Chengtu Bombed Twice in 24 Hours; 84 Machines Participate in Raids; Two Brought Down Chungking, Nov. 5. 'APANESE bombers have raided Chengtu twice within the last 24 hours. Today about 30 warplanes attacked the city, their visit following 1 ids yesterday in which 54 aircraft are reported to have taken part.
An official announcement, issued by the Chinese air defence headquarters here, describing the raid yesterday, claims that at least two of the Japanese bombers were shot down in an aerial battle over Chengtu.
A group of'Japanese aircraft, it Is earned, took off from Hankow eading westward towards Szechuen. Simultaneously, two Japanese squad-yont are said to have left their vase in Shansi for Szechuen. Seven Japanese Attack Secret Airfields twen bombers, which had _aproached from the east, are reported fo have returned down river after bombing "Kweichow (Fengisich), a town in East Szechuen close 10 the Hupeh' border. At the "same. time, 54 Japanese bombers in two groups fof 27 each entered North-East Szechuen from Shansi.
The raiders, the report declares, headed straight for Chengtu where Chinese pursuit machines immediately took oft to await them, 'A severe aerial battle is then so to have been fought north of Chengtu, "Afler dropping bombs on. the uiskirts of the ety, the Japanese "plane. escaped ina southerly direc tion before turning north-eastward ack to their base in Shansi.
The Chinese authorities claim that several Japanese bombers were shot down, Two of them have already een Jocated, one machine at Jen shou and another at Lochih. Another Chinese dispatch from Chengtu states that three Japanese. alreratt were shot down, two machines at Jenshou and the third plane at Shehbung.
No alarm was sounded in Chung king though observation posts in different parts of Szechuen Kept the city constantly informed of the movements fof the raiders, Eighteen Japanese aeroplanes terday afternoon bombed the outskirts of Liuchow, a highway town in Kwangsi, says 'a report reaching here. "Six Japanese aircraft are re~ ported yesterday at-noon to have re= eonnoltved over many towns South Kiangsi, They are said to have bombed -Kwangehang, Kishul and Nanchen before veluming to their vase in North Kiangsi, Attacked By Chines Planes First' warning of today's raid Chengtu was given about 9.30 am. fund the final emergency signal went about 10.45. A. quarter-of-an-hour Tater Japanese planes app Thigh over the city. were attacked by Chinese pursuit planes and driven off to the. south, Maleetear" was sounded in Chengtu at 12.15,
a northerly direction, and dropped he Faiding planes today come from only a few bombs, causing very little Gamage. The first bombs were drop~ ped near the city's North Airfield. causing a few casualties. Several bombs were also dropped on the South: Airfleld,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.