Japanese Army aeroplanes shot down 24 Chinese planes in raids on Siangyang and Sian on March 6, a communique issued by the heat quarters of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in Central China stated yesterday.
Army: operations were reviewed by the communique as follows:
"In Shansi Province Japanese troops are now engaged in mopping-up operations against the Chinese forces along the Yellow River.
"A Japanese flying column on March 8 captured 100 locomotives and 400 freight cars between Puchow and a point on the left bank of the river just opposite Tungkwan.
he Japanese unit which occupied Hotsin is now pursuing the Chinese in the direction of Siangning and Chihsien to the north.
"The station at Tungkwan has been subjected to, heavy shelling and several trains have been destroyed there.
"As for aerial activities, Japanese air squadrons on March 8 carried out raids on Siangyang and Sian and shot down 24 Chinese planes. The Japanese planes suffered no loss.
"Official reports have not yet been received at the headquarters from other fronts."
The three defendants who escaped the death penalty all drew heavy prison terms, Prof. Pletnev was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment while M, Rakovsky. drew twenty years and M. Bessonov fifteen years.
Announcement of the verdict ended another of the sensational trials which have sent. scores of former high Soviet officials to their death for alleged crimes against the Stalin regime. The present trial included testimony alleging that the defendants conspired with foreign Powers, including Britain, Germany - and Japan, to overthrow the Communist regime in the USSR. and re-establish capitalism.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.