Tazang and Nanziang remained intact in Chinese hands yesterday in spite of Japanese attacks. Slight gains were made by them at a very high cost in their drive toward the two objectives, and up to yesterday afternoon Japanese forces were about 1,000 metres north of Tazang and 3,000 metres north-east of Nanziang, a Chinese spokesman reported at yesterday afternoon's press conference.
The Japanese drive was directed against the Tsoumatang Creek preparatory to an attack on the Tazang-Nanziang highway. It was launched by two columns with the main force advancing from the Liuhang-Tazang highway and the other southward from Chenchiahang. Having suffered heavy casualties, the two Japanese columns made a combined attack and gained a foothold at two or three Points on the north bank, the spokesman said.
The onslaught was supported by a very large number of aeroplanes. Literally the sky was black with Japanese planes which rained bombs in unison. It was estimated that the total number of Japanese planes thus taking part could not have been less than 100, the spokesman said. The sound of explosions was so deafening that the dropping of individual bombs could no longer be distinguished. Chinese casualties were hea' but the defenders were fighting every inch of ground and holding the enemy on the creek, he said.
Before the two Japanese columns combined to make a concerted attack, (Continued on page 6)
London, Oct. 25.
Britain and the United States intended to work together toward an international conclusion of the Far Eastern crisis at the Nine-Power Conference in Brussels, it was reported to-day. They will attempt to attain peace through mediation end will resist any excited demands for penal action, it was said. Both nations will oppose any action which might antagonise Japan; it was strongly intimated. The American delegation to the conference is due to arrive in Brussels on Friday.
Despite the apparent Belgian cabinet crisis it was hoped emergency arrangements would enable the nations invited to meet on time.
Apparently Signor Benito Mussolini wants Japan to attend the conference, reports from Rome indicated because it was significant that the "Popolo d'Italia," Il Duce's paper, urged Japan to attend "to keep an account of the intrigues of other powers," and pointed out that Japan could leave if events took an unfavourable turn. The invitation of Russia and Germany to attend the conference was regarded as almost certain by the newspaper, thus assuring Japan at least of Italian and German support and possibly Portuguese aid, it indicated.—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.