Other naval aeroplanes, meanwhile, bombed the Paiyun aerodrome, in Kwangtung, damaging hangars and the runway.
On Thursday, the gaya! spokesman said, raids were carried out on freight car concentration in Hsuchow; troop; massed at Pi-hsien, north of tHe Lunghai Railway; Chinese positi at Taolochen, on the coast of Shantung; and on aerodromes at Lungyen, Meihsien and Tunghwa, in Kwangtung and Fukien, Also bombed were the buildings of the Military Academy and torpedo-boat sheds at Whampoa.
In addition to the crews of the two planes which failed to return to their bases, the naval spokesman said last night, "four or five" other airmen returned with wounds. Of this number, he said, two men were wounded, very severely.
Explaining the reason for the heavy losses sustained by the Chinese air force, the spokesman ascribed it to the slowness of the Soviet-made 1-15 machines.
He said he did not believe Japanese Army aircraft had taken part in the spectacular raid.
Chinese "Splash" Account Hankow, Apr. 30.
Accounts of yesterday's great aerial battle above Hankow are splashed in all the Chinese papers this morning. Especial prominence is given to pictures of wreckage of Japanese machines and bodies of Japanese pilots.
The Chinese authorities now claim that 21 Japanese planes were shot down, but it is stated that so far only 17 of these have been definitely located.
The Chinese authorities have orga zed a party of foreign pressman to v it the wreckage of Japanese es around Hankow. Motion pics of yesterday's aerial compa! will be shown at local cinema houses en May 5, together with the Chinese film of the Taierchwang battle—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.