LARGE-SCALE withdrawal Chungking, Aug. 1. of Japanese troops from central China, and especially from alleged by the Chinese military ference. the Yangtze Valley region, was spokesman at today's press' con-
The spokesman stated that the present Japanese offensive in South-west Honan, to the west of the Peiping-Hankow Railway, was "merely a move covering up the withdrawal," which, he stated, was probably connected with the tense European situa!
Two divisions of Japanese troops, he went on, stationed in the Hankow area, had already been withdrawn, and had been transported down river, Bombing Near Hongkong Heavy artillery units, he said, had Jentrained at Pukow, heading north Hongkong, July 31 ward along the Tientsin-Pukow Rail Five Japanese planes carried out tway for Manchuria. heavy aerial bombardment in the "The movements of the infantry vicinity of Shumehun, on the border units were not clear; they were of Kowloon Leased Territory, between either proceeding northwards, or they 9 and 935 this morning. were heading for south China, prob-The explosion of bombs war audi-ably for Hainan Island. ble in British territory.
The spokesman voiced his convic-foreigner, however, telephoned tion "that whether the troops were Reuter from the border that the raid heading for Manchuria or for Hainan was well within Chinese. territory, Island, the recent movements of presumably on. the Canton-Kowloon Japanese forces "have international significance."
Japanese Bomb Shumehun He added that the Japanese were busily constructing a submarine base Hongkong, July 31, at the southern tip of Hainan Island.
Five Japanese planes. heavily "Reuter. bombed the town of Shumchun, near Kowloon, at 9 am, and againat 11 Only Redisteibution am, today, according to reports from Shanghai, Aug. 2. the Hongkong border police station.
There was no confirmation "The second bombing was apparent-Shanghai yesterday of the reported concentrated on the town's market withdrawal of Japanese troops from place. The detonations were clearly Jcentral China. Independent sources, audible in the British Leased Terri-ha mitted tats sas: probable that there had been a number of replace-'Meanwhile, Chinese tepdrté' told of ments, first line Japanese divisions increasing Japanese bombardments in having been withdrawn from the the Chungshan District, [Honan front in favour of second.
'Seven Japanese gunboats and 30 aval Inunebes have been concen In addition, news had been received trated off Kongmoon, in this sector, fu 'Shanghai' circles of considerable Chinese reports claimed. withdrawals of Japanese heavy artil-Tt was believed here that the Tery, probably towards north China.
Japanese objective was to severe the But no particular military significance routes from Hongkong, via was attached to these moves, if true, Chungshan, which at since the guerilla fighting in. north the British Colony its and central China considerably defereased the need for heavy artillery.
seems probable, however, that divisions' have been re-Machialing Recaptured moved from the central China front Jand have been replaced by new Chungking, Aus. 1. divisions which have yet, to make After a bitter two hour engagement their name in actual warfare, This in which the Japanese lost more than would indicate no change in Japan Wo men, the Chinese forces recap-fosse policy in the China war, It wat (ured Machialing, central Hupeh, near believed, but was merely a recom the Yunglung River, Chinese reports nized military expedient, claimed. today.
Meanwhile, the Japanese detached Honan Fighting ment which' was driving westward Chungklig, July 31. from Hsinyang met. "disastrous. reverses" and was retiring in disorder, Chinese military communiques isthe Chinese military reports confine sued last night claimed that all three wed, columns of Japanese forces advanc-"The Japaneve forces which have {ing westward in southern Honan had been aitaeking the Chinese positions been held up by Chinese counter-at Hsftang, Shakang and Wangmiao attacks. from Yochow since last July 25, have 'A. flying Chinese detachment was been definitely checked, the Chinese said to have swooped down upon the reports. asserted first Japanese column as it was In southern Shansi, east of Hsiahvaneing from Mingkang, sion city, severe engagement was north of Hsingyang. The Japanese 'Under' way with the Chinese forces were said to have. been intercepted making "definite progress," along the at Wangkang, 10 miles west of Mini southern outskirts of the town, the kang.
Chinese reports claimed—United The second Japanese column, which Press, attempted to drive west from San Chinese Attack in Mtupeh Kewanmiao, two stations below Mins.
Kang on the Pinghan railway, was Chungking, Aug. 3. said to have had both flanks subjected Chinese siold dispatches describe fo relentless Chinese attacks in the the military situation as follows:—vicinity of Hwangkong. The Japan-"The Chinese forees in central Hupeh ese, said the communique, beat a are attacking Chienkang, on the hasty retreat toward the east. south-west bank of the Han River.
'The third Japanese column, advanc~ In southern Hupeh, the Chinese ing from Hsingyang toward' Tungpo, forces in the Tabung Mountains are encountered stiff resistance at points harassing a Japanese column which west of Hsingyang and severe fighting has reached a point to the south of is now in progress in the Huaihotien Tungpeh, near the Honan-Hupeh the communique said. border.
Tu south-east Shansi, the Japanese forces are concentrating at. Chung hin the next few days are pre chen, following heavy rains, which leted by Chinese military leaders have' brought to a standstill operations here. in the Talhung Mountains—Reuter, Chinese Win In Shansi Many Battles In July Meanwhile, Chinese forces in southern Shansi are claimed to have Chungking, Aug. 1 "definitely gained the upper hand."
A total of 365 engagements was The turning point was said 10 have fought on all fronts for the second been the reoccupation of Yangcheng alt of July, states a Chinese military snd Tsinshui by Chinese forces last Jeommuniqué issued here last night week. Japanese lines of communica-Details of the engagements said 10 tion along highways in that area have been fought were: have been cut by Chinese guerillas, Engugemente on all fronte—36, according to Chinese reports apanese kilt in aetion= 15,008 Number of rifles captureda.005 A strong column of 2,000 Japanese troops last week attacked in. the Hsishihkwan and Tsincheng sectors, the Chinese reports said. The Japan: ese were said to have been equipped with extremely heavy guns, but Chie hose reports claimed they had been tunable to break through the Chinese ines ina battle that lasted almost 24 hours, The figures given for the number fof aeroplanes Shot-down are said to be not ive of those alleyed to Reports from Hopei last night con firmed the recapture of Autze, rough mid-way between Tientsin and Peiping south of the Peipiag-Tientsin Railway. Chinese troops were sai to have driven the Japanese garrison out of the town.—United Press tung and Kiangste wars jin any nther front. The mumber 43
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