"Aug. 4.
In 27 bombing expeditions over a period of three months, 3,300 Japai ese naval planes have dropped 2,500 tons of bombs on important enemy cilfey. and objectives in Szechwan Province, including Chungking, Chengtt, Tzelluching and Laifeng, it was revealed by officers here toda; They recalled the first Japanese naval air raid on Nanking on August 14, 1097, the day following the commencement of Sino-Japanese hostility Tes in the Shanghai area, and pointced out that since May 18 of this year, 27 raids have been carried out by Japanese naval planes in Szechwan Province alone.
By virtue of these long-distance bombing expeditions, officers here declared, the Chiang Kai-shek ree wime has been weakened to a point Of exhaustion, Almost. all of the Chungking regime's military, ade ministrative and economic organs have een demolished, it was point ed out, According to Agures, the number of serial encounters with Chungking combat planes "has reached " 400. During these fights, it was added, 05 enemy. planes are' certain to have been shot down. Nine additional craft are believed to have been downed, it was, said.
it was added that during this three. month period, 57 grounded planes were destroyed by the Japanese air force. OMicials here said that the cities and towns in Szechwan Province which have been subjected to Japanese aerial bombardment in= elude Chungking,—_Chengtu,—_ Paishil Kiwangyangpa, Fengshan, Wenkiany. Tuipingssu, Vipin, Suining, Lingshan, Tungliang, Hochwan, - Pungehwan, Teeliuching, Fushun, Liuchang, chow, Kikiang, Nanehwan, Peichow, Wanhsien, Laifeng, Enshih, Wushan, Patung, Kweichow and Changyany all of which are of high military in sounded at 11am. and the all-clear at 220 pin. The nireratt never came within "the city limits. Chinese fighters circled above Chungking awaiting the raiders.
"At least five, out of a total of 90 Japanese planes, were shot down during yesterday's raid "a Chungking, it-Is oMeially claimed. Chinese fighters, it is stated, pursued the riders to western Hupeh. Six more were #0 badly damaged that they are unlikely to have reached their base. One Chinese pilot was slightly, jured, It Is added, Chinese reports declare two Japanese bombers crashed at Shihtzu, on the Hupeh border, another was brought down at 'Pengtu, below Chungking, the fourth was' Yost at Fuling, also below Chungking. the fifth machine was shot down in suburb north of "Lichuan, on the Hupeh side of the Szechuen-Hupeh border.
"The Chinese Air Force will celebra ate ils third anniversary. on August 14, when three years ago Chinese mdehines had their first. encounter with a formation of Japanese bombfers above Hangchow, in Chok Former base of the air force.
Japanese aircraft were shot down in this engagement, the Chinese claim.
According to an announcement, the Chinese Air Force during the past three years shot down 848 Japanese warplanes, killed 1,148 Japanese air~ men, sank 40 Japanese warships and damaged 154 warships, including two olreraft-carriers. Among Japanese casualties were one major-general of the air force, one vice-admiral and some of the best pilots, the an~ rouneement adds.
New Japanese Tactics The Japanete are apparently chang. log their factice in" their fonds Chungking. Previousy, their sireratt Ssed 10 fay a line o€ bombs. slong the river, highway or main streets for unload bombs within a small ares marked out as the target, but during Yesterday afternoon's "bombing. pate ticularly" within the. city itself, "the Sepanese "aircraft "were apparently flattering their bombs, dropping. few mien over wide aren with district, Out aiming ats particular target or
Touring the city after the bomb. ing, Reuters Correspondent found bombs often 100 or more yards apart from He watched ese extricate the body of a dead Of debris of a three-storey building. Damage done (0 property as 2 result of this summer's raids has been very extensive. According to 9 rough estimate, 20 per cent of Duildings has been destroyed, 80 er cent damaged, there being few. Duildings inside the ely. still intact
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