Hongkong, Jan. 18, In view of the extensive damage in north Kuangtung owing to the recent Aghting between Chinese and Japanese troops, Gen, Li Han-yun, Chairman of the Kuangtung Provincial Govern ment and. concurrently commander of the 35th Army Corps has sent an appeal to the Chinese residents here {contribute funds for the relief of refugees and vielims in the war Numerous towns and villages along the" Canton-Hankow Railway" and North River are in ruins as a result of shelling and bombing by Japanese guns and planes in their drive north ward from Kuntien on Christmas Eve and ended in the capture of Yung-yuan, Now the Japanese troops ore yeliring southward' towards Canton after being pressed back by Chinese' forces.
'The original Japanese motive was to occupy Shaokwan and Nanhsiung which would be used as bases for another attack on Changsha from the: south. 'Then another Japanese column' was to move down from the north on the same railway, Maps and docu. ments found on the bodies of ead Japanese officers pointed to Shao-Jawan "and Nanhsiung as the objectives of the drive.
Why the Japanese failed to push farther northward is not known, although Chinese newspapers here in lose touch with Mr. Wang Ching wel pointed out that the Japanese did not want to occupy more towns but to wear down more of Gen. Chiang, Kal-shek's troops, The Canton army spokesman kept on denying" any Japanese reverses but admitted that Nippon detachments returned to their base after achieving their purpose.
Concern is felt by local residents over the warning by the authorities that there should be no gossip which may prove useful to Germany. The: warning in English, Chinese and. Indian read, "Do not talk about the Navy, Army or "Air Fores. Your enemy has ears." This warning was Fepeated over the local broadcast station, The Post Ome is doing very) cient censorship work over all outgoing and incoming malls and there passing through the Colony. The purpose is to watch any possible communication of the enemy with
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.