Japanese Claim China's First-line Air Defence Wiped Out; Naval Planes Active Shanghai, July 6.
Mrstaline air defence has been ped out," in. the belief of Japanese naval' authorities in Shanghai, "The remaining Chinese combat planes on first-line duty could be Counted on the fingers of two hands,"
Japanese naval spokesman declare? yesterday, 'We wiped out the majority wh shot down 45 machines yesterday." he added, referring to the raid on Nanchang' during which $4 Chinese craft, mine of them grounded, were Falmed to have been destroyed.
The spokesman admitted, however, thata second-line defence group con-isting of between 20 to 30 pursuit Craft probably still existed. He said he believed it was based on Hankow 'Chinese bomber squadrons, ho ever, still remained In large numbers, the spokesman said, 'When Nanchang way raided Monday the majority of Chinese heavy' craft had apparently been evacuated, the spokesman added.
ity Chinese combat planes, comprising Soviet-built 1-15 biplanes, 1-18 Mmonoplanes, American Curtiss-Hawks, Type It, and British Gloster Gladiators," took to the air when the Japanese raiders attacked.
Six grounded machines at the new aerodrome and three at the old feld Were destroyed, Three of the former tind two among the latter caught on fire.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.