THE SITUATION IN CHINA
I
—ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—
BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT
The Japanese Army's pincer movement against Hankow is steadily being tightened, as progress is being reported from the campaigns in the north, south and east. The Chinese, falling back upon geographical advantages, are offering stiff resistance, but one after another of their important military positions are falling before sustained Japanese onslaughts.
The Front North of the Yangtze
The Kushih, Kwangchow and Loshan Sectors
Kushih, a strategically important town on the southeastern border of Honan Province, was occupied by a Japanese force on the evening of September 6th. This force left Kushih at 10 o'clock the following morning and crossed the Ku River. On September 8th, some 2,000 Chinese soldiers armed with trench-mortars were defeated near Hsiaohokiao, while another enemy detachment was routed from Hutsupu, about 4 kilometres west of the Ku River the next evening. The enemy forces consisted of the Chinese 38th infantry division and 8th cavalry division. The enemy left about 120 dead in the engagements with the Japanese right wing. The Japanese casualties on September 8th and 9th totalled 18 killed and 82 injured.
The Japanese troops kept up their western drive and on September 10th started an attack near Sanchiaotien, about 24 kilometres west of Kushih. At 9 a.m., the following day, Sanchiaotien was taken. The enemy force consisted of part of the Chinese 38th division and left about 150 dead. At 3 p.m., the same day, fighting was begun between the Japanese and Chinese forces near Chunhotsi. At 10 : 30 p.m., the Japanese column reached Hwangszekang, and on the night of September 12th advanced to a point about 12 kilometres northeast of Kwangchow.
The vanguard of the Japanese forces reached the Pailou River on September 12th, when they started a movement for encircling Kwangchow. The Ohta and Nishitaijo detachments advanced to the left bank of the Pailu River near Hsintsi, about 12 kilometres north of Kwangchow on September 14th, reaching a line some 4 kilometres northwest of Kwangchow. In concert with the main body, part of the Japanese forces started a drive on Kwangchow southward from Sanpingsze. The main
Chinese force, apparently broken in spirit, retreated southward, after a slight engagement with the Japanese troops, which, covered by artillery and aeroplanes, stormed the west gate of Kwangchow at 8 : 30 a.m., September 17th and completely occupied the walled town at 8 o'clock by routing the remnants of the Chinese troops, which had offered stubborn resistance in southern Kwangchow. Kwangchow lies at the northern base of the Tapieh mountain range, forming an important junction of highways in Honan Province.
On September 16th, the Ohta detachment pushed to Loshan from Kwangchow and the same evening reached Changhutien. By dislodging the enemy from the left bank of the Sha River on September 18th, this detachment attacked the enemy positions at a point 8 kilometres east of Loshan at 6 a.m., September 19th. The same day, the Mori detachment left Kwangchow for Kwangshan. By routing the enemy on the way, this unit occupied Kwangshan on September 20th.
The vanguard of the Japanese troops, which advanced on Loshan, about 40 kilometres west of Kwangchow, stormed the south gate of Loshan early on September 21st and the main body entered the walled town at 10 : 30 o'clock the same morning. In pursuit of the enemy which was retreating westward, the Ohta and Nishitaijo detachments started a drive on Wulitien. Meanwhile enemy reinforcements were arriving at Wulitien by motor-lorry, where they offered stubborn resistance. Strong defence works were also set up between Lankanpu, Szeho, Wulitien and Sinyang.
The Chinese forces taking part in the engagements in this sector from September 21st to September 24th were the 28th, 123rd and 128th divisions in addition to a volunteer corps and a training cadre. They left 280 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 27 killed and 63 injured.
The Japanese forces started a general attack on the enemy troops round Loshan on September 30th. Those attacking the enemy at a point 4 kilometres west of Loshan and also at Shwangtien and Yonghsiaowan, 8 kilometres south of Loshan, broke through the enemy positions on October 2nd and pushed further west and southwest. The Chinese at Tsingshantien, southwest of Loshan, were reinforced and offered stiff resistance in an attempt to recapture the lost positions.
Chinese planes appeared over Loshan from time to time to bomb the Japanese positions, but no serious damage was sustained by the Japanese side. A Japanese military air unit encountered eight Chinese planes of the S.B. type over Wulitien at 8 : 20 a.m., October 6th and brought down two of them, one at Lingshan, south of Sinyang, and the other near Teian.
Splendid services were rendered by a Japanese military force which advanced by water up the Hwai River from Anhwei to Honan Province.
In an effort to cooperate with the Japanese forces which were operating in the Kushih sector in Honan Province, the Mamiya detachment took to the Hwai River. This detachment, at 10 : 30 a.m., September 7th reached Changchuangtsi, about 30 kilometres west of Wukongtsi. The following day, it engaged about 350 enemy cavalrymen at Shangyukang, some 24 kilometres northeast of Kwangchow. At 1 : 20 p.m., the same day, it occupied Shangyukang, thus discharging its mission successfully. About 1 p.m., September 10th, 500 Chinese soldiers, armed with 3 mountain-guns
counter-attacked the detachment, which, however, succeeded in driving them to the southwest.
The Fukinshan and Shangcheng Sectors
The Japanese troops which reached Yehkiatsi, an important town on the western border of Anhwei Province, launched an attack on the powerful enemy force which had established strong positions in the mountainous area west of the Shih River, including Mount Fukinshan. The enemy force consisted of eleven divisions and a students corps from the Military Cadets' School, including the 31st, 35th, 61st, 113th, 114th, 37th, 88th, 132nd, 133rd, 139th infantry divisions and the 13th cavalry division.
At nightfall, September 6th, a detachment of the Japanese right wing succeeded in defeating the Chinese 88th division and about 1,000 students of the Military Cadets' School, while the main body of the right wing routed the enemy at Pengkiapan and Liukia. The left wing battered the enemy positions on Mount Fukinshan, but did not succeed in occupying the summit of the mountain. Another Japanese force which drove from the north reached the area west of Wulungyen, about 8 kilometres southeast of Kuolutan, at 6 p.m., September 6th, without encountering any hostile force on the way.
The situation in the Mount Fukinshan sector did not witness any marked development on September 7th, but the Japanese right wing advanced considerably, so that its first line reached Shunhotien by 5 p.m. The enemy in front of the Japanese right wing had also set up strong defence works. By the evening of September 7th, about 140 Chinese machine-gun emplacements were destroyed. It is ascertained that the enemy left over 2,300 dead by September 8th.
The Japanese detachment which took Wulungyen on September 6th pushed further west and started an attack on the enemy positions near Changpoling at dawn, September 8th, when the Chinese 27th division and a students corps of the Military Cadets' School made their appearance before the Japanese right wing.
Sustained attacks were made on the 800-metre hill on September 9th, while the extreme left of the right wing succeeded in capturing an eastern peak of Mount Fukinshan. The enemy left over 300 dead in front of the Japanese right wing on September 9th, while over a dozen enemy machine-gun emplacements were destroyed.
There was no change in the situation on September 10th except that the Chinese positions at the base of the 800-metre hill were taken by the Japanese right wing.
The Japanese casualties from September 3rd to September 8th totalled 626.
A general attack was launched on September 11th, covered by an artillery unit, just arrived and air units. The Japanese left wing occupied Mount Fukinshan at 9 : 30, the same evening, while the right wing took the 800-metre hill at 6 a.m., September 12th. The main body of the enemy forces apparently retreated, leaving part of their troops on the summits of the
hills to cover their retreat. The enemy troops near Shunhotien kept up stiff resistance.
On the night of September 11th, an enemy detachment, armed with trench-mortars attacked Kaishunkai in the rear of the Japanese positions, but was repulsed the following morning.
In the engagements in the Mount Fukinshan sector from September 3rd to September 13th, the enemy left 4,630 dead in addition to 101 who were taken prisoner. The Japanese booty included 3 trench-mortars, 2 heavy machine-guns, 36 light machine-guns and 491 rifles.
Chasing the enemy which fled from the Mount Fukinshan sector, the Japanese forces reached Fangkiatsi at 9 a.m., September 14th and the line connecting Hsiungkiawa, Liangting and Kuchenshan, about 8 kilometres southwest of Fangkiatsi at 5 : 30, the same afternoon. The following day, they made a further drive westward and dislodged the enemy troops from the height northwest of Tengkiatsi. A Japanese mobile force at 9 : 05 a.m., September 16th, successfully stormed Shangcheng, covered by air units. The main body of the Japanese forces also entered Shangcheng the same day, while part of them pushed further westward and reached the River Ku. Shangcheng lies at the northern base of the Tapieh mountain range. The Chinese forces had established an important base of operations there.
On September 18th, part of the Japanese forces started from Shangcheng for a southern drive on Shawo. By dislodging the enemy troops from Yukiatsi, the Japanese detachment at 4 : 30 p.m., September 20th, occupied the foothills of the Tapieh range west and southwest of Shawo and also east of Taposhih, from which about 1,000 Chinese soldiers were routed.
The Japanese force which occupied the Chinese positions near Shawo on September 20th made preparations for further attacks. At dawn, September 22nd, an attack was started on the enemy positions near Mapanshan, which was taken at 9 : 45 a.m., September 26th, together with a height north of Hsiaomahwangchung.
An enemy detachment made its appearance north of Shawo, but Japanese troops on the evening of September 28th advanced to Yangkiawan, while part of them occupied the height north of Wuwan, which lies east of Shawo, thus establishing junction with the first line. The enemy forces in front of Mapanshan made repeated counter-attacks but in vain.
Those Japanese troops which had been attacking the enemy positions on the hill west of Shawo succeeded in capturing the 950-metre hill on the afternoon of September 28th and advanced to the highway between Kwangchow and Shawo on September 30th. A hill west of the highway was also taken.
Another Japanese detachment occupied Paichiaoyuan, about 12 kilometres north of Shawo.
Still another Japanese detachment dislodged the Chinese troops from the heights on both banks of the Erhtao River near Tsushanyen, which stands about 2 kilometres south of Fangkiatsi on September 14th and reached Tungkiamiao at 7 a.m., September 16th.
The Kurabayashi detachment which drove from Shangcheng on Sintien reached Tachuantien, about 22 kilometres south of Shangcheng on the night of September 18th. This detachment at 1 : 30 p.m., September 20th
occupied Kaokiapan, about 1 kilometre northeast of Sintien.
The unit then turned its attention to the Chinese positions at Taochanping, which were provided with powerful machine-gun emplacements. At 2 : 50 p.m., September 21st, the Japanese force advanced to a point about 1 kilometre south of Taochanping, while part of this detachment reached Kungkiawang.
According to a statement of Chinese prisoners, the numerical strength of Chinese divisions of troops in this sector was reduced to 800 or 1,000 mostly recruited from that part of Honan Province with Shangcheng as centre, but the Chinese commanding officers were strong in their anti-Japanese sentiments. The Chinese forces in this sector left 659 dead in addition to 11 who were taken prisoner up to September 24th. The Japanese casualties were 15 killed and 47 injured.
Movements of the Japanese troops in this sector were seriously hampered by heavy rains after September 17th, which turned the roads into quagmires and flooded rivers. The Japanese had to wait until September 26th for an improvement of the weather before resuming their activities.
Part of the Japanese force dislodged about 500 soldiers from the left bank of the Ku River near Shengkiatien, 12 kilometres north of Sintien and drove southwest of Tungchen, while the Japanese troops near Taochanping also started an attack on the Chinese positions near Sintien.
The Kwangtsi, Hwangmei and Tienkiachen Sectors
Part of the Japanese forces which occupied Kwangtsi on the north bank of the Yangtze River advanced to Sungyangchieh at 5 p.m., September 7th. A large Chinese column retreated along the highway from Kwangtsi to Tsaohochen.
On the night of September 6th, about two divisions of Chinese troops attacked Tahopu and Kinchungpu in the rear of the Japanese positions from Howshanpu, but were repulsed by the Japanese garrisons the following morning. The enemy retreated to Kuchunkow, Howshanpu and Poshanshih, where they started constructing defence works. The enemy left 230 dead, 2 trench-mortars, 2 machine-guns of Czechoslovakian make, 1 automatic rifle and 46 rifles. The Japanese casualties were 10 killed and 34 injured.
The Japanese detachment which took Sungyangchieh on September 8th swung west and attacked Mangchangchai.
On September 9th, two divisions of Chinese troops attacked Sungyangchieh and Shihlipu from both north and south, but were repulsed the following day with heavy losses. The Japanese suffered 5 killed and 54 injured. Part of the Japanese forces advanced to Chiehling on September 10th. The Chinese troops made counter-attacks on Kwangtsi repeatedly, but were repulsed on every occasion.
The Japanese forces engaged about nineteen divisions of Chinese troops under General Li Ping-hsien in attacking and reducing Hwangmei and Kwangtsi in addition to one heavy artillery company, two field artillery battalions and one mountain-gun battalion. The enemy left 15,500 dead
in addition to 1,200 who were taken prisoner. The Japanese booty included 6 field-guns, 10 trench-mortars, 2 heavy machine-guns, 1 light machine-gun of Czechoslovakian make and 4 rapid-firers.
Part of the Japanese forces which massed near Kwangtsi started a drive on Tienkiachen Fortress on September 15th. Tienkiachen Fortress lies on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, about 40 kilometres south of Kwangtsi. At noon, September 15th, the Japanese troops advanced to the line between Limuchieh, 11 kilometres southwest of Kwangtsi and Jaohowan. After dislodging an enemy force, they reached Tiehshihtun at 3 : 30 p.m. The following day, about 1,500 Chinese soldiers were dislodged from Sungshankow Hill. On September 17 Japanese units started an attack on Loto Hill. The enemy left over 800 dead.
On the evening of September 18th, the Japanese reached Shatzenao. After reducing the Chinese positions south of Shatzenao the following day, the Japanese reached the line between Yupingshan and Yangchengshan north of Tienkiachen on September 20th.
The rear of Tienkiachen Fortress was defended with barbed wire entanglements and installed with strong machine-gun emplacements. The Chinese garrison of the fortress was the 57th division.
On the evening of September 26th, the Japanese forces started a frontal attack on the northern major defence line of Tienkiachen, while Japanese military and naval air units made sustained attacks on the fortress in concert with the ground forces. Wavering before the fierce Japanese onslaughts, the enemy started a retreat on September 28th. Early in the morning of September 29th, the first line of the Japanese forces stormed the fortress and wiped out the Chinese troops, by cutting off their retreat. At 10 o'clock, the same morning, Tienkiachen Fortress was completely occupied.
Tienkiashan lies at a point 23 kilometres above Wusueh, dominating the Yangtze River. It is famous in Chinese military history. The occupation of Tienkiachen has further facilitated the Japanese drive on Hankow up the Yangtze River.
Investigation regarding the results of the occupation on Tienkiachen is not yet completed, but a tentative report shows the Japanese booty included 2 forts, which apparently were not provided with guns, 1 steam-launch, 3 searchlight units, 1 power station, 1 field-gun, 1,000 field-gun shells, 1 mountain-gun, 7 trench-mortars, 84 heavy machine-guns, 50 light machine-guns of Czechoslovakian make, 1,500 rifles, 710,000 rounds of ammunition, 1,000 anti-tank shells, 400 hand-grenades, 5,700 kilogrammes of iron-wire and 1,000 bales of rice, while the enemy left 400 dead. The Japanese casualties were about 1,000. The Chinese troops which participated in the engagements in the Tienkiachen sector consisted of the 9th, 32nd, 57th, 102nd, 121st, 171st and 174th divisions.
The Front South of the Yangtze
The Juichang and Yanghsin Sectors
The Ishimoto and the Hirata detachments from September 3rd to September 5th pressed back the enemy force to a considerable distance in
the area west of Juichang. The enemy left 680 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 25 killed and 65 injured. The Japanese spoils of war included 9 heavy machine-guns, 5 light machine-guns, 130 automatic rifles and 400 rifles.
On September 6th, the Japanese first line west of Juichang extended from Hungshanyen to Chienshanpo. At dawn, September 10th, the Japanese force successfully stormed the Chinese position at Hwangshannao Hill. Another Japanese detachment, which had been attacking Tafengshan Hill since September 8th occupied the hill on September 10th.
The Japanese first line, which early in the morning of September 10th started a push from the line between Tatangyen and Tungshan, about 5 kilometres southwest of Juichang, reached Hsiennuchih the same evening.
A general offensive was launched by the Japanese forces the following dawn and the line connecting Maanshan, Paoerhtung, Yenkiashan, Chenkiawa and Pichiafeng was reached at 5 p.m.
On the evening of September 13th, the line between Maanshan and Hsiawang was reached by one Japanese detachment, while the line between Laochuachung and Taiyangchai was secured by another unit. Meanwhile, Matowchen, an important fort on the south bank of the Yangtze River, was occupied by the Nagai detachment in cooperation with a naval landing party on September 14th.
On September 15th, the Japanese first line advanced to the line connecting Laowuko, Nanpingchui, Yenshang, Shamaoling, Hukialing and Yuncheling. The following day the enemy positions further west of Peishan Hill, a hill west of Hwangtukiao, Peihowshan Hill, Leishan Hill, Tungpinglao Hill, Mount Chuchu and Mount Taling were attacked. On September 17th, breaking through the Chinese left wing, the Japanese force reached the line extending north and south from Fengkiapu as well as Tsingling. On September 20th, the enemy positions near Hungkangwan was broken through and the line on its western side was reached by the Japanese troops.
The Teragaki, Fujioka and Ohta detachments occupied the heights at Wukianao and Tanaoshan south of Meihwaan on September 18th and advanced to the line connecting Liangting (4 kilometres southwest of Hwangtukiao), Lingpailao, Changlingshan and Szetzeshan on September 20th, from which they have since made a further drive.
The military and naval air forces in concert with the ground forces effectively bombed the enemy positions or machine-gunned the retreating enemy.
On September 20th, the Japanese first line advanced to the line connecting Liangting, Lingpailao, Changlingshan, Szetzeshan and Lutang. Part of the Japanese force occupied Chulintang at 11 o'clock the same morning, after defeating about 1,500 Chinese soldiers armed with trench-mortars. Fuchihkow, a fort on the south bank of the Yangtze, then became its immediate objective of attack.
On the evening of September 21st, the Japanese forces drove further west and reached the line connecting Weitaoshan, a hill south of Shihtien, Chenkiashan, Tawashan, Szetzeshan and a point 5 kilometres west of Hungkangwan. The following evening, they reached the area east of
Mushihkang.
The Japanese forces which drove on Fushihkow attacked the enemy positions at Meiposhan on September 22nd, while part of them succeeded in dislodging the enemy from the heights at Potiehshan and Fuwangmiao. The Chinese positions southwest of Hsiaohuan were attacked from the north.
On September 23rd, Meiposhan was taken, while part of the Japanese forces reached Hwanghuantao, 4 kilometres northwest of Mushihkang. Fuchihkow Fort on the south bank of the Yangtze River was completely occupied at 1 p.m., September 24th. The Japanese first line advanced to the line connecting Changshuhsia, Tienpan, Yulinshan, Hushou and Clouchwang. On September 26th, the vanguard of the Japanese forces attacked the enemy west of Hsiakiaopu.
The Hirata detachment, which pushed south of Yanghsin passed Shanhsiacheng, 9 kilometres northeast of Paishih on September 30th, advanced to the line connecting Mingshuiwa, Hsieshihchieh and Paishih on the right bank of the Fu River shortly after 10 a.m., October 1st.
Part of the Japanese forces which reduced Fichihkow pushed further west along the southern bank of the Yangtze River and occupied Panpishan opposite Tienkiachen Fort in cooperation with a naval landing party at 9 a.m., October 4th.
Those Japanese troops which had been pressing back the enemy to the Fu River from the Hsiafen-Hsiakiaopu highway and the Tapan-Shwangkangchieh highway broke through the enemy line connecting Hsiakiaopu, Shangtayu, Shihtishan, Tapan, Tachuanmang and Yintushan and kept up their drive on the Fu River.
The Siushui and Joki Sectors
The Japanese troops which drove southwest from Juichang, south of the Yangtze River, advanced to Hsiaohuan on September 24th. On September 27th, these troops confronted the Chinese force which had set up defence works along the line connecting Fuhsuehshan, Maanling, Likiashan and Paishuikai.
At dawn, September 30th, the Japanese forces started a general attack and advanced to the line between Tienkiaoho and a hill south of Yuansanchien which lies east of Shangwan, by breaking through the enemy positions east of Maanshan.
At 11 p.m., October 3rd, the centre of the Japanese troops reached the hilly line, about 4 kilometres northwest of Joki, which was occupied at 2 a.m., October 5th. Joki lies on the Siushui River, being a strategically important town between Yungsiu and Wuning.
Aikow Sector
The Japanese force which took Tungkuling after hard fighting repulsed an enemy counter-attack on the 350-metre hill on the night of September 5th. This force on September 6th dislodged the Chinese troops from their positions near Kwanyinyen.
On September 8th, the Japanese troops started an attack on Sikuling Hill, and the same evening succeeded in taking the enemy positions on the hill-side. On the evening of September 9th, the Japanese took the line connecting Wukia, Shangtaowang and Sikushan. The left wing of the Japanese forces made a further advance with the result that the Japanese first line advanced to the line connecting Chihlungshan, Yuankiapon and Sikushan on the evening of September 11th.
At 9 a.m., September 12th, the Japanese succeeded in capturing Sikushan Hill after fierce fighting. The same evening, the Japanese first line reached the line connecting Chihlungshan, Pamaokiao, Hukia, Sikushan and Lichuang. The next day, the situation developed more favourably toward the Japanese troops, so that their first line advanced to the line connecting Chihlungshan, Hukia, the 251-metre hill, Taokiawan and Ouyangchuang.
The Japanese force which started an attack on the enemy at Shankiashan from the line extending north and south from Taokiawan on September 13th reached the line between Kweitsungsze and Shankiashan by 10 a.m., the following day. This force advanced to the line between Hsiangchuansze and Lukiatung on September 15th.
The Japanese pincer movement against the Chinese troops, which has been offering stiff resistance at and round Aikow, taking advantage of the steep mountains surrounding that city, was steadily tightened. On October 3rd, the right wing of the Japanese forces dislodged the enemy from Hwangensze. On October 6th, Hwalungshan Hill, a key point of the enemy right wing fell before the fierce Japanese onslaught. At dawn, the next day, the Japanese troops broke through the enemy positions on Hwanglungshan Hill south of Aikow and pushed southwest. The fall of Aikow was imminent, but the Chinese troops there were still offering subborn [sic] resistance on October 7th.
The North China Front
The Shansi Sector
The Japanese artillery garrison at Fenglingtu, the southwestern extremity of Shansi Province, on September 16th showered shells on Tungkwan and Shihlitzun Station across the Yellow River, while military air squadrons on September 18th bombed Tungkwan and its neighbourhood. Train service was suspended on the Lung-Hai Railway during the daytime, though the Chinese authorities apparently were planning to operate trains at night.
The Menghsien Sector
The Japanese force which was operating west of Menghsien occupied Potaochen, 10 kilometres northwest of Tiehhsieh, on September 15th. The following day, this force drove further westward. The Japanese artillery force also destroyed the Chinese positions near Hungchien, 7 kilometres north of Tiehhsieh and also the Chinese artillery positions on the opposite bank of the Yellow River, equipped with eight 10-centimetre guns.
The New Yellow River Sector
Those Japanese troops which were operating southwest of Kweite on the Lung-Hai Railway crossed the new Yellow River from Changyingtsi northwest of Taikang on September 14th and occupied the delta, 6 kilometres east of Lutan. About 2,000 Chinese soldiers set up positions at Lutan and the area southeast of it, but the Japanese dislodged them.
The new Yellow River, which was created when the southern dike of the river was breached by the Chinese forces in a desperate attempt to check the Japanese advance on Chengchow, an important railway juncture, was rising.
Activities of the Military Air Force
The military air force is active on all fronts in cooperation with the ground forces, bombing and machine-gunning the Chinese military works and troop concentrations. It is also giving effective service in reconnoitering the enemy positions and establishing communications between the Japanese forces.
At 4 : 30 p.m., September 26th, military air squadrons made a surprise raid on Hankow and attacked the airfield there. Twelve out of thirteen Chinese aeroplanes on the ground were bombed and destroyed. The Japanese raiders were greeted with heavy fire by the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries, but all of them returned to their base safely, though one of them was hit by fragments of an anti-aircraft shell.
THE SITUATION IN CHINA
II
— FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION —
PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT
The combined drive on Hankow by Japanese land, sea and air forces is progressing steadily. Naval forces are pushing up the Yangtze River, removing booms and sweeping mines in the face of enemy fire. Naval landing parties are attacking and capturing Chinese forts on either bank of the river at such points as Wusueh, Siangshan and Tienkiachen. The Naval Air Force is flying over various points throughout China every day, bombing military works and establishments.
On September 14th, a Naval landing party, which landed at an undisclosed place on the bank of the Yangtze following the fall of Kiukiang, occupied Matowchen Fort on the southern bank of the river opposite Wusueh.
The naval force made a further drive up the Yangtze River in cooperation with air and ground forces, by removing booms and sweeping minefields.
On September 15th, the landing party that occupied Matowchen Fort pursued the enemy in a northwestern direction.
Another party which landed at a point below Wusueh early on the morning of September 16th started a drive on Wusueh on the following day. They forged their way through enemy positions on the northern bank of the river in concert with naval and naval air forces, and succeeded in taking the fortress by noon. After occupying Wusueh, the landing party immediately started a clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops remaining in the vicinity, thereby extending the area under Japanese occupation.
On September 29th, this same group succeeded in reducing Siangshan Fort, the outpost of Tienkiachen Fort, covered by fire from warships and the air force. The landing party had been engaged in severe fighting for several days with Chinese troops that were ten times as large in numerical strength and which had set up positions in the mountains north and west of Wusueh. Subsequently, this party started a drive on Tienkiachen Fort in concert with military units. On September 30th, remnants of Chinese troops between Tienkiachen and Siangshan were routed. On the same day, the vanguard of the naval force proceeded up the Yangtze, silencing enemy artillery fire on either bank of the river.
Still further advance up the Yangtze was made on October 3rd.
On October 4th, a naval landing party occupied Panpishan Fort on the southern bank of the Yangtze opposite Tienkiachen Fort. This fort together with the one at Tienkiachen dominates the Yangtze River between
Kiukiang and Hwangshihkang. The landing party fought in close conjunction with military forces, warships and the Naval Air Force.
The Japanese Naval Air Force in China
Activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force from September 12th to October 3rd are outlined below.
September 12th The Naval Air Force was active in Central China in concert with the military and naval forces. Air units commanded by Lieutenant Soyeda raided Chengchow, junction of the Peking-Hankow and the Lung-Hai Railways and bombed goods waggons and godowns in the station compounds, which went up in flames. The tracks were severed at several points.
Naval air units led by Lieutenant Katsumi and Sub-Lieutenant Ogawa in cooperation with the ground forces attacked the Chinese positions and troop concentrations southwest of Juichang and south of the Yangtze River.
Lieutenant Yanaka, leading a naval air squadron, visited Honan Province and attacked the Chinese troop concentrations southwest of Shangcheng. Several Chinese positions were also attacked. The planes that flew along the Yangtze River discovered the Chinese artillery positions on both banks of the river, which they bombed heavily.
Another naval squadron led by Lieutenant Higai raided Nancheng in eastern Kiangsi Province and effectively bombed the airfield there.
September 13th In Central China, naval air units assisted the ground forces in attacking the Chinese troop concentrations and artillery positions west of Kwangtsi and northwest of Wusueh on the northern bank of the Yangtze River.
Other naval planes commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Sugaku raided Loshan and Suntiehpu in Honan Province and bombed the Chinese military works and troop concentrations so effectively that the eastward movement of the Chinese troops was checked.
In South China, Liuchow in central Kwangsi Province was raided by naval air units under Lieutenant Iguchi. Four Chinese fighting planes were flying above the airfield there. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese airmen succeeded in shooting down three of them and putting the remaining one to flight. Over a dozen large-sized and six small-sized planes on the ground were bombed and destroyed together with several hangars. No anti-aircraft battery fired on the Japanese planes.
September 14th The Naval Air Force limited its operations to the Yangtze valley where it cooperated with the military forces. Chinese troop concentrations north of Wusueh were bombed.
Naval air units led by Lieutenants Shibata and Katsumi raided the Chinese first line north and west of Kwangtsi and effectively bombed the Chinese positions.
September 15th In cooperation with the military forces and a naval landing party, several naval air units attacked the Chinese positions on either bank of the Yangtze. A squadron led by Lieutenant Nonaka bombed the Chinese troop concentrations at Tienkiachen on the northern
bank of the Yangtze with the result that fires started at several points in the town. The Japanese planes were greeted with fierce fire from the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries, but they all returned to their base safely.
Another squadron commanded by Lieutenant Soyeda raided Kishui on the northern bank of the Yangtze River and bombed the Chinese military works and troop concentrations there with the result that fires started at several points in the town.
Repeated attacks were made by naval planes on the Chinese positions on Mount Maan (Saddle Mountain), northwest of Wusueh and the area west of Wusueh.
The enemy line west of Juichang was attacked by naval air units under Lieutenants Higai, Mori and Nakamura. Chinese anti-aircraft fire was extremely severe, but all the Japanese planes returned to their base safely.
September 16th In Central China, several naval air squadrons cooperated with the naval force pushing up the Yangtze and the military forces driving on Hankow along the northern and southern banks of the river.
A unit led by Sub-Lieutenant Hirahara, in cooperation with the ground forces near Wusueh and Tienkiachen, bombed Chinese military works and troop concentrations, inflicting heavy damage.
Other naval squadrons commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Yasunobu and Lieutenant Mori made extensive flights over the wavering Chinese troops in the mountainous zone between Juichang and Yanghsin south of the Yangtze.
Several naval air units also raided Mushihkang, Hwangtukiao, Tafenglin, Shafuling and other places near Yanghsin and bombed the Chinese military works and troop concentrations there.
In South China, naval air squadrons, taking advantage of the clear weather after a long spell of rain, raided Laitung, Wongshek and Yuantan, destroyed the railway tracks at several points and severely damaged steel bridges, thus interrupting the train service.
September 17th Naval air units which visited the Yangtze valley devoted the whole day to attacks on Chinese military positions and troop concentrations on either bank of the river in cooperation with the naval force pushing upstream and the ground forces driving westward along both banks.
A naval air squadron which visited South China raided Wuchow and effectively bombed the military works in the eastern part of the town.
Other naval planes attacked the airfield at Bocca Tigris and also the Canton-Hankow Railway.
September 18th Crack units of the Naval Air Force which visited South China bombed the airfield at Liuchow, defying the foul weather conditions. One unit led by Lieutenant Iguchi, despite heavy fire from the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries, bombed the hangars and other buildings in the airfield, with the result that fires were started at four points. Several large and small planes on the ground were bombed and destroyed. Another unit commanded by Lieutenant Mihara destroyed five Chinese planes on the ground together with several buildings. All the Japanese planes returned to their base in safety. Liuchow was first visited by Japanese naval planes on September 13th. This raid was a second one.
The two raids resulted in the destruction of all the technical installations in the local airfield.
September 19th Those naval planes which visited South China bombed the Canton-Hankow Railway and military objectives in Wuchow. Yuantan and Yinchanyao on the railway were bombed twice, while the bullet factory at Wuchow was attacked.
September 21st With the improvement of the weather, the Chinese positions and troop concentrations, both north and south of the Yangtze River were bombed by several naval air squadrons.
One unit visited Yamhsien in southwestern Kwangsi Province and effectively bombed the military barracks and other military establishments. The Chinese anti-aircraft batteries fired on the Japanese raiders, who, however, all succeeded in returning to their base safely.
September 22nd In Central China, bad weather conditions prevented a large naval force from being active, but small groups of naval planes from time to time took to the air and effectively bombed the Chinese first lines on both banks of the Yangtze.
In South China, Wuming, Nanning and Yamhsien were raided, where barracks and other military works were bombed and destroyed. The Canton-Hankow Railway was also attacked and the steel bridges and tracks near Pakonghow and Yuantan were bombed. The train service on the southern section of the Canton-Hankow Railway was suspended. A naval air squadron led by Lieutenant Kame bombed and sunk a Chinese gunboat of the Chu Yew class at Lanchihchen, 5 miles above Hwangshihkang.
September 23rd Naval air squadrons visiting the Yangtze valley despite poor weather bombed the Chinese positions, troop concentrations and caravans of motor-lorries in cooperation with the ground forces.
Those naval air units which raided South China were unable to penetrate far inland owing to heavy cloud banks, but bombed the military works at Yamhsien and the steel bridge at Yuantan.
September 24th Taking advantage of an improvement of the weather, a naval air unit led by Lieutenant Soyeda raided Tsungfow, southwest of Macheng in Hupeh Province, and bombed the military establishments there.
Other units commanded by Lieutenants Shibata and Katsumi raided Tsingyang in Anhwei Province. Still other groups commanded by Lieutenants Fukushima, Kame, Watanabe and Inouye bombed the Chinese positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the Yangtze in cooperation with the ground forces.
September 25th Sustained attacks were made by several naval air units on the Chinese artillery positions, military works in Central China and goods trains on the Peking-Hankow Railway.
Chinese troop concentrations, artillery positions and caravans of motor-lorries were bombed at Kichun and its neighbourhood. Tienkiachen Fort was also attacked, while Chinese motor-boats laying mines near Tienkiachen were bombed and sunk together with forty junks carrying munitions. The area south of the Yangtze was also raided, and Chinese troop concentrations between Yanghsin and Tsungshan were attacked in order to check their eastward movement.
In South China, Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, was visited.
The local airfield was bombed together with various military establishments.
September 26th In South China, the airfields at Liuchow and Kweilin in Kwangsi Province were attacked. Several aeroplanes on the ground and five hangars were bombed and destroyed. All the Japanese planes returned to their base safely.
In the area north of the Yangtze, sustained attacks were made on Tienkiachen Fort, where the Chinese troops were offering stiff resistance to the Japanese onslaughts. Chinese troop concentrations, artillery positions and motor-lorries loaded to capacity with munitions were effectively bombed in the area between Tienkiachen, Kishui and Tsaohochen.
South of the Yangtze, Chinese forts including Panpishan opposite Tienkiachen were bombed together with munition dumps.
Hwayuan Station on the southern section of the Peking-Hankow Railway and Sienning Station on the northern section of the Canton-Hankow Railway were attacked. Station buildings, railway tracks and goods trains were effectively bombed.
September 27th Kweilin, Liuchow and Wuming in Kwangsi Province were raided, where the airfields were bombed. Various technical installations, including runways, hangars and godowns were destroyed.
September 28th Naval air squadrons led by Lieutenant Mihara raided Yunnanfu, capital of Yunnan Province. The Japanese airmen were challenged by over a dozen Chinese planes, six of which, however, were brought down in the ensuing air combat. Fourteen Chinese planes on the ground were also bombed and destroyed. Eight of them went up in flames, together with over a dozen buildings in the airfield.
The military cadets' school and arsenal in Yunnanfu were bombed and burned. The Chinese military authorities had been planning to reorganize their air force with Yunnanfu as base, but their plan was seriously upset by the effective Japanese raid.
A Japanese naval plane piloted by Warrant Officer Ono, succeeded in shooting down one Chinese plane, but was disabled when several bullets hit it. The crew, waving their hands in farewell, committed heroic suicide by plunging the plane into the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries on the side of a hill south of the airfield.
All establishments at the major stations on the southern section of the Peking-Hankow Railway had already been destroyed by repeated Japanese bombings. Other establishments which had remained intact were bombed and destroyed with the result that the train service south of Sinyang was interrupted. Hwanyuan and Kwangshui Stations and surrounding railway establishments were bombed, together with freight trains. The station at Sinyang was bombed and burned.
Paiyun, Tienho and Tsungfa in Kwangtung Province were raided and the airfields were effectively bombed. Runways and hangars were destroyed.
Several naval air squadrons in concert with the naval force and ground forces repeatedly attacked the Chinese positions and troop concentrations along the Yangtze River. Especially heavy bombing was made on the Chinese artillery positions near Tienkiachen.
September 30th Several naval air units, in cooperation with the naval landing party, attacked the Chinese positions between Tienkiachen and Siangshan. The Chinese troops retreating from Tienkiachen to Kichun were bombed and machine-gunned.
October 3rd The activity of the Naval Air Force was hampered by the foul weather which prevailed over many parts of China, but several units raided the Canton-Kowloon and the Canton-Hankow Railways, bombing Lilang Station on the former and the steel bridge near Yinchanyao on the latter.