The Situation in China
I. Advance of the Imperial Army
Bureau of Information, War Department
THE Wuhan district comprising the three cities of Hankow, Hanyang and Wuchang fell on October 27, 1938.
The battle for Hankow, which was fought by the Japanese forces in order to deal the Chiang Kai-shek régime a crushing blow, differed from the battle for Hsuchow or the Shanghai campaign in that it was marked with mountain warfare along the Yangtze River for a distance of about 1,000 kilometres. On more than one occasion, the Chinese command had declared that Hankow would be defended to the death.
The Japanese forces started operations late in July and established a base of operations at Kiukiang, preparatory to the westward drive along both the northern and southern banks of the Yangtze. Fierce engagements took place in the Lushan and Kwangtsi sectors. At the same time, Japanese troops, which were concentrated at Luchow (Hofei) in central Anhwei Province, pushed westward along the northern base of the Tapieh mountain range. After breaking through the enemy positions on the Shih River and Mount Fukinshan, they reached the Peking-Hankow Railway on October 12th, thus completing a pincer movement against Hankow.
Meanwhile a fresh campaign, swiftly and successfully carried out in South China by the Japanese forces, served not only to confound the enemy command but to shake the Chinese troops within the Wuhan district so badly that all key points for the defence of Hankow fell before the Japanese onslaughts one after another. General Chiang Kai-shek who declared to share the fate of Hankow was compelled to flee from the city.
The fall of the Wuhan area served to enhance the prestige of the Imperial forces and to destroy the prestige and influence of the Chiang régime. Consequently, it has facilitated the building up of the new China.
It must be recognized, however, that the battle for Hankow was not terminated with the capture of the Wuhan district, because remnants of the Chinese troops are still attempting to check the
[Map: Map of Central China showing the movements of Japanese troops in the capture of Hankow and after (printed across a two-page spread, pp. 22-23, turned sideways)]
Japanese advance at various sectors. When those Chinese troops are driven away to remoter regions, then the battle for Hankow may be considered completed.
The Central China Front
The Sinyang Sector
The Japanese forces which occupied Loshan on September 21st immediately started a converging movement on Sinyang, about 48 kilometres west of Loshan, by three routes. One Japanese force, which pushed west along the Loshan-Wulitien-Sinyang highway, dislodged the enemy from Lankanpu on October 5th and reached the area east of Chungshanpu on October 9th.
Another force started from a river on the southwestern side of Loshan and reached Chiangshantien on October 4th. This force, dashing through the enemy positions about 24 kilometres long on October 6th, succeeded in storming Liulin Station south of Sinyang and blowing up the Peking-Hankow Railway at that point. The third force, pursuing the retreating enemy, took Chutungtien on October 8th and then advanced to Tukiapan, where it swung north and crossed the Peking-Hankow Railway. On October 9th, it occupied Tungshwangho, south of Sinyang, Taishang, north of Sinyang, and Wangkiapan, west of Sinyang. After breaking down the stubborn resistance offered by the enemy, it turned northwest and took a hill, 721 metres high, south of Sinyang on October 10th. The following morning, the enemy attempted to recapture the hill, but was repulsed.
Led by tank units, the Japanese force, which drove west along the highway from Loshan, started a drive on Sinyang on October 11th, after dispersing the enemy near Chungshanpu. Part of this force pushed west of Chungshanpu and succeeded in cutting off the enemy's retreat, capturing two 12-centimetre guns and large quantities of other arms and ammunition. At noon, October 12th, Sinyang fell into Japanese hands.
The Japanese troops planning to reach the Peking-Hankow Railway from Loshan and also from the Hwai River north of Loshan succeeded in dislodging the enemy from its positions at Tilintien and Hsutien on the northern bank of the Hwai River on October 5th and advanced on Towkang. Some Japanese units reached Lowan and Kaotien on October 6th. Early in the [illegible] of October 11th, they reached the Peking-Hankow R[illegible] near
Chitun, 15 kilometres north of Sinyang, and cut off the railway. Chitun Station was occupied the same day.
The Japanese forces that reduced Sinyang turned their attention to the Chinese 46th, 106th, 125th and 127th divisions, which had set up positions in the mountainous region west of the Peking-Hankow Railway. After routing them, these Japanese forces swung south. Some of them, after breaking through the enemy positions at Muchuho on the right bank of the Hwai River, 24 kilometres northwest of Sinyang, reached the Yu River on October 13th.
The Japanese military air force was remarkably active on October 13th despite foul weather conditions and bombed and machine-gunned a large force of Chinese troops retreating east of Tungpo three times in the afternoon, dealing heavy damage.
One Japanese detachment which was eliminating remnants of Chinese troops along the Peking-Hankow Railway north of Sinyang encountered some 2,000 Chinese soldiers, moving southward on October 14th and inflicted heavy losses on them. This detachment occupied Changtai on October 15th.
Those Japanese troops which drove south along the Peking-Hankow Railway reached the line extending east and west from Kiangkiawan, 4 kilometres south of Liulin, on October 16th and attacked the Chinese 13th, 20th, 30th and 56th divisions.
Another Japanese force which pushed south along the area west of the Peking-Hankow Railway broke through the enemy positions near Tankiaho on the left bank of the Sze River on October 18th and reached the line extending east and west from Hukiachai on October 20th.
Part of the Japanese force which dislodged the enemy from Tatishih drove southward and occupied Hsintien. Another detachment took Yingshan on October 24th and inflicted heavy damage on a large force of Chinese troops near Tungsintien east of Anlu (Tean) on October 27th, when it captured 3 heavy guns, 1 field gun and large quantities of other arms. The same night, this detachment successfully stormed Anlu. On October 28th, it started a southern drive on Yingcheng.
The Mori detachment, which was furiously attacking the enemy at Pingtsingkwan, 20 kilometres northeast of Wusheng Pass which forms the border between Honan and Hupeh Provinces, succeeded in reducing Pingtsingkwan on the morning of October 28th.
The Japanese booty near Hwayuan (40 kilometres north of Siaokan), as ascertained up to November 1st consisted of 38 15-centimetre guns, 40 field-guns, 2 mountain-guns, 7 infantry-guns, 10 rapid-firers and 10 trench-mortars. The booty at Yingcheng included
52 motor-lorries, 7 field-guns, 1 mountain-gun and 5 caissons in addition to enormous quantities of ammunition.
The Japanese forces which were following the retreating enemy in the area east of the Peking-Hankow Railway had reached Hwangan and Sungfow when Hankow fell.
The Shawo Sector
A general attack was launched on the Chinese positions on Mount Si (West Mountain) and other mountains in the Tapieh range which forms the border between Honan and Hupeh Province on October 17th, a Japanese national holiday. The weather had cleared up for the first time in twenty days. Japanese soldiers sprang from their dugouts and made bayonet charges at the enemy positions on top of the mountain, surrounded with barbed wire entanglements. The enemy which had been offering stubborn resistance since October 6th was apparently exhausted. Chinese positions fell before the Japanese charges one after another. By 10 o'clock that morning, the sun-flags were flown from all parts of Mount Si. The Chinese on the heights near Szetzekow also abandoned their positions with the result that the situation in the Shawo sector developed spectacularly in favour of the Japanese. On the evening of October 21st, the Japanese right wing succeeded in occupying the highest peak in the Paiyunshan (White Cloud mountain) range.
The military air force attacked the enemy positions daily in concert with the ground forces. On October 16th, Japanese air units attacked Futienho, 30 kilometres south of Shawo, at the southern base of the Tapieh range and dealt the enemy heavy damage.
Mount Si with Mount Tayuan, which the Japanese took on October 15th, formed the two important outposts for the defence of Macheng at the southern base of the Tapieh range, falling back on which the Chinese troops under General Sun Lien-chung had successfully checked the Japanese southern drive across the mountain range for more than three weeks. The Chinese forces in this sector included the 30th, 31st, 87th and 88th divisions of Central troops armed with heavy artillery pieces and trench-mortars.
In addition, there were six more divisions of Chinese provincial troops in this sector. The Chinese troops, about 10 divisions strong, however, met disaster on October 23rd when the Japanese forces succeeded in capturing Mount Paiyun (White Cloud Mountain). The Chinese started a retreat in confusion toward the southwest.
Giving the Chinese troops a fierce running fight, the Japanese forces passed Futienho on October 24th and occupied Wukiaho south of Futienho at 2 p.m. Early in the next morning, the Japanese took Macheng at the southern base of the Tapieh range and kept up their pursuit of the retreating Chinese troops.
The Hsintien Sector
The situation in the Hsintien sector developed smoothly. At 6 p.m., October 8th, the Japanese forces took Hsintien and reached the line between the base of the height southeast of Hsintien and a height east of Changfutien, the same evening. The enemy was pressed back southward toward Lianghokow and Wulitien.
The enemy, reinforced, attempted to offer stiff resistance at the heights of Chiaochienshan and Chiangchunchai on the western bank of the Ku River. The right wing of the Japanese forces lost no time in attacking the fresh enemy positions and took Chiaochienshan on October 11th. After capturing a height south of Changfutien on October 14th, the Japanese troops drove southeast and on October 18th launched a general attack on Changchuyuan. The enemy first defence line was broken the same evening, while the Japanese air force cooperated with the ground forces and made sustained attacks on Changchuyuan and Chiangchunchai.
Chiangchunchai, a height on the western side of Changfutien, was attacked on the evening of October 12th by the Japanese first line in a drizzling rain. It was defended by a large Chinese force which was steadily reinforced in order to safeguard an important point on the highway from Shangcheng to Macheng. The Japanese, however, succeeded in reaching the slope of the hill on October 13th and occupied the hill the same evening. On October 23rd, the Japanese forces gave chase to the retreating Chinese troops and reached Yenkiaho after taking Shihmenpau and Sanhokow. They reached Sungfow on October 26th and Hwangan on October 27th.
From Tienkiachen to Wuchang
On October 8th, a Japanese force in cooperation with the navy occupied Kichun on the Yangtze River, about 20 kilometres above Tienkiachen. Another Japanese military force in cooperation with the navy landed near Weiyuankow on October 12th and captured Shangweishan south of Weiyuankow.
The Japanese force which drove west along the northern bank of the Yangtze River and occupied Kichun on October 8th made a
swift push westward and took Lantaochi on October 10th, Hsiaolannitan on October 12th, Maopu on October 13th and Makialung on October 20th. This force reached Tungyomiao on October 24th, by going up the Yangtze 60 kilometres from Lanchihsiachieh.
At dawn, October 14th, the Takashima detachment in concert with a naval landing party effected a forced landing in face of the enemy near Tzusiao and Kuchungchow and occupied Tawangshan and Hsiaowangshan, thus menacing the rear of Tayeh.
On October 16th, a Japanese military force operating on the southern bank of the Yangtze occupied Shihhweiyao. Hwangshihkang, above Shihhweiyao, was taken on October 20th by this force, which further drove west and occupied Chiaolinchu on October 23rd.
Another Japanese force which pushed north from Tayeh occupied the Tayeh iron mines on October 20th. Keeping up its western drive along the southern bank of the Yangtze River, this force reduced Ocheng a few days later. It occupied Hwayungchen on October 24th, Kotien on October 25th and entered Wuchang at 8:20 a.m., October 26th. Hanyang at the junction of the Han and Yangtze Rivers opposite Wuchang was occupied the following day.
From Kwangtsi to Hankow
The Japanese forces, which had been standing by at Kwangtsi on the northern bank of the Yangtze River for some time, started a western drive toward Hankow on October 17th. At noon, the following day, they occupied Siho and, pursuing the retreating Chinese troops, reached Chiehling (30 kilometres northwest of Kwangtsi) the same evening. On October 20th, they reached the Kishui River which they crossed and at 10:40 a.m., the following day occupied Kishui, one of the most important towns on the northern bank of the Yangtze.
With the fall of Kishui, the situation along the northern bank made rapid development with the result that the Japanese force operating in this sector was the first to enter Hankow.
The Japanese force which took Kishui on October 21st kept up its western push and reached Shangpahoshih on October 22nd, Hsinchow on October 23rd, Hwangpo on October 24th and Hengtien on the Peking-Hankow Railway, 24 kilometres north of Hankow, at 9:15 a.m., October 25th. Part of this force drove south along the Peking-Hankow Railway and advanced to Santaokiao, 4 kilometres north of Hankow at 10 o'clock the same morning. At 4:30 p.m., it entered the northeastern part of Hankow. Thus the
Japanese force entered Hankow within four days after leaving Kishui, by covering a distance of 120 kilometres through a mountainous region.
The Front South of the Yangtze
From Yanghsin to the Canton-Hankow Railway
The Japanese forces which had been standing by on the right bank of the Fu River began operations for crossing the river on October 8th and at 10 o'clock the following morning succeeded in dislodging the enemy from the left bank, reaching the line between Chungli, Changtushan and Tungtzenao, 5 kilometres west of the left bank of the river. The right wing of the Japanese forces crossed the river near Shangkiang and on the evening of October 10th advanced to Shanghomutu, 15 kilometres west of Yanghsin. This wing captured Wangmaochien Hill southwest of Shanghomutu on October 11th. The Japanese left wing, on the evening of October 10th, reached the line connecting the 1,002-metre mountain at Shihhweiyao on the northern bank of the Fu River and the mountain southwest of Talao.
On October 12th, the Japanese forces advanced further and threatened to dominate the highway between Yanghsin and Tungshan, after breaking through the enemy line between Lungkiang and Yangkiang.
Another Japanese force which started from Joki on October 7th drove on Hsintanpu. By defeating the enemy on the way, this force reached a point some 4 kilometres south of Hsintanpu on October 12th. At noon, the same day, it started a furious attack on Hsintanpu, which it reduced the following morning.
The Japanese operations west of Yanghsin and along the southern bank of the Yangtze River developed so as to isolate Yanghsin. Consequently the enemy at Yanghsin was compelled to start a general retreat and the walled town fell into Japanese hands at noon, October 18th.
Yanghsin, which stands about 120 kilometres southeast of Hankow, formed a key point in the second defence line for Hankow, with General Chen Cheng, commander-in-chief of the 9th war zone for the defence of Hankow, establishing his headquarters there.
Two Japanese detachments, the Hirata and Ishimoto, which swung north from Yanghsin to make a drive on Tayeh, attacked the enemy positions near Mount Tachi, south of Tayeh on the night of October 18th and succeeded in capturing the mountain the
following day, thus dominating Tayeh, which fell into Japanese hands on the evening of October 20th.
Those Japanese forces, which crossed the upper reaches of the Fu River, succeeded in controlling Yanghsinchen at dawn, October 19th. The enemy in this sector retreated westward toward Tungshan.
Those Japanese detachments which pushed northwest after dislodging the enemy from Paishih reached the line extending north and south from Panhsiapu on October 20th. Keeping up their drive, these units advanced to Yangshu, southeast of Lake Liangtze, on October 23rd. After breaking through the enemy positions in front of Yangshu, they attacked Kinniu on October 26th and succeeded in taking it the following day. Part of the Japanese detachments kept up the western drive and reached Hengkangkiao on the Canton-Hankow Railway, 72 kilometres south of Wuchang, at 4:30 p.m., October 27th. Thus the Canton-Hankow Railway was cut off. Large forces of Chinese troops had been retreating southward in confusion along the Canton-Hankow Railway and also along the highway between Wuchang and Sienning. The Japanese forces have since been chasing the enemy southward, mainly along the railway. On November 2nd, Puchi on the Canton-Hankow Railway halfway between Wuchang and Yochow was occupied by the Japanese forces.
From Aikowchieh to Teian
Japanese forces reduced Aikowchieh, which stands at the entrance of a defile leading to Teian, at 8:20 a.m., October 9th. The following day, two heights, Wushihling west of Aikowchieh and Pingshannao to the south were taken. On October 11th, the Chinese positions at Shwangfengnao, Hsukialing and Wangling, 5 kilometres west of Aikowchieh, were attacked. The following dawn, the Japanese reached the line connecting Shwangfengnao, Lungnanshan (6 kilometres west of Aikowchieh), Wenkialing and Wangling.
Early in the morning of October 13th, an attack was launched on the enemy positions at Toling Hill, on which combined attacks were also made by the Japanese air and artillery forces. At 10 a.m., October 15th, the Imperial forces occupied the hill. At midnight, October 17th, the strategic points south of Chingshihkiao, including Paishihchien and Hsienkuling were taken one after another, so that on the morning of October 18th, the first line of the Japanese forces was within 4 kilometres of Teian.
Stubborn resistance was offered by the Chinese troops at Teian,
taking advantage of its steep topography, but the Japanese forces succeeded in reducing the city with sustained onslaughts on October 27th.
Meanwhile, another Japanese force which pushed eastward from Joki broke through the enemy positions near Kanmu[illegible]wan on October 12th and advanced to the line extending north and south from Jokong on October 20th, menacing the enemy positions southwest of Teian. The Japanese forces, which occupied Teian on October 27th, have since been keeping up their southern push. On October 31st, they started a drive on Siushui, where the enemy had been wavering before the Japanese attack.
The South China Front
When the battle for Hankow was in full swing, a campaign no less spectacular was started in South China by the Japanese Army in cooperation with the Navy in an effort to intercept the major route of munitions supply for the Chinese forces, to destroy the important bases of Chinese operations and machinations against Japan and thereby to deal the Chiang Kai-shek régime a crushing blow.
The Chinese side has hitherto represented Japan as incapable of expanding its military operations beyond the present stage and financially on the verge of collapse. Such misrepresentation or miscalculation on the part of the Chiang administration has been completely exploded by the fresh campaign now going on in South China.
The signal success which crowned Japan's efforts to make a forced landing of a large force of troops in South China, a strategically difficult operation, must be primarily attributed to the Imperial virtue and influence, but it is also due to the close cooperation and coordination between the Army and Navy, carefully laid plans of operations, bravery of the officers and men and enthusiastic support extended by the nation behind-the-guns.
A communique issued by the Army and Navy sections of the Imperial Headquarters at 9:30 a.m., October 12th stated:
"Crack units of the Japanese Army and Navy at dawn, October 12th succeeded in making a surprise landing in a certain area of South China and are now steadily advancing inland. The heat is severe there, but the weather is fine. The sea is calm. The Japanese morale is high."
Subsequent communiques have all shown that the fresh campaign in South China was successful. The communique issued by the Army section at 10 a.m., October 13th reads:
[Map: showing advance of Japanese forces from Bias Bay to Canton and beyond (page printed sideways)]
"The Japanese forces, which at dawn, October 12th landed on the shore of Bias Bay in South China, advanced several kilometres inland by noon of that same day. The enemy was entirely taken aback, so that there was not a single casualty among the Japanese forces until noon. The weather has continued fine. Landing of more troops has been carried on smoothly.
"The Wuhan district has been shaken by the surprise landing in South China. General Chiang Kai-shek is now concentrating over a dozen divisions of Central troops under his direct control at Yochow and Changsha in Hunan Province. Indications show that his boastful determination to defend the Wuhan area to the death is shaken."
Another communique issued by the Army section of the Imperial Headquarters at 5 p.m., October 13th reads:
"The situation in South China is developing favourable for the Japanese forces, so that they are carrying everything before them. On the evening of the first day of their landing, Japanese forces advanced 20 kilometres inland. They are keeping up their drive.
"The weather has continued fine, so that landing of more troops is being carried on very smoothly. The officers and men are in high spirits. Not a single enemy plane has appeared over the new front."
The communique issued by the Army section of the Imperial Headquarters at 10 a.m., October 14th reads:
"The Japanese forces made a swift advance and reached the line extending north and south from Tamshui at noon, October 13th. They are keeping up their western drive. The landing was effected so unexpectedly and swiftly that the Japanese forces are now sweeping everything before them."
On the evening of October 13th, the Japanese forces reached the southern bank of the East River and started an attack on Waichow, which was completely occupied on the morning of October 15th. This swift advance was entirely due to the strenuous efforts put forth by the Japanese forces, which resolutely stood all sorts of privations, marching along roads that were veritable quagmires.
Following the occupation of Waichow, the Japanese forces immediately started preparations for crossing the East River and about noon, October 15th reached its northern bank. The easy crossing of the river was the result of the swift Japanese advance, which deprived the enemy of any chance for rallying.
The Japanese detachment operating in the Tamshui sector reached Suntong on the evening of October 14th and advanced on Sheklung on the afternoon of October 16th, when the
Canton-Kowloon Railway was cut off. Another Japanese detachment pushing north in the eastern area also reached the East River on the evening of October 14th and occupied Wanglihu.
Further advances were made by the Japanese forces in all sectors. On October 19th, the Japanese troops in cooperation with the naval air force occupied Tsengshing. Breaking through the enemy positions west of Tsengshing on October 20th, they kept up their western drive. At 3:30, October 21st, Japanese tank units entered Canton. General Yu Han-mou, General Wu Tieh-cheng and other leaders of the Canton armies had fled from Canton before the Japanese entry. The right wing of the Japanese forces started operations to cut off the retreat of the enemy.
The remnants of Chinese troops in Canton were routed by the Japanese forces on October 21st.
Part of the Japanese forces in cooperation with the navy landed at the delta at the mouth of the Pearl River on October 23rd. In the evening, the Japanese forces captured Bocca Tigris Fort, while a Japanese detachment pushed up the Pearl River and approached Fatshan.
Those Japanese troops which drove along the highway from Wanglihu to Tsungfa via Pinglinghu and Yunghan occupied Tsungfa on October 24th. The Chinese troops which withdrew from Tsungfa apparently are roaming the area west of Tsungfa and north of Canton.
The Japanese booty, as the result of engagements near Canton included three 12.5-centimetre trench-mortars, 10 field-guns, 41 rapid-firers, 4 infantry-guns and trench-mortars, 8 anti-aircraft guns, 35 machine-guns, 6 tanks including 3 amphibians of Vickers manufacture, over 1,000 shells, 36,000 rounds of rifle and machine-gun ammunition, 2,500 hand-grenades and large quantities of other arms and ammunition.
Changchow Fort, about 16 kilometres southeast of Canton, was taken soon after the occupation of Canton by routing some 300 Chinese soldiers. Three 24-centimetre Canet guns, one 20-centimetre Canet gun and a large quantity of other arms and ammunition were captured.
The North China Front
Peace and order is gradually returning to North China. Parallel with the battle for Hankow, clean-up campaigns against the Chinese bandits and remnants of Chinese troops were conducted in various parts of North China. Chinese soldiers are surrendering to the Japanese forces daily.
The Shansi Sector
A punitive expedition started against the Chinese Communist troops in northern Shansi Province late in September was successfully concluded by the middle of October, by capturing Mount Wutaishan, one of the four holy Buddhist mountains in China, where the Chinese Communist troops had set up their base of operatious [sic].
A clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops near Yuanku in southern Shansi Province on the northern bank of the Yellow River was also successfully concluded early in October. All the Japanese units which participated in the campaign returned to their respective garrison headquarters on October 7th.
About 900 soldiers of the Chinese 198th Division, who surrendered to the Japanese Army at Lingshih on the Tatung-Puchow Railway, some 120 kilometres south of Taiyuan, moved south to participate in the punitive expedition near Yuanku on the Japanese side and fought against a detachment of the Chinese 8th Route Army. After defeating it, those Chinese soldiers reached Linfen on October 9th.
Tsai Siu-tao, leader of the "Anti-Japanese Death Band," which was infesting Chaocheng, south of Lingshih, surrendered to the Japanese early in October with his 4,000 men.
Those Chinese guerillas who fled into the Chungchiao mountain range at the southern extremity of Shansi Province are stubbornly resorting to guerilla warfare at Yuncheng, Puchow and the districts to the east. Otherwise, peace and order are gradually returning in Shansi Province. Chinese soldiers who had surrendered to the Japanese forces up to October 5th totalled 4,200 in number.
The Peking-Hankow Railway Sector
On October 7th, the Japanese force made a surprise attack on about 1,500 Chinese guerillas near Wuku east of Chengting on the Peking-Hankow Railway and wiped them out. Another group of 400 bandits was routed near Pehwangli east of Yuantze (south of Chengting). Bandits are still active near Changte, while Chinese troops under General Sun Tien-ying are operating near Wuan.
The Chinese troops under General Chu Hwai-yung are taking part in guerilla warfare west and south of Hsinsiang, cleverly dodging Japanese attacks. On October 3rd, a Japanese baggage corps after leaving Tsiyuan encountered about 600 Chinese soldiers near Wangwochen and repulsed them.
The Inner Mongolian Sector
About 2,000 soldiers of the Chinese Communist 6th Division, who were driven away from eastern Hopeh Province and again repulsed by the Kwantung Army when they entered Jehol Province in Manchoukuo, made their appearance at Chihcheng and Lungkwan, 80 kilometres east of Kalgan, but were routed by Japanese forces on October 5th. The bulk of them apparently fled southeastward.
On October 9th, a Japanese force surrounded and wiped out Chinese Communist troops which invaded Tahai.
II. Forces of the Imperial Navy in Action
Publicity Bureau, Navy Department
JAPANESE naval operations in the battle for Hankow were largely devoted to close cooperation with the military forces. Actually, the harmonious coordination between the three arms of the Japanese forces, land, sea and air made possible the final capture.
The naval forces opened the Yangtze River to the Japanese advance by incessantly engaging enemy positions on either bank of the river, removing booms and sweeping mines. Through the waterway thus opened, Japanese landing parties landed in face of the enemy and occupied one fort after another along the river, while military units vied with these parties in capturing important points on both banks of the Yangtze. Indeed, the advance was in the nature of a race between the Japanese naval and military forces.
And while all eyes were turned toward the battle for Hankow, a daring attack was launched in South China.
A Japanese naval force, escorting a large number of transports over a calm sea, landed crack military units on the shore of Bias Bay at dawn on October 12th, taking the enemy completely by surprise. The campaign in South China developed smoothly, as Japanese warships and naval air units cooperated with the military forces. Japanese landing parties also landed on islands near the point where the military forces disembarked, for patrol purposes.
Then, as the military units swiftly marched on Canton, the Japanese Navy proceeded up the Yangtze and entered Hankow at 5 p.m., October 26th. The Japanese forces completely occupied the three sister cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang on October 27th, within ten months after the capture of Nanking.
The Yangtze River, with mines swept and Chinese positions along its banks silenced, has become an important line of communication for the Japanese forces operating far inland. But for the existence of this 3,000-mile waterway, it might have been impossible for the Japanese forces to conduct such large-scale military operations in the interior of China.
The Naval Force on the Yangtze
The following is a chronological account of the rôle of the Japanese Navy and its landing parties in the battle for Hankow.
October 5th Japanese mine-sweeping operations made further progress in the face of heavy enemy fire. The naval landing party resumed its western drive following the occupation of Panpishan and took Maanshan. By evening, it had reached the line between Hsukiawan and Makiawan. It was protected in its advance by the fleet and the naval air force.
October 6th The landing party occupied a hilly area at Maochulin, about 8 kilometres above Panpishan. Japanese mine-sweepers made further progress, keeping pace with this landing party.
October 8th Naval forces occupied Kichun at 10 a.m., where the landing party was subsequently engaged in cleaning out remnants of Chinese troops. The naval force kept up its drive and succeeded in opening the waterway above Kichun, making a total advance of 15 miles during the day.
October 10th As the naval force removed booms and swept mines from the river several miles above Kichun, the Japanese landing party occupied Hwoshan, a strategically important point on the southern bank.
October 12th A Japanese landing party, in concert with the military and naval forces, landed at a point opposite Kichun at dawn and started a drive on Sichaishan.
October 15th Sichaishan, an important outpost of Sihhweiyao, was occupied by the landing party at 8:30 a.m. The Japanese units followed up their victory by taking Shanmaochung, southwest of Sichaishan, thus getting within striking distance of Shihhweiyao. The Chinese left about 50 dead in the day's engagements; Japanese casualties were negligible. The naval force continued its mine-sweeping operations.
October 16th Shihhweiyao was reduced by the Japanese landing party in cooperation with military units at 3:30 p.m.
October 17th The landing party engaged in cleaning-up operations. The Japanese booty at Shihhweiyao included some 500,000 tons of iron ore, 5,000 bales of wheat flour, 9,000 tons of briquettes, 10,000 lead bars, 2 locomotives, 500 bales of soya beans, 35 goods waggons, 4 heavy guns, and one 20-millimetre machine-gun. By this date, the vanguard of the naval force had approached Shihhweiyao, after silencing heavy enemy fire from both sides of the river.
October 19th Keeping up its mine-sweeping, the vanguard of the naval force on the Yangtze approached Echeng, a key point in the
Chinese defence of Hankow. Meanwhile, the landing party captured Hwangshihkang in cooperation with military units at 4:10 p.m. The enemy was offering stubborn resistance.
October 21st At 4:30 p.m., the naval force passed Hwangchow and by night-fall reached a point a few miles above Hwangchow. The distance covered during the day was 10 miles.
October 22nd In concert with military units, the Japanese landing party landed at a point just below Echeng at dawn. By noon, the vanguard of the party had entered Echeng which was completely occupied within short order. The vanguard of the naval force passed through the Twanfeng channel and established a position menacing Hankow.
October 23rd The naval force overcame the enemy fire from both banks of the Yangtze and reached a point 44 kilometres east of Hankow.
October 24th Defying a cross fire from Chinese forts at Paihushan and Chingshan and from Chinese artillery positions on both banks of the river, the naval force succeeded in removing the last boom near Kotienchen.
October 26th The Japanese fleet entered Hankow at 5 p.m. All the officers and men of the fleet faced the east and paid homage to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Japanese landing party landed at Hankow and took up positions assigned to it.
October 27th The Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese fleet which entered Hankow was officially announced to be Rear-Admiral Eijiro Kondo. The Japanese military and naval forces completely occupied the three sister cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang at 5:30 p.m., after cleaning up the remnants of Chinese troops remaining there.
The Naval Air Force in China
The following is a chronological account of the activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force, from October 4th to October 31st.
The naval air force had been making daily attacks on Chinese military establishments and troop concentrations, cooperating not only with the naval force and landing parties which were pushing up the Yangtze River, but also with the military forces in their converging movement against Hankow.
In September, the bombs dropped by the naval air force often exceeded 700 in number in a single day, while the total weight of bombs dropped in a single day was from 100 to 170 tons.
October 4th Naval air units were active in Central and South China. While reconnoitring the enemy positions along the Peking-Hankow and
Canton-Hankow Railways, they attacked the enemy military works and troop concentrations. Some squadrons visited Szechuan and Hupeh Provinces and bombed the airfields there. Liangshan, an important town between Hankow and Chengtu in Szechuan Province, was raided and 6 large-sized aeroplanes and 3 fighting-planes in the airfield were bombed and destroyed. In the ensuing air combat, 7 out of over 20 Chinese planes were shot down by the Japanese raiders. Chungking in Szechuan Province was visited and the airfield there attacked. Three planes on the ground were bombed and destroyed, together with six buildings in the airfield.
Siaokan north of Hankow was also subjected to an air attack. Other naval air units visited Siangyang and Laohokow in northern Hopeh Province and attacked the airfields there. All the Japanese planes returned to their base safely, although some of them were hit by enemy bullets.
October 5th While cooperating with the ground forces, the naval air force was active in Central China.
A naval air squadron on the way to Hankow sighted 6 Chinese planes of the I-16 type and attacked them, of which one fled, leaving a trail of black smoke, while another was shot down. Tungshan in Hupeh Province was raided and the Chinese military positions near the town were attacked.
A naval air squadron which raided the Peking-Hankow railway effectively bombed several goods trains between Yencheng (60 miles northwest of Choukiakow) and Sinyang and also near Hwayuan. A goods train bombed south of Kioshan which apparently contained ammunition and explosives had one explosion after another for fully an hour.
October 6th Heavy clouds hung over South China all day, hampering the activity of the Japanese Naval Air Force, but certain units bombed the barracks of the Chinese 4th Route Army in the suburbs of Canton, Bocca Tigris Fort and seven other military works. Other naval air units raided the Canton-Kowloon Railway and effectively bombed the railway track at several points.
October 8th A large number of naval aeroplanes, taking advantage of the moonlit night, visited Hengyang in Hunan Province and attacked the airfield. Hangars and planes on the ground were bombed and damaged. All the Japanese planes returned to their base safely.
In Central China, the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations along both banks of the Yangtze River were attacked repeatedly by several naval air units in cooperation with the ground forces.
In South China, Pinglo and Kweilin were visited and the military works there, including seventeen military barracks at Kweilin, were bombed and destroyed. The Canton-Hankow Railway was attacked three times and the steel bridges at Yinchanyao and Sunkai were bombed.
October 9th Naval air units cooperated with the ground forces in Central China, while in South China, naval air-squadrons attacked Yahungkiao, Pitsun, Hwangshan, Saitsun, Kowtang and other places. Tienho near Canton was raided and the airfield and military barracks near there were bombed. Japanese planes raided Kongtsun and destroyed the steel bridge there.
October 10th Hengyang in Hunan Province was again visited by naval air units, which attacked the airfields there despite heavy enemy fire. In the
ensuing air combat, two Japanese planes were lost. Those naval air units which cooperated with the ground forces along the Yangtze River attacked Changhu south of the river, Siaweishan north of the river and other important points.
In South China, the Canton-Kowloon Railway was attacked and the Chinese military works at Saitsun, Tangtow and other points were effectively bombed, while the Canton-Hankow Railway was visited and the steel bridges between Yingtak and Yuntam and also at Yinchanyao were bombed.
October 11th In Central China, naval air squadrons were active in attacking the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations along the Yangtze River in cooperation with the ground forces.
In South China, sustained attacks were made on the Chinese military works and lines of communication, including the steel bridge at Yingtak.
October 13th While attacking the Canton-Hankow Railway south of Yingtak, the naval air force heavily bombed and machine-gunned the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations in front of the Japanese expeditionary forces in South China. The Canton-Kowloon Railway was bombed and interrupted at Sheklung, Shekma and Hokungling. One naval plane was lost during the engagements.
At 1:30 p.m., a naval air unit bombed and destroyed 37 Chinese tanks at Waichow. Over 50 Chinese motor-lorries with 300 soldiers were bombed and destroyed at Waichow and several other places, while two Chinese military launches of about 50 tons were bombed and sunk on the East River. Steel bridges at Pakshek, Sheklung, Tsengshing and Hoifung were bombed and destroyed. The train service on the Canton-Kowloon Railway apparently was suspended, as over a dozen trains were observed to be stranded here and there. The steel bridges at Changping and Tungkun which were destroyed by Japanese air raids a few days previously were observed to be left unrepaired.
October 14th While covering the advance of the Japanese expeditionary forces in South China, the naval air force attacked the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations at and near Waichow, together with a group of motor-lorries.
The Chinese military positions and troop concentrations at Poklo were bombed, while two steam-launches engaged in transporting troops and a large number of junks were also bombed near Poklo. Chinese troops about two companies strong on both banks of the East River were attacked and wiped out. Chinese forts and military positions at and near Tsengshing and Hwangkitow were attacked and about 300 Chinese soldiers were routed.
Five goods trains at Sheklung, Shekma and Wangli on the Canton-Kowloon Railway were attacked and 80 goods waggons were bombed and burned. About 100 soldiers and 20 war horses were wiped out at Lunghwa.
October 15th The monsoon gradually gained strength in South China, accompanied by a steady drizzle. While cooperating with the expeditionary forces in South China, the Japanese Naval Air Force visited Lufung, Hoifung, Poklo, Tsengshing, Sheklung, Tungkun, Changmutow, Tientong and Wongshek and attacked the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations there. Stationary goods trains were attacked at various points on the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
Other naval air squadrons attacked the Peking-Hankow and Canton-Hankow Railways in Central China. Engine-sheds and tracks were bombed at Yochow (Yoyang), while goods trains were attacked and burned. Kaoan, west of Nanchang in Kiangsi Province, was also attacked where the military barracks were bombed and burned. Military positions at Kewtsin on the left bank of the Siu River in Kiangsi Province were attacked.
Another naval air unit raided Wusheng Pass which forms the border between Honan and Hupeh Provinces, while Kwangshui and Sienning were raided and the railway installations there were bombed. Still another naval air squadron attacked the Chinese military positions at Shihhweiyao and Hwangshihkang in cooperation with the Japanese naval force pushing up the Yangtze River.
Sunkai on the Canton-Hankow Railway was visited and the steel bridge there bombed, while several goods waggons at Hotowhow and other stations were bombed and destroyed. Shiuchow (Kukong) was also raided. Naval air units, which were cooperating with the fresh expeditionary forces in South China attacked two large enemy transports sailing up the East River at a point 5 miles upstream from Wanglihu and burned one of them. The majority of some 700 Chinese soldiers aboard the two boats were wiped out.
October 16th Naval air units covered the advance of the Japanese expeditionary forces in South China, by attacking the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations incessantly. One naval plane was lost while engaged in bombing operations northeast of Poklo. The naval air squadron which attacked the Canton-Hankow Railway bombed the military works at Yingtak and wiped out about 300 Chinese soldiers near Tsungfa, armed with 10 field-guns and carried in 30 motor-lorries.
The Chinese military positions in front of the Japanese forces were heavily bombed, while remnants of Chinese troops along the Canton-Kowloon Railway were also attacked.
October 17th In South China, naval air units not only covered the Japanese military operations, by attacking the Chinese positions, but bombed the Chinese lines of communication, including the Canton-Hankow and Canton-Kowloon Railways.
Taking advantage of fine autumn weather, naval air squadrons in Central China furiously attacked the Chinese troops north of Teian, halfway between Kiukiang and Nanchang, dealing heavy losses.
Other naval planes, cooperating with the Japanese forces which were pushing up the Yangtze River, bombed and machine-gunned enemy positions, including forts near Shihhweiyao, Hwangshihkang and Wuwangmiao. The Peking-Hankow Railway was attacked at Hwangshui, Sankiatien and Yangchai, while the Canton-Hankow Railway was raided at Sienning, Yoyang, Chunghopu, Kweiyi, Tungcheng and Chuchow.
In South China, Japanese naval air units cooperated with the ground forces by attacking the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations in front of the Japanese expeditionary forces. In addition, Nanyung, Lohchong and Shiuchow (Kukong) were raided and the Chinese military establishments, including airfields and military barracks there were bombed. Two naval planes were lost in the bombing operations. The steel bridge
at Yuntam on the Canton-Hankow Railway and that at Sheklung on the Canton-Kowloon Railway were bombed. Not a single Chinese plane was to be sighted in the airfields at Paiyun, Tienho and Tungfa. Chinese troop concentrations and military works at and near Tsengshing were effectively bombed.
October 18th In South China, naval air units assisted the expeditionary forces by attacking the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations in various parts of Kwangtung Province.
October 19th The Chinese positions at Lungmen and Tsungfa and also west of Tsengshing were attacked, while large Chinese reinforcements from Canton were bombed and machine-gunned, together with tanks and motor-lorries. The Canton-Hankow Railway was bombed and cut off at Yuntam, Yinchangyao and Pitsun, while traffic on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was entirely paralyzed. No Chinese planes were observed in the airfields at Tienho, Paiyun and Tsungfa.
October 20th In South China, naval air units cooperated with the Japanese expeditionary forces, attacking the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations and also dropping provisions for the Japanese ground forces.
In Central China, naval air squadrons attacked the Chinese military works and troop concentrations along the Yangtze River and also in the fronts north and south of the river.
According to air reconnaissance, the Chinese troops west of Tsengshing, overtaken by disaster, were fleeing in confusion at 5 p.m. Some naval air units attacked the Chinese military positions at Yungyun, to which it was generally believed that the Provincial Government of Kwangtung had transferred its offices. The Chinese military positions west of Tsengshing were attacked in cooperation with the ground forces and Chinese tanks and motor-lorries were destroyed.
October 21st In South China, naval air units attacked Chinese military positions and troop concentrations all day long. At about noon, the enemy started dynamiting the factory zones at Tsengpu and Honan in Canton as well as the airfield at Paiyun. Fires started at various places, but the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries in and around Canton kept complete silence. About 40 tanks and many motor-lorries were bombed and destroyed at Lungyentung, Shashih, Shihchih and other places. A large number of Chinese soldiers between Canton and Tsungfa and also between Canton and Fahsien were bombed and machine-gunned, together with many tanks and motor-lorries. Bridges at Tsungfa and other places were burned by the Chinese troops.
In Central China, naval air squadrons cooperated with the naval force pushing up the Yangtze River and the military forces on the fronts north and south of the Yangtze River, by attacking the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations. Particular attention was paid to Echeng, Hwangchow and Tungshan, south of the Yangtze River.
In the front north of the Yangtze River, Macheng, Yunmeng, Sanhokow and Chungkwan were attacked. A large number of armoured cars, motor-lorries and motor-cars were bombed and destroyed between Macheng and Chungkwan.
No less than 3,000 Chinese soldiers were wiped out in South China by
Japanese naval air units, together with about 170 tanks, armoured cars and motor-lorries.
October 22nd Japanese naval air squadrons led by Lieutenant-Commander Yamagami raided Hankow and effectively bombed about 100 goods waggons at the railway station there. Wuchang was also raided by other naval air squadrons under command of Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi and about 300 goods waggons at the station there were bombed and destroyed.
Lieutenant-Commander Naito led naval air units in raiding Liangshan in Szechuan Province, where they were greeted by over 20 Chinese planes. The Japanese raiders brought down 5 of them. Four medium- and 4 small-sized planes were bombed and destroyed on the ground. The Japanese raiders all returned to their base safely.
October 23rd In Central China, naval air squadrons covered the advance of the Japanese naval force up the Yangtze River and also of the Japanese troops on the fronts north and south of the river. The enemy fort at Paihushan was heavily bombed, while Wuchang was again raided.
In South China, the Chinese military positions between Tsungfa and Fatkong were attacked in cooperation with the ground forces, while the enemy military works on the West River basin, including Koyiu and Samshui were bombed.
October 24th It was reported that Japanese naval planes deliberately bombed a foreign gunboat at Changsha, but the report proved to be false. Investigation by the Navy revealed that several naval planes bombed a group of junks containing Chinese soldiers at Changsha and that if any damage was done to a foreign gunboat, splinters of bombs which struck Chinese junks possibly hit the said gunboat which apparently must have anchored near the junks, though official information offered by the foreign Powers concerned showed there was no foreign warship at Changsha on October 24th.
Final, sustained attacks were made on the Chinese positions on both banks of the Yangtze River, while some naval air units raided Wuchang and other points on the Canton-Hankow Railway, bombing and machine-gunning trains packed with retreating Chinese troops.
October 25th In South China, the naval air force made sustained attacks on Chinese military positions and troop concentrations. Some naval planes were fired on by an enemy torpedo-boat near Tamchow. When the Japanese planes responded, the torpedo-boat displayed the British flag. While watching the boat, the naval planes communicated with the Japanese gunboat nearby.
October 27th Seven Chinese torpedo-boats at Mamoi, 10 kilometres north of Samshui, and 2 more enemy torpedo-boats at Suikang, 14 kilometres north of Samshui, were bombed and machine-gunned by naval air units while the enemy military works at Yungyun, Yingtak, Wuchow and Lufung were attacked.
October 28th The enemy military positions and troop concentrations along the East and West Rivers were attacked by naval air units. Japanese air reconnaissance showed that Chinese troop movements at and near Yungyun were brisk. Koyiu on the West River was visited and the military barracks there were bombed. The hangars at the military airfield there were observed to be displaying the American flag.
October 30th Yungyun in Kwangtung Province was visited and the anti-aircraft batteries and gunpowder dumps there were bombed. About 200 Chinese soldiers were wiped out and about 20 military motor-lorries were destroyed, while an enemy steam launch was bombed and stranded near Yifow.
October 31st In South China, the naval air force cooperated with the ground forces, attacking the enemy military positions and troop concentrations at various points, including Yingtak, Linping Tzekam and Yungyun.