Feb, 13.
Japanese Amy aircraft shot down 48 Chinese planes and destroyed 20 more on the ground in a raid yes. terday' on Lanchow, "Red route" headquarters in south-eastern Kansu on the Yellow River, a Japanese Army communique claimed. last fright, One of the biggest Chinese if bases is in the town.
All the Japanese planes returned {to their bases safely, the commun que said.
Two large squadrons of crack! Army planes took off for Lanchow in clear but bitterly cold weather. JOne squadron flying in advance of the atier showered heavy bombs on military establishments and arllery positions in and around the city] before Chinese planes had time to take off for combat.
Following closely after the first squadron the second unit concentrat-fed its missiles on about 40. planes Jat the aerodrome and maneuvered battle 20 others which took to the air. 'The majority of the planes fon the' ground were destroyed, the communique claimed.
"Eleven "planes were shot down by the second Japanese squadron. A plane piloted by Lieut. Shimizu Jdowne' four Chinese craft although was. surrounded by eight attackers, and hit by 52 machine-gun bullets.
Bight Japanese planes were hit by bullets but none were shot down, the communique asserted, 'A. Japanese sergeant and a news-[paper man were wounded, Some of the raiders flew over Sian, capital of Shensi, and Paoki fon the western border of Shensi. No Chinese planes were seen there—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.