Attacked from the air by Japanese naval machines, one Chinese mine-layer operating on the Yangtze above the Matungchen boom was forced aground on Thursday, a Japanese China Seas Fleet communique issued at noon yesterday claimed, This was the second vessel of its kind to be disabled by aerial attack in two days.
In addition to the minelayer, a large junk, apparently engaged in similar activities, was also disabled, while Chinese positions on both banks of the river were bombed and machine-gunned. These operations were carried out in spite of low clouds and occasional rain, the cemmunique pointed out.
Raids against the powder factory at Foochow and the naval arsenal at Mamoi, outside the Fukien capital. also featured the operations of the naval air force on Thursday Seven buildings of the powder factory and 15 structures at the Mamoi arsenal were hit and badly damaged, the communique said.
Swatow again received attention from Japanese raiders who attacked the yards of the station, demolishing tracks, freight cars and locomotive Germany Recognizes Swiss Neutrality Chinese machine-gun positions above a sugar refinery near Canton were also bombed, the announcement added.
Berlin, June 24
Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, to-day announced Germany's formal recognition of Swiss Neutrality, in a Note addressed to the Swiss Government.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.