Tientsin, Dee. 16, Weihwei and Tangyin, strategical points along the Pinghan Railway, north of the Yellow River and south lof Changteh, were subjected to intensive serial' bombing by military lanes shortly before noon yesterday. At Welhwel, heavy damages were done to the headquarters of the [Chinese force, while about 1,400 troop carts were said by the diers {to have been destroyed. At Tangyin, serious damage. was caused to the headquarters of the troops command: {ed by Gen, Shang, Chen—Domel, Shanghai, Dec. 16.
In one of the most spectacular air! raids of the current campaign, Japan-Jose naval aircraft on Tuesday after-Jnoon swooped down upon the aero-Jdromes of Nanchang, Kiangsi, and let {cose a hail of bombs, which destroy Jed 28 Chinese planes' on the ground, the headquarters of the Japanese China Sea Fleet claimed in a comfmuniqué Issued yesterday.
'A few minutes later. in a desperate Jocht with fourteen Chinese pursuit tolanes, Japanese raiders succeeded in shooting down seven other machines. the statement added.
The Japanese planes came within sight of Nanchang at 2.10 o'clock in. the afternoon. Sighting a number of jerounded huge Martin bombers at the JOld Acrodrome, the raiders destroyed these, 'Shortly afterwards, additional Chinese aircraft, grounded at the city's other airfields, were also demolished accurately' aimed bombs. In all. 140 Chinese machine the ground [were sighted in Nanchang, the fore reported 'Meanwhile, planes commanded by. Jsub-Lieut, Yoshito Komatsu engaged fourteen Chinese pursuit machines in Jo fierce' combat over Lake Poyang., Machine-guns wielded by Sub-Lieut. Komatsu and Warrant Ameer JAyukawa accounted for two Chinese machines each, One plane each was shot down by craft. manned by Hongkong has already been obliged to find accommodation for over 100, (000 refugees so that unless the fron-Wer was closed! between British and Chinese territory the city was, in danger of being totally swamped by further huge" swarms of people secking refuge.
Tt seems tint these oficial prow Jnouncements are being made to prevent anything in the nature of a panic taking hold of public opinion, How serious the position is really. regarded in ofeiat quarters can gauged by the fact that military Felnforcements ore already being rushed to Hongkong whilst a further @espatch of naval units to Chinese Waters is being considered—Trans-
Ocean,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.