Chungking, July 30.
REIGN military observers today told the United Press that they had reasons to expect the Japanese army to launch a new campaign along all fronts in September in the hope of overwhelming the Chinese defence lines and bringing the hostilities to an end.
The immediate objectives, they said, would be Sian in Shensi Province, Ichang in Hupeh and Nanning in Kwangsi, which form an arch extending across four provinces around the large area of South-west China still under the Nationalist Government's control, The forthcoming "Push", the foreign experts predicted would be comparable in'extent and in. the tenacity with which it would be sustained to the Japanese drives on Nanking, Hsuchow. and -Hankow. Tt is understood here that between six and the ten fresh divisions are to be brought from Japan to take part in the campaign, in connection with which the United Press was told "over 60 per cent. of all Japan's manpower in' China has been exhausted during the last two years."
The observers with whom the correspondent talked intimated that! [they considered the ultimate success for failure of Japan's China cam~ eign might depend on the result fof the drive which may be expected to begin within the "next month 'A.'spokesman of the National Military Council today denied the report. broadcast from on July 27° to the effect that Chinese troops were employing poison: United Press, Japanese Air Force (Over Chungking Chungking, July 25.
After leaving Chungking alone for 20 days, Japanese aeroplanes, number~ ing 27, again raided China's wartime capital yesterday evening. They were rected with heavy anti-airedatt fire, ud engaged in furious fights by Chiese. pursuit planes, "The main Iocalities bombed were the western suburbs of the city, and fan area near the north bank of the Chialing Rived. "Several bombs land-in the vicinity of the French Embassy, the nearest one only 100 yards distant.
Big Ares were started near, the Chialing River. Several bombs land-the waterfront with a lurid glare. Several bombs landed in the river Reuters temporary office in the western suburbs had a close escape from destruction when three bombs Janded within 20 yards. Luckily, however, they were duds, One of them fell in a tennis-court, and the other two In a narrow lone leading to a house occupied by correspondents of other foreign news agencies.
Plaster fell to the floor of the house, but there were no casualties among the correspondents.
"The alarm was sounded here at 6.30 pin, when the Japanese machines rossed. the Szechuen border in the Girection of Hochwan, as if to head for some other point than Chungking.
'Making a sharp turn to the north: west of Chungking, the raiders sud-Genly headed for' the city, fying overhead at 7.30 pam, and dropping bombs on the north" bank of the Chialing River.
They then turned south-eastwards, and bombed the western suburbs of the city-—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.