Chungking, Feb. 24.
Six Japanese bombers were shot down yesterday in another acria! battle above Lanchow, according. to fan announcement by the Chinese Air Force Headquarters. Thirty-eight 'Japanese bombers, states the Chinese Announcement, took off yesterday morning in three groups from Yun-hen, in southern Shansi, for' Kansu.
Afier dropping bombs on Pinghan, the first and. second. groups, accord: ing to the report, continued ying in a westerly direction, towards Lan-Jchow, but returned eastward when they ' were intercepted. by Chinese pursuit planes, 'The third group, comprising 20 'Japanese bombers, Teached Lanchow shortly after noon, ~The raiders were immediately surrounded on all sides by Chinese pursuit planes, states the Chinese Air' Fore Headquarters.
The Chinese planes engaged the 'Japanese bombers ina furious aerial battle the announcement went on to describe. Shortly afterwards, one Japanese bomber crashed In flames behind Wuchuan "Hil, when the petrol tank was hit, the Chinese Air Force Headquarters' claim.
The other Japanese planes, the a nouncement continued, after drop Bombs on the southern and also the eastern suburbs of Lanchow, returned eastward.
Chinese pursuit "planes gave chase they reached Tingsi, it is stated. So far as itis known,' the Chinese Ai Force Headquarters claim, six Japanese bombers have been "shot down—one at Wuchuan Hill, two at Tooho, and three at Tings, Although 200 houses were demolished as a result" of "Japanese bombing, itis stated, the casualties {olalled only 30—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.