The Situation in China
I. Advance of the Imperial Army
Press Section, War Department
The Shantung Front
(From January 7th to February 4th)
THE Numada detachment which entered Yenchow, an important junction of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway started preparations for an attack on Tsining on January 7th. In cooperation with the Kuwada cavalry unit, this detachment launched a general attack on Tsining at 2 p.m., January 11th. Tsining, the terminus of the branch line which starts from Yenchow, was first guarded by a regiment of the Chinese 29th division which was, however, reinforced later with additional infantry and a battalion of artillery. At 2:10 p.m., January 11th, the Japanese troops occupied the walls of Tsining and entered the town at 3 o'clock. One hour later, the Japanese troops were pressing closely on the Chinese forces which fled from the walled town. The enemy fled to Kiasiang to the west and south. The Japanese kept up their pursuit, and on January 13th reached the stream on the western side of Tangchiakow.
Meanwhile, the Japanese force that was making a southern drive along the eastern side of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway occupied Mengyin at noon, January 4th. The following morning it took Lishan, 36 kilometres south-west of Mengyin. A Japanese military air force visited Hsuchow, the junction of the Lunghai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways at about 4 p.m., January 10th, and effectively bombed the station building, troop trains and military establishments there.
The Japanese Navy landed a marine force near Tsingtao early in the morning of January 10th without meeting any resistance. Toward evening, this force completely cleared Tsingtao of all remnants of Chinese troops, thus firmly securing control of the port town and habour of Tsingtao.
Following the landing of the marine force, Japanese troops also landed at Tsingtao at 9 a.m., January 12th, and immediately took positions. Peace and order in Tsingtao are thus being maintained by the Japanese forces.
The Nagano detachment which was making an eastward drive along the Shantung Railway left Tungantai, 20 kilometres south-east of Weihsien and entered Kiauchow on January 15th. Early the next morning the detachment started from Kiauchow braving a blizzard, and reached Liuting, a suburb of Tsingtao on the night of January 18th. The following morning the detachment left Liuting and entered Tsingtao at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, enthusiastically welcomed by Japanese and Chinese
residents. The Nagano detachment thus established connection between Tsinan and Tsingtao which are over 390 kilometres apart. Prior to the entry of this detachment, a peace maintenance commission was organized by leading Chinese citizens of Tsingtao on January 17th.
The Katayama and Oki detachments left Tsingtao on January 31st and February 1st respectively for north-eastern Shantung province to eliminate remnants of the Chinese troops.
During the afternoon of February 1st, the Oki detachment reached and occupied Laiyang. The unit kept up its northern drive. At noon, February 2nd, the detachment took Tsisiahsien and at 5 o'clock on the same afternoon entered Fushan, an important walled town, 12 kilometres south-west of Chefoo, where it disarmed the Chinese militia and captured a large quantity of arms and ammunition left by the enemy.
The Oki detachment left Fushan early in the morning of February 3rd for Chefoo. Its vanguard reached Chefoo at 1:50 a.m., February 3rd, and occupied the port town without meeting any resistance. At 4 o'clock the same morning, the main body of the Oki detachment made a triumphant entry into Chefoo. The detachment stormed the police headquarters and the Public Safety Bureau building where it disarmed about 800 of the Chinese militia. The detachment occupied all Chinese governmental machinery, including the custom-house.
Chefoo stands on the northern coast of Shantung peninsula, occupying the key position on Pechihli Bay and facing Dairen and Ryojun (Port Arthur). It has a population of about 200,000. Consulates are maintained there by Japan, Great Britain, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium and other foreign countries. Chefoo which is sometimes called Yentai is, next to Tsingtao, the most flourishing trading port in Shantung province. It is also important from the military viewpoint.
Taking advantage of the concentration of the Chinese air force at Loyang in Honan province, the Japanese military air force raided that city on January 30th. Over a dozen Chinese combat planes challenged the Japanese raiders, who, however, succeeded in bringing down 10 which were all of Soviet manufacture of the E-15 type. The Japanese raiders also inflicted heavy damage on hangars and 8 Chinese planes on the ground. The Japanese lost one plane in the engagement.
The Central China Front
Chinese troops were still active in the region south of the Yellow River and north of the Yangtze during the month of January.
Of the Imperial forces, the Iwanaka detachment together with a tank unit left Chuantsiao south of Chuhsien at 10 a.m., January 17th, for Hohsien on the Yangtze above Pukow, which the detachment occupied at 3:45 o'clock the same afternoon. Part of the detachment encountered some 200 Chinese troops armed with about 10 light machine-guns near Tushancho, 33 kilometres north of Hohsien, in the afternoon of January 18th and caused them to retreat toward the west after three hours of fighting.
The Yotsumomiya detachment engaged about 300 Chinese troops in the area north-west of Hungshanchu and Tsientungchu and defeated them. The enemy left about 50 dead.
The Kurabayashi detachment met about 300 Chinese troops armed with light machine-guns at Tzeleichiao, 58 kilometres north-east of Chuhsien on January 16th and put them to rout after a four-hour fight.
On January 14th, some 150 Chinese bandits attacked the Soyeda detachment at a point 4 kilometres south of Tzeleichiao, but were repulsed by the Japanese detachment, leaving 10 dead.
The Japanese officer patrols which went to reconnoitre the situation at Hohsien were attacked by about 500 "Big Sword" bandits led by Tsien Chentung at a point east of Wukiangchen at 11 a.m., January 14th. On receipt of this information, Japanese reinforcements dashed to the scene and repulsed the bandits who left about 100 dead. Casualties on the Japanese side were negligible.
At 7:30 a.m., January 20th, about 200 Chinese troops made a counter-attack on the Soyeda detachment at Taishanling, 20 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien, but were repulsed with heavy losses.
From December 20th, 1937, to January 22nd, 1938, remnants of Chinese troops in the region north of the Yangtze were so active that no less than 22 engagements took place between them and the Japanese forces, including the punitive engagements started by the Japanese. The Chinese troops which took part in those engagements exceeded an aggregated total of 10,000. The enemy left 1,368 dead while the Japanese casualties totalled 60. Arms captured by the Japanese included 1 heavy machine-gun, 6 light machine-guns, 2 trench-mortars and 69 rifles.
At about 5:30 a.m., January 26th, some 400 Chinese troops armed with trench-mortars made a counter attack on the Japanese force at Chulungchiao, 15 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien, but were repulsed, leaving 80 dead.
At 8 a.m., the same day, about 800 Chinese troops counter-attacked the Japanese force at Taliuchen, 25 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien, but were repelled by the Japanese within two hours. The enemy left about 150 dead. The Japanese casualties in both engagements were 3 killed and 10 wounded. These Chinese troops belonged to the 138th division although they wore plain-clothes.
The Soyeda detachment which was pushing north along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway from Pukow occupied Mingkuang. On the afternoon of January 20th, the detachment attacked about 200 Chinese on the left bank of the Chi River, opposite Mingkuang. On January 25th, the detachment crossed the river in face of the enemy. At 2:30 o'clock the same afternoon, the detachment occupied Liangchiakang and resumed its northern drive.
The left wing of the Japanese force in this region on January 29th launched an attack on 3,000 Chinese soldiers who had taken up positions from Tahanchuang to Wangshan, and toward evening reached a point south of Tahanchuang and Jantengszu. In the engagement, the enemy lost about 1,000 men.
The centre of the Japanese force defeated about 2,000 Chinese troops which had established positions near Chiho station, and at 5:30 o'clock the same afternoon reached Wutien, 2 kilometres north-west of Chiho station, where it engaged fresh Chinese troops. The enemy left
about 800 dead, while the Japanese captured 16 machine-guns, 36 rifles and 300 hand-grenades.
The right wing of the Japanese force kept up its offensive on January 30th and defeated the Chinese troops near Jantengszu about noon, the same day. Toward evening, it advanced to Siweichuang, 2 kilometres north-west of Jantengszu and extended operations in a north-western direction. The Chinese troops confronting the Japanese in this sector totalled about 4,000. Dislodging the Chinese troops from their positions, the Japanese then reached a line connecting the Hsiaosui River (15 kilometres north-west of Mingkuang) and Siweichuang. The Chinese 172nd division confronted the Japanese in this sector.
The centre of the Japanese force was now extended from Panwutien to the highway to Fengyang via Chiho station. Part of the Japanese troops in this sector pushed west from Sanhochu (13 kilometres west of Chiho station) and occupied the line connecting Tsungchiapu (11 kilometres north-west of Chiho station), Sihungshan (4 kilometres north of Tsungchiapu) and an elevation west of Huanglienpa, after liquidating about 3,000 Chinese troops. The Japanese also routed some 700 enemy soldiers which had been advancing east in an area west of Chiho station. In the engagements the Chinese left about 700 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled about 40.
The Japanese troops which had been operating on the left sector passed through Yuankuochu (7 kilometres east of Changkuchu) at noon, January 29th, and kept up their northern drive. At 1 p.m., January 30th, they engaged at least 1,000 Chinese soldiers which had been marching southward in an area north of Tafanchia (5 kilometres north-west of Yunghsingchu) and drove them away. Toward evening, the Japanese troops occupied the line between Sanchihlipu (13 kilometres south-east of Tingyuan) and Laojenchang. About 500 Chinese troops guarded Laojenchang, but were routed, leaving about 30 dead.
The Soyeda detachment which had been pushing north along the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway occupied Lihwaikwan, a key position on the railway at 10 a.m., February 1st.
The Tashiro and Kurabayashi detachments which had been pursuing the enemy from Chiho station inflicted heavy losses on the retreating Chinese in cooperation with the Japanese air force. At 4 p.m., the same day, these detachments advanced near Kuokiangshan (6 kilometres south-east of Kuokiangchan), thus establishing a position favourable for an attack on Fengyang. Meanwhile the extreme left wing of the Japanese troops attacked Tingyuan.
In cooperation with the ground forces which gave fierce chase to the retreating Chinese troops, Japanese military air units were active from early in the morning of February 1st, inflicting heavy punishment on the enemy by showering them with bombs and machine-gun fire. The combined attacks from both the ground and air utterly demoralized the Chinese troops.
On February 2nd, part of the Tashiro and Kurabayashi detachments together with the Inakawa tank unit started an onslaught on Fengyang from Nanerhpu. At 11 a.m., the same day the detachments succeeded in
reducing Fengyang and at 12:30 o'clock occupied Pengpu on the Hwai River, halfway between Hsuchow, the junction of the Lunghai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways and Pukow, southern terminus of the latter line.
The Japanese military air force, in cooperation with the ground forces which had been battering Fengyang and Pengpu, attacked the Chinese positions on February 2nd, bombing and showering machine-gun fire on the retreating enemy. All planes returned to their base safely.
The Morosumi detachment which formed the left wing of the Japanese force and which had been attacking Tingyuan succeeded in reducing it at 9 a.m., February 2nd. The detachment followed up its victory by pursuing the enemy northward.
The Japanese troops successfully cleared the region south of the Hwai River of all Chinese troops by taking Sunchiaying on the right bank of the Hwai River (about 10 kilometres west of Pengpu) and Shangyao (about 40 kilometres south-west of Pengpu) on February 3rd.
Another Japanese detachment which occupied Yangchow, the entrance of the Grand Canal last December, started operations to eliminate Chinese troops from the regions north and north-west of Yangchow as well as near Yicheng.
II. Forces of the Imperial Navy in Action
Publicity Bureau, Navy Department
(From January 3rd to February 6th)
THE Japanese fleet in China waters is maintaining a vigilant watch on all enemy actions. When Chinese troops perpetrated acts of vandalism against Japanese interests in Shantung and when Chinese planned to use Hainan Island as a base of operation, the Japanese fleet took prompt action.
Occupation of Tsingtao
The Imperial Navy has hitherto maintained a sympathetic attitude toward the Chinese in Shantung, which, however, has not been reciprocated by the Chinese troops. The latter not only strengthened their defence works in Shantung province, but carried out systematic vandalism against Japanese interests in the province, looting and destroying Japanese establishments at Tsingtao, Tsinan and other places. Unrest naturally prevailed among the citizens of Tsingtao who left the port town daily in increasingly large numbers. The Japanese fleet landed a marine force at Tsingtao early in the morning of January 10th in face of the enemy.
Meanwhile, several Japanese naval planes in cooperation with the marine force flew over Tsingtao and dropped hand bills, advising the Chinese authorities and troops to surrender peacefully. In pursuance of this advice, the enemy hoisted the white flag at the top of "Signal Hill" in Tsingtao. Thus the Japanese marine force occupied Tsingtao without meeting stiff opposition or sustaining any damage.
On January 11th, the Japanese marine force occupied the source of the water supply of Tsingtao at Litsun and the airfield at Tsangkow. The Japanese fleet immediately started operations for sweeping mines and removing booms in the outer and inner harbours of Tsingtao. Part of the waterway through the Great Harbour was already reopened by removing parts of the three Chinese gunboats Chuyu, Tungan, and Tinghai, each 300 tons, and six Chinese merchant-vessels of 3,000 tons each which were scuttled and sunk by the Chinese authorities to block the entrance to the Great Harbour of Tsingtao.
Peace and order are returning to Tsingtao, while Chinese citizens who fled are returning to the port town. Popular confidence is being restored with the firm control over the situation which is being maintained by the Imperial forces.
Occupation of Chefoo
Several Japanese warships entered Chefoo early in the morning of
February 3rd, and at 9:30 o'clock the same morning a marine force was landed without meeting any resistance. No Chinese soldier was to be seen in Chefoo and the surrounding district. Without firing a single shot and without losing a single sailor, the marine force occupied the city. At noon, the same day, the marine force occupied the forts on West Hill and East Hill which dominate Chefoo.
In cooperation with the Japanese military force which had reached Chefoo previously, the marine force undertook maintenance of peace and order in the trading port, occupying all Chinese governmental machinery, including the custom-house, the headquarters of the Chinese garrison and the Chinese police force.
Destruction of Enemy Positions at Yulin
The Japanese naval unit patrolling South China waters gave attention for some time to Yulin Port in the southern part of Hainan Island, which the unit suspected was being used by Chinese junks as base of smuggling operations. At 8:30 o'clock in the morning of January 19th, a Japanese warship entered Yulin Port where, as the result of aerial reconnaissance, it was learned that a large number of Chinese junks were at anchor. The warship sent an inspection party to the shore in a vedette-boat and a cutter. While the two boats were proceeding toward the shore, they were fired on by Chinese troops hidden in bushes with machine-guns and rifles, whereupon they returned the fire. The Japanese warship also shelled the Chinese machine-gun emplacements, destroying the Chinese positions and putting the Chinese troops to rout. In the engagement, three members of the inspection party were slightly injured. As the result of the visit to the Port, the Japanese warship ascertained that forts were under construction round Yulin Port.
The Japanese Naval Air Force in China
During the period from January 3rd to February 7th, the Japanese Naval Air Force in China devoted particular attention to the Canton-Hankow Railway, over which the Chinese authorities had been making frantic efforts to transport to the interior the arms and ammunition imported through Hongkong. Chinese lines of communication throughout Kwantung province were successfully bombed.
Additionally, in North China Japanese naval planes participated in the reduction of Tsingtao and visited and bombed points along the Lunghai, Tientsin-Pukow and Shantung Railways including Haichow and Hsuchow. In central China naval air units visited Hankow and Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi province, in particular, where they bombed and destroyed enemy planes and air fields and took part successfully in several aerial engagements.