THE SITUATION IN CHINA
I. —ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—
Press Section, War Department
Japanese forces are converging on Hankow from the north, south and east. Their pincer movement is being steadily tightened. The Chinese military authorities have established strong defence works at every vantage point, but the Japanese are taking fort after fort in rapid succession.
THE FRONT NORTH OF THE YANGTZE
From Hwangmei and Chienshan to Kwangtsi
The Japanese garrison at Hwangmei was attacked by about 600 Chinese soldiers armed with mountain-guns and trench-mortars on August 14th, who, however, were repulsed leaving about 100 dead in addition to 12 taken prisoner. The Japanese capture included 8 machine-guns of Czechoslovakian make. The Japanese casualties totalled only 4.
The Japanese garrison at Wukialu, about 20 kilometres west of Chienshan, was attacked ineffectively by some 300 Chinese soldiers on the night of August 16th.
The Japanese garrison at Liangtingho, about 20 kilometres north of Hwangmei, repulsed the 700 Chinese soldiers who launched an attack at 4:30 a.m., August 20th. The enemy left about 200 dead. Some 100 Chinese regulars attacked Poliangting, about 8 kilometres southwest of Liangtingho, at 2:40 a.m., August 20th, but the Japanese garrison drove them away.
On August 27th, the Japanese detachment at Hwangmei dislodged the Chinese troops from Hsiungyunshan and Paitzeshan, about 8 kilometres northwest of Hwangmei, and reached the line between Paiyangling and Meishihling.
On the evening of August 30th, the Sano, Wakamatsu, Nakano, Hasegawa, Fujimura and Koga detachments advanced to the line connecting Howshanpu, Hungkialing and Fengshuling and at the following dawn started a general attack on the enemy near Tahopu. The Japanese detachments at Howshanpu and Hungkialing broke through the enemy positions at Poshankow and reached Tahopu at 3 p.m. The Japanese left column started operations from the line extending north and south from Fengshuling and dislodged the enemy from Sifosze at 5 p.m.
The Japanese forces reached the line extending north and south from Shwangcheng and Chienkialu, south of Shwangcheng, at 5 p.m., September 1st. The following day, they broke through the line connecting Howhuchai,
Ejenchai and Maolichai. They occupied Kinshansze and Tafushan on the afternoon of September 4th.
At dawn, September 5th, the Japanese forces advanced from the line between Wufengshan and Tafushan and took Patieh at noon. Giving running fight to the retreating enemy, the Japanese forces reached the line extending north and south from Maolichai at 2 p.m., capturing 4 field-guns and 600 rounds of ammunition.
The enemy attempted to resist the Japanese onslaught along the line connecting Hengkangshan, Efengshan and Shihmenshan, but was pressed back by the Japanese, who took all the key points east of Kwangtsi on the afternoon of September 6th. Kwangtsi fell into Japanese hands at 3 p.m., the same day.
Kwangtsi is an important town on the shortest highway from Anhwei Province to Hankow. Taking advantage of the mountainous topography between Hwangmei and Kwangtsi, the Chinese military authorities had established numerous defence works between the two towns, which were guarded by picked troops under General Li Pin-hsien, but the Japanese onslaught proved irresistible.
From Luchow (Hofei) to Liuan and Kushih
The Japanese vanguard which had been standing by at Luchow (Hofei) at the eastern base of the Tapieh mountain range and on the Hwainan Railway left Luchow on its western drive in extremely hot weather which registered 130 degrees, Fahrenheit on August 22nd. The vanguard dislodged about 80 Chinese soldiers from Kwanting shortly after 1 p.m., August 23rd, when it captured a Chinese staff-officer, a major. At 7 p.m., it reached Kinkiao.
On August 25th, the Japanese force reached Erhshihwulipu. Part of the force was detailed to Tungerhshihlipu to drive away about 200 Chinese soldiers. On August 27th, the Japanese advanced to a point roughly 8 kilometres east of Liuan, when an attack was started on the eastern Chinese positions of Liuan. The south gate of Liuan was occupied at 4 p.m., August 28th. The walled town was completely occupied at 10 p.m., the same day. The Chinese troops which defended Liuan consisted of the 14th, 16th, 104th and 204th divisions. They left about 1,000 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 5 killed and 30 injured.
The Ota, Nishirokujo, Fukuei and Mori detachments, after reducing Liuan crossed the Pi river and at 9 p.m., August 30th reached Hsukiatsi, about 14 kilometres northwest of Liuan. At 7:30 p.m., the following day, the Japanese force reached Hungkiatsi without encountering any hostile force on the way.
On September 1st, the Japanese force advanced to Wulungmiao. The weather was alternately fine and cloudy. The thermometer registered 108 degrees, Fahrenheit, in the sun and 89.7 degrees in the shade.
The following day, the Japanese force started from Wulungmiao for Likiatsi. Roads were turned into veritable quagmires by rains, so that the Japanese baggage corps experienced great difficulty in advancing. The Japanese detachment which reached Likiatsi crossed the Shih River
at a point south of Shihfotien on the night of September 3rd. The next afternoon, Nantakiao, 8 kilometres south of Kushih, was attacked. It was reduced at 5:30 p.m.
On September 5th, a general attack was launched on Kushih. A salient of the walls of Kushih was occupied on the night of September 6th. The walled town was completely occupied on the morning of September 7th. Kushih is a strategically important town in the valley of the Shih at the northern base of the Tapieh mountain range.
From Shucheng to Shangcheng
The Morozumi, Satomi, Soyeda and Kurabayashi detachments which pushed westward from the line between Taokichen and Shucheng south of Luchow reached Chunshukang district on the veening [sic] of August 26th. These detachments crossed the Pi River near Sukiapu on the evening of August 28th. Part of the Japanese force was detailed to attack the northern extremity of the heights north of Hwoshan. Covered by artillery, the Japanese force took the north gate of Hwoshan shortly after 8 p.m., August 29th, after over 20 hours of severe fighting. The same night, the Japanese completely occupied Hwoshan. The enemy left about 300 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled 11 killed and 40 wounded. Another part of the Japanese force routed the Chinese troops which had been retreating from Liuan, and occupied Nanyomiao, about 20 kilometres west of Liuan, on August 29th and Tushanchen on August 30th.
All the Japanese troops crossed the Pi River in their westward push on August 29th and 30th. The detachment which advanced along the highway from Hanpatu to Taolimiao via Nanyomiao surrounded the Chinese troops at Taolimiao on the morning of August 31st and took the Chinese first defence line on the evening of September 1st. The enemy totalled about 2,000 men belonging to the 114th division. They retreated leaving about 260 dead. The Japanese losses were 5 killed and 40 wounded. Pursuing the retreating enemy, the Japanese forces reached the area east of Yehkiatsi at 3 p.m., September 1st and started an attack on the 1,000 Chinese soldiers who had taken up positions there.
All the roads to Yehkiatsi had been deliberately destroyed by the Chinese troops, so that no vehicle could be moved along them without repairing the destroyed spots.
At 5 p.m., September 2nd, the Japanese troops captured Yehkiatsi. The enemy retreated to the west of the Shih River, with their numerical strength materially weakened.
Part of the Japanese force reached Kaishunkai on the Shih River at 2 p.m., September 2nd. Taking advantage of the twilight, the Japanese troops crossed the river. The following evening, the Japanese first line extended from Chungtsitze to Shihmemkow via Fukinshan (about 4 kilometres southwest of Yehkiatsi). The enemy was about 2,000 strong, belonging to the Chinese 36th and 114th Divisions.
On the morning of September 4th, the Japanese right wing penetrated deep into the enemy positions. The same evening, the Japanese first line extended from Hwachwangchiao, about 2 kilometres west of Yehkiatsi,
to a height northwest of Liushutien via Changkialu. Stiff resistance was offered by the enemy on September 5th. A Chinese prisoner of war stated that the Chinese 36th division reached Fukinshan as reinforcements. A Japanese detachment reached Shuihokiachung on the evening of September 5th via Hungshihchiao for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of Chinese troops.
The war situation developed favourably from the morning of September 6th. That evening, the Soyeda detachment made a fierce attack on Fukinshan. The Satomi unit which formed the Japanese right wing successfully stormed Shunhotien at 6 p.m., swooping down from the north by a roundabout way. The enemy strength was later ascertained to be about 30,000 men, composed of seven infantry divisions and one cavalry division.
THE FRONT SOUTH OF THE YANGTZE
Kiukiang and West of Kiukiang
Since their occupation of Kiukiang, the Japanese forces have given attention to the restoration of peace and order in the town. British and American officials and residents were permitted to visit the city on August 6th, when American residents told the Japanese authorities that they were satisfied with the protection extended them by the Japanese Army, paying tribute to the Japanese air forces for their accurate marksmanship in aerial bombing. The commanders of the British and American gunboats expressed their thanks to the Japanese authorities for the full protection extended to the British, American and French buildings in Kiukiang before they left the town.
The main body of the Japanese force left Kiukiang at 5 p.m., August 19th, reaching Palipu, about 10 kilometres northeast of Juichang, at 9:30 a.m., August 21st. At 3 p.m., that day, the Japanese force reached the line between Tsaokiayo and Hsientienyo. The enemy at this sector consisted of three divisions of troops. On August 23rd, the Japanese force advanced to the area north of Pinniuling, about 5 kilometres north of Juichang. The Hirata, Ishimoto, Nakajima and Matsuda detachments successfully reduced Juichang at 4 p.m., August 24th, fighting against heavy odds in the extremely hot weather which registered 140 degrees, Fahrenheit. Juichang is an important town in northwestern Kiangsi Province.
Taking one height after another west of Juichang after August 26th, the Japanese force reached the line extending north and south from Hungshan, about 5 kilometres west of Juichang, on August 27th. On September 4th, the Chinese troops were dislodged from their positions at the Yunkiai height, some 8 kilometres southwest of Juichang. The Chinese troops at the heights north of Yunkiai have since been surrounded by the Japanese troops.
Another Japanese unit dislodged the Chinese troops from Liyuyo and Pichiayo south of Juichang. On August 28th, this detachment advanced to the line between Yaoshan and Changling. Pursuing the enemy in a southern direction, the detachment occupied Minshan at 6 p.m., August 29th, Hsiaoyangpu at 1 p.m., August 30th and Tsoyunling on August 31st. The enemy
[Map: Detailed Map showing progress of Japanese forces in the Kiukiang, Juichang and Teian sector up to September (caption cut off at the right edge of the scan)]
staged several counter-attacks, but was repulsed by the Japanese troops on every occasion. The Japanese first line then advanced to the line connecting Hsiaoyangpu, Jaokiashan and Tingkialing.
On September 1st, the Chinese 103rd and 185th divisions reached the field as reinforcements from Teian on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway, but were driven back by the Japanese troops, which succeeded in reaching the area north of Tsaokiapan, about 6 kilometres northwest of Mahweiling. The Chinese troops left about 2,000 dead as the result of the engagements on August 30th and 31st, while the Japanese casualties were about 60.
This Japanese detachment engaged nine Chinese divisions, namely the 13th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th and 95th from August 24th when it started operations near Juichang. The capture of the detachment included 4 mountain guns, 1 trench-mortar, 6 machine-guns of Czechoslovakian make and 200,000 rounds of ammunition.
The Japanese forces driving southward reached Mahweiling at 5:40 p.m., September 3rd. They are now pushing to Teian on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway, by pressing back the Chinese troops in the region west of the railway. The Chinese troops left 7,300 dead as a result of the engagements on September 2nd and 3rd.
The Area West of Lake Poyang
The Iizuka detachment which landed on the western shore of Lake Poyang on August 14th and 15th steadily drove southward, pressing back the enemy. This detachment in cooperation with a naval landing party occupied Singtze on the western shore of Lake Poyang at 7:15 a.m., August 21st. The detachment kept up its western drive and took Wuchinyo at dawn, August 22nd. At 4 p.m., August 23rd, the detachment reached the line connecting Wutsun, Changkia and Kwanhsingmiao. Keeping up its drive, it occupied the eastern slope of Tungkuling Hill on August 27th.
The Iizuka and Tsuda detachments launched a combined general attack on Tungkuling Hill on the evening of August 30th. The situation began to develop favourably for the Japanese in the right wing sector, and at 11 a.m., September 1st, the key point in the enemy left wing was taken. On September 2nd, the Japanese forces succeeded in capturing the summit of Tungkuling Hill, about 6 kilometres west of Singtze, and a height north of it and gave chase to the retreating enemy. In the three-day engagement, the Chinese troops left 160 dead in addition to 10 who were taken prisoner. The Japanese casualties totalled 24 killed and 101 injured. On the afternoon of September 2nd, Colonel Iizuka, Commander of the Iizuka detachment, was killed in action. At noon, September 4th, the vanguard of the Japanese force was advancing southward between Tungkuling Hill and Aikowkai.
The Western Base of the Lushan Mountain Range
The Japanese forces operating in the foot-hills at the western base of the Lushan Mountain Range were fighting not only against the Chinese troops, but also against a malaria epidemic.
Successfully pressing back about 5 Chinese divisions, the Tanaka, Motojima, Ichikawa and Sonoda detachments advanced to the line extending west and east from Shahochen on July 30th. These detachments reached the line connecting Tatienshan, the northern base of Mount Maan (Saddle Mountain) and the southern base of Mount Chaomao on August 4th. Commander Tanaka of the Tanaka detachment was killed in action in this sector.
The Japanese forces battered the enemy positions along the line extending north and south from Saddle Mountain. On August 29th, they occupied a salient of the Chinese first defence line near Kungkiashih. The Chinese troops offered stubborn resistance, but their strength was broken on September 2nd when the Japanese troops succeeded in outflanking them.
The Shansi Front
The Japanese unit which occupied Puchow, the southern terminus of the Tatung-Puchow Railway, on August 17th broke through the enemy positions near Hsintien south of Puchow on the morning of August 23rd. On the morning of August 27th, this detachment launched an attack on the Chinese troops, about two divisions strong, which had taken up positions near Fenglingtu on the northern bank of the Yellow River opposite Tungkwan. After two days of severe fighting, the detachment succeeded in reducing Fenglingtu at 6 p.m., August 28th, by routing the enemy, although the Chinese artillery force at Tungkwan shelled the Japanese force heavily. It must be mentioned to the credit of the Chinese troops that they offered very stiff resistance, being watched as they were by the desertion prevention corps at Tungkwan on the southern bank of the Yellow River.
Another Japanese detachment advanced to the area east of Juichang at the southwestern extremity of Shansi Province on August 22nd and occupied Juichang at 9 a.m., August 23rd.
The Japanese garrison at Lishih in west-central Shansi Province on August 22nd drove away the Chinese troops which attacked the Japanese positions.
The Northern Honan Front
The Japanese detachment which started operations from Hwaiking in northern Honan Province on August 25th attacked the Chinese troops in the Menghsien district. On August 27th, this detachment dealt a crushing blow to some 4,000 Chinese soldiers who belonged to the 166th and 87th divisions, in the region southeast of Tsiyuan. The enemy left about 300 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 6 killed and a few injured. On August 29th, this unit started an attack on the Chinese troops, which had established positions at a height northeast of Tiehhsieh on the northern bank of the Yellow River.
THE SITUATION IN CHINA
II. — FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION —
Publicity Bureau, Navy Department
With Hankow now exposed to Japanese attack from north, south and east, the Chinese military authorities are making frantic efforts to defend their capital. Especially strenuous efforts are being made by the Chinese along the Yangtze River in order to check the advance of the Japanese naval force. New forts are set up at various points on either bank of the river; strong booms are constructed at several points above Kiukiang and numerous mines are laid at many points. Yet the Japanese naval force is steadily advancing, silencing the enemy fire from both banks of the river, removing booms and sweeping mines.
On August 21st, a Japanese landing party in cooperation with military units completely occupied Singtze, an important town on the western shore of Lake Poyang. The party was protected by the naval air force.
While assisting the naval force on the Yangtze River and the military forces both north and south of the Yangtze, the Japanese Naval Air Force is attacking the enemy positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the river and also north and south of the Yangtze.
In addition, the air force has visited Nanyung in Kwangtung Province and attacked the Chinese air base there. In an ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders shot down 17 Chinese fighting planes. Chuchow, a key point of the Chinese line of communication in Hunan Province was also attacked, while Kingshan, the Chinese new base of operations in Hupeh Province was visited, where the military works were showered with bombs.
Sustained attacks are being made by the Japanese naval planes on the various strategic points in South China, including Yinchanyao on the southern section of the Canton-Hankow Railway, where the steel bridge was bombed and destroyed, thus interrupting the service on the railway.
The Japanese Naval Air Force in China
Activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force from August 9th till September 5th are outlined below.
August 9th The naval air force was active extensively in both Central and South China. Kian and Changshuchen in Kiangsi Province were visited and the airfield at Kian was effectively bombed while military goods trains and military depots were bombed at Changshuchen. Troop concentrations west of Lake Tai were also attacked. A Chinese transport was bombed and stranded at a point downstream from Kichun.
Canton, Tsengpu, Saitsun, Kongtsun, Chuntien, Shekpai and Pakwan in South China were visited. The Provincial Headquarters of the Kuomintang and military works nearby were bombed in Canton, while munition factories were bombed and destroyed at Tsengpu.
Troop and military goods trains were attacked at Saitsun and Kongtsun on the Canton-Hankow Railway, while part of a steel bridge near Chuntien was bombed and destroyed. The Canton-Kowloon Railway was disrupted near Shekpai and the airfield at Pokwan was bombed with the result that one hangar was burnt.
August 10th A naval air squadron, braving a downpour, attacked Canton. Saitsun on the Canton-Hankow Railway was also attacked, while munition factories at Tsengpu were bombed. Another air unit bombed and sunk a 100-ton Chinese torpedo-boat at a point downstream from Echeng.
August 11th The most vigorous air raid since the beginning of the China Affair was made by a Japanese air squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Kuno on Hankow. Japanese planes visited not only Hankow but Wuchang and Hanyang, dropping several hundred bombs at the military works in the three cities.
A separate unit flew over the Yangtze valley and bombed and sunk over a dozen junks engaged in military operations below Hwangshihkang. An ammunition dump on the bank nearby was bombed and burnt, while the Chinese military positions and munition depots at Chichow were effectively bombed.
In South China, Wuchow, Koyiu, Yinchanyao and Changmutow were raided. A sulphuric acid factory at Wuchow was bombed and destroyed; the airfield at Koyiu was effectively bombed; the steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was destroyed; the railway station at Laitung was attacked and burnt; the railway track between Yuantan and Pakonghow was destroyed at eight spots; and the steel bridge near Changmutao was partially destroyed.
August 12th Over one hundred Japanese naval planes flew in formation over Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang and effectively bombed the military establishments in those places. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders. In Hankow and Wuchang, the railway stations and godowns were attacked, while the Chinese military headquarters, munition factories and cotton mills in Wuchang were effectively bombed.
The Japanese naval air unit which visited the Yangtze valley bombed and sunk one 50-ton Chinese military launch together with 4 junks. Another unit visited Yinchanyao and Pitsun in South China. The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was again bombed, while the Canton-Kowloon Railway was disrupted at eight points near Sheklung.
August 13th Hankow, Kian and Nanchang were raided by naval planes at dawn. The airfield in Hankow was attacked and the gasoline depot was burnt, while one Chinese plane was bombed and burnt and another heavily damaged on the ground. The airfield and railway station at Kian was attacked, and a goods train and seven godowns were destroyed. The new and old airfields at Nanchang were attacked together with the railway station where a goods train was destroyed.
Yangsin, Yushan, Ningpo, Lishui, Hwangchow and Kichun in Central
China were raided. Military works and troop concentrations at Yangsin were bombed; the airfield and military depots were attacked at Ningpo; the airfield was attacked at Lishui; a Chinese military steamer containing explosives was bombed and sunk near Hwangchow; and several military junks were bombed and sunk at a point below Kichun.
Several points on the Canton-Hankow and the Canton-Kowloon Railways in South China were visited. Further damage was done to the steel bridge near Yinchanyao which had been destroyed by Japanese aerial bombardments and on which repair work was going on; the railway station compound at Yinchanyao was also bombed; a repair-wagon was bombed and destroyed near Chuntien; and the steel bridge and railway track were destroyed near Changping on the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
August 14th A naval air squadron visited Hsingshan in Central China despite the foul weather and effectively bombed the Chinese artillery positions southeast of Hsingshan and troop concentrations and ammunition dumps there.
Yinchanyao, Sinkai and Tienho in South China were raided. The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was again attacked and the railway station compounds at Sinkai and Tienho were effectively bombed.
August 15th The Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River were attacked. Four Chinese heavy bombers raided Kiukiang, but two of them were brought down by Japanese naval planes.
Canton, Saitsun, Chuntien and Yinchanyao were raided in South China. A 20-wagon military goods train was bombed and burnt at Wongsha in Canton, the terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway and buildings in the station compound were burnt. Another military goods train was also bombed at Saitsun and the railway track was disrupted at several points near there. Still another military goods train was bombed at Chuntien.
August 16th A large Japanese naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi raided Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang, without being challenged by a single Chinese plane, though greeted by a heavy anti-aircraft battery fire.
The group of Japanese planes which visited Hanyang bombed the iron works, military arsenal, and anti-aircraft batteries, as the result of which conflagrations started at five places with small fires breaking out at many points. The military tribunal, the headquarters of the 2nd Division and military works at Wuchang were effectively bombed with fires breaking out at several places. The Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River were again attacked.
Naval planes flew over Yinchanyao, Yuantan, Sheklung and Pokwan. The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was bombed and further damaged; part of the steel bridge south of Yuantan was blown up together with the railway track at two points near Yuantan; part of the steel bridge near Sheklung was blown up; and the airfield at Pokwan, a suburb of Canton was effectively bombed.
August 17th A naval air unit led by Lieutenant Katsumi raided Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, and bombed the railway stations there, with the result that munition depots were destroyed. Another naval air unit attacked the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze river.
The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao which was under repair was bombed and rendered useless for train service. Chuntien on the Canton-Hankow Railway was also visited and a military goods train was bombed. The railway track was destroyed at several points near there.
August 18th A large naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commanders Sata and Mano visited Hengyang and Paoking in Hunan Province and attacked the airfields there. The Chinese military authorities have been trying to reconstruct their air force with Hengyang as its base, following the abandonment of Nanchang.
The naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Sata, that attacked Hengyang, succeeded in shooting down 16 out of about 30 Chinese fighting planes of the E 15 and 16 and Dewoitine types after severe fighting. The Japanese airmen succeeded in burning 6 and bombing 6 other planes out of a total of some 20 Chinese heavy bombers of the S.B. type and medium-sized bombers on the ground, while three gasoline depots and one big godown were bombed and destroyed north of the airfield. Some of the Japanese crews were wounded, but all the Japanese planes returned to their base in safety.
Another Japanese naval air unit led by Lieutenant-Commander Mano visited Paoking and effectively bombed the airfield there. Still another unit commanded by Lieutenant Inouye attacked the Chinese warships near Echeng on the Yangtze River and sank one 50-ton Chinese military launch. This unit encountered over a dozen Chinese heavy bombers of the S.B. type which had raided Kiukiang. In the ensuing air duel, the Japanese unit brought down 4 Chinese bombers, while 3 more Chinese planes disappeared in cloud banks, trailing black smoke. One Japanese plane was lost in the engagement. Thus the naval air force shot down 23 Chinese planes in air combats and destroyed another 12 on the ground.
The naval air squadron which visited South China attacked Yinchanyao, Kongtsun, Chuntien, and Shektan. The steel bridge under repair near Yinchanyao was damaged again. Steel bridges and railway tracks near Kongtsun and Chuntien were bombed and destroyed, while the centre of the steel bridge near Shektan was blown up.
August 19th Juichang, Teian, Singtze, Wusueh and Tienkiachen were visited by naval planes. Chinese military works and troop concentrations were bombed at Juichang; the railway station, munition depots and Chinese military positions were attacked at Teian on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway; Chinese troop concentrations northwest of Singtze were repeatedly attacked; the Chinese military positions at Wusueh and Tienkiachen on the Yangtze above Kiukiang were attacked throughout the day, while numerous Chinese junks engaged in military operations nearby were attacked and sunk.
Yinchanyao, Hwangtsun, Chuntien and Shektan were raided in South China. The bridge south of Yinchanyao was struck again; the anti-aircraft batteries and machine-gun emplacements near the bridge were effectively bombed; and railway bridges and tracks near Hwangtsun and Chuntien were attacked.
August 20th Yinchanyao and Pitsun in South China were raided. The Yinchanyao bridge and the anti-aircraft batteries and machine-gun emplacements
nearby were effectively bombed. The steel bridge near Pitsun was blown up.
August 21st Over 30 naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi visited Wuchang and bombed the Chinese military barracks southwest of Wuchang. Another naval air squadron attacked the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River above Kiukiang.
August 22nd Chuchow in Hunan Province was raided, and godowns, goods trains and munition factories there were bombed, while the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze were attacked.
The military works and railway tracks at Yinchanyao, Pitsun and Kowtang on the Canton-Hankow Railway were bombed.
August 23rd Chuchow in Hunan Province was raided and the factory zone and railway compound there were bombed. About 100 loaded wagons were destroyed.
Another naval air squadron visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked the Changmutow and Kowtang stations. The steel bridge at Kongtsun was bombed and damaged.
August 24th Lieutenant-Commander Mano, leading a naval air force, raided Ichang in Hupeh Province and effectively bombed the airfield there, without being challenged by a single Chinese plane. Hangars, godowns and official buildings were bombed and burnt.
Another naval air squadron repeatedly attacked the Chinese positions and troop concentrations on the Juichang front. Yinchanyao, Yuantan and Sheklung were raided in South China.
August 25th Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, and Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, together with Kian were raided. A naval air squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Yasunobu raided Changsha and bombed the North and East Railway Stations there.
Another naval air unit, commanded by Lieutenant Nakagawa attacked Kian in Kiangsi Province and bombed the airfield there. Still another naval air unit led by Lieutenant Soyeda visited Nanchang and bombed military depots there. A naval air squadron which raided Wuchow bombed and burnt a bullet manufactury and a sulphuric acid works.
Another air unit which flew over Yinchanyao bombed the railway bridge south of it and damaged its girders.
August 26th Changsha was raided and the airfield and railway station there were bombed with the result that fires broke out at three different places.
A separate air squadron visited the Juichang front and heavily bombed the Chinese positions, troop concentrations and line of communication.
Still another naval air unit visited Canton and bombed Wongsha Station, the southern terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway. The railway bridge near Hwangtsun and the railway station compound at Sinkai were also bombed.
August 27th The Juichang front was again attacked and the Chinese positions were heavily bombed. The Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations west and southwest of the Lushan mountain range were also bombed. The naval air unit flying to Nanyung attacked the airfield without being challenged by a single Chinese plane.
August 28th The strongly-built Chinese artillery positions on the Juichang
front and troop concentrations west of Juichang were effectively bombed.
August 29th A large naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi made a surprise attack on Kingshan in Hupeh Province which formed an important outpost of Hankow. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders, nor did a single Chinese anti-aircraft battery open fire on them. The Japanese effectively bombed various military works, munition depots and military headquarters. They returned to their base safely, after circling over Kingshan several times to ascertain the effects of their bombing.
Another naval air unit flew to Juichang repeatedly bombed the Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations on the western shore of Chihu (Red Lake). Several junks containing Chinese troops on the lake were bombed and sunk.
Shiuchow (Kukong) on the Canton-Hankow Railway was raided and the railway station and airfield were effectively bombed. Chinese planes did not challenge the Japanese raiders, who returned to their base safely, though they were fired on heavily by Chinese anti-aircraft batteries.
August 30th A naval air squadron commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Yasunobu flew to Changsha. The Japanese planes were challenged by three Chinese fighter planes of the E 15 type, which, however, were soon driven away. The Japanese bombed hangars and godowns at the airfield.
Naval air units commanded by Lieutenants Katsumi and Nonaka in cooperation with the Japanese ground forces attacked the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations west of the Lushan mountain range throughout the day.
A separate squadron visited Chihu and repeatedly bombed the Chinese artillery positions west of the lake in cooperation with the Japanese ground force and the naval force on the Yangtze.
Nanyung, Chenhsien and Shiuchow (Kukong) were raided in South China. A naval air unit which visited Nanyung, the border-town between Hunan and Kwangtung Provinces, sighted four Chinese planes over the city, but the latter escaped. Then the Japanese planes proceeded to Chenhsien on the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked the airfield, destroying three Chinese planes on the ground. Various military works in the town were also effectively bombed.
Another naval air unit attacked Shiuchow (Kukong) on the same railway and bombed and burnt hangars in the airfield there. Another naval air unit also raided Nanyung. This unit was challenged by 17 Dewoitine fighting planes, all of which it succeeded in shooting down after fierce fighting. Two Japanese planes were lost in the engagement.
August 31st Naval air units attacked the Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the Yangtze River. Chinese positions west of Chihu as well as those at the western base of the Lushan mountain range were bombed and machine-gunned.
Naval air units commanded by Lieutenants Mori, Nakamura and Igarashi and Sub-Lieutenant Oka showered bombs at the Chinese positions north of the Yangtze River. A large naval air force commanded by Lieutenant-
Commander Mano visited Chuchow in Hunan Province and bombed the North and East Railway Stations. Scores of junks near the North Station were bombed and sunk. All were loaded with munitions. Fires broke out at no less than 33 godowns in the East Station Compound. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders.
Fungshun and Yinchanyao were visited in South China. Japanese planes, after bombing military works at Canton, raided Yinchanyao and bombed the steel bridge south of it which had been almost completely repaired. Strong machine-gun emplacements were found nearby. The naval air unit which raided Fungshun in eastern Kwangtung Province effectively bombed the local military works and barracks.
September 1st Several naval air squadrons continuously bombed and machine-gunned the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the Yangtze River. Other air units which visited the Canton-Hankow and Canton-Kowloon Railways bombed and destroyed the steel bridge at Pitsun and inflicted heavy damage on those at Paishih, Shektan and Yuantan.
September 2nd Sustained attacks were made on the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River.
Pitsun and Wuchow were visited in South China. The steel bridge was blown up at Pitsun, while the bullet manufactory, sulphuric acid factories and godowns were bombed at Wuchow.
September 3rd In cooperation with the Japanese ground forces, several naval air squadrons effectively bombed and machine-gunned Chinese troops fleeing southward from the western foothills of the Lushan mountain range.
The naval air units visiting South China disrupted the southern section of the Canton-Hankow Railway at four points.
September 4th In close collaboration with the ground forces, several naval air squadrons attacked the Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations south of Kiukiang and northwest of Juichang.
Naval air units led by Lieutenants Mori and Nakamura visited Yunghsien and showered bombs on the Chinese positions and troop concentrations nearby. Mahweiling was also attacked and the Chinese troops which already showed signs of wavering were bombed and machine-gunned.
Another naval air squadron visited Kwangtsi north of the Yangtze River and effectively bombed the Chinese artillery positions, troop concentrations and military motor-lorries at points east of Kwangtsi.
Naval planes which visited South China bombed and destroyed a military goods train near the steel bridge south of it. The railway bridge and track near Yuantan were bombed and destroyed.
September 5th Yochow, Sinyang, Nanchang, Kwangtsi, Mahweiling, Teian, Yunghsin and Yuichang in Central China were visited. Engine-sheds, godowns and other buildings in the station compounds were bombed at Yochow, while the ammunition dump, godowns and power-stations were bombed at Sinyang.
Godowns and munition dumps at the railway station at Nanchang were bombed; Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations were attacked in the Kwangtsi district; Chinese troop concentrations in the woodlands near Mahweiling were attacked; artillery positions were bombed at
Teian; Chinese military positions and caravans of military motor-lorries were attacked along the highway between Teian and Yunghsiu; and the Chinese field artillery positions and troop concentrations northwest of Juichang were effectively bombed and machine-gunned in cooperation with the ground forces.
Pakonghow and Yuantan on the Canton-Hankow Railway were raided and the railway bridges and tracks near there were bombed. One Japanese plane was lost during the operations.
While the naval air squadrons were engaged in bombing Yuantan, a plane, appearing to be an enemy heavy bomber was sighted flying northward over Yuantan. The Japanese aeroplanes immediately gave chase to this suspicious plane, but stopped their attacks when the plane was ascertained to be one of the Eurasia Aviation Corporation. Such flights not only hinder the Japanese military operations, but are very dangerous when made through the zone of operations of the Japanese air forces.
The Japanese Naval Force on the Yangtze
A Japanese landing party entered Singtze on the western shore of Poyang Lake at 6 o'clock on the morning of August 21st through the south gate. They occupied the walled town completely within an hour in cooperation with the military force which entered by the east gate.
Japanese warships penetrated into Poyang Lake and appeared in front of Singtze, after sweeping mines. The warships covered the marine and military forces in the latter's attack on Singtze.
August 22nd The Chinese heavy artillery positions were silenced by the Japanese warships, while the Chinese artillery near Singtze was also silenced.
August 30th The naval force advanced up the Yangtze under a scorching sun, by silencing the Chinese positions on both banks of the river in cooperation with the army and the naval air force.
September 4th The naval force in cooperation with the military force made a steady drive up the Yangtze River.