clear blue sky.
The opposing planes circled round and round each other, their "Wings. Occasionally flashing in the brilliant sunlight, each machine plainly visible to the hundreds breathlessly watching the' engagement from below.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.