Treaties, Laws and Speeches

The Situation in North China

—July 7th to August 1st—

Press Section, Department of War

Scores of shots were suddenly fired by Chinese troops at Wanping-hsien about 11:40 o'clock, on the night of July 7th. The small detachment belonging to the Japanese Garrison in China, which was engaged in exercises north of Marco Polo Bridge, immediately stopped their exercises, and concentrated to stand by. The alarming situation was promptly reported to superior officers.

The Japanese troops at Peiping, attaching importance to the incident, immediately sent Lieutenant-Colonel Morita to the spot, accompanied by two Chinese officials. Prior to this, the commanding officer of the Japanese troops at Fengtai protested to the commander of the Chinese troops at Wanping-hsien against the outbreak and demanded the withdrawal of the Chinese troops. While negotiations were still going on, the Chinese troops near Lungwangmiao, and on the heights near Changhsintien on the western side of the Yungting river, wantonly opened fire with rifles and trench-mortars upon the Japanese troops which were concentrating. This firing began at a little past 4 o'clock on the morning of July 8th; it forced the Japanese to return the fire and to occupy Lungwangmiao. The Japanese troops suffered over a dozen killed and wounded in the engagement.

The orders, "Cease Fire," were issued at 9:30 a.m. in accordance with the earnest request of the Chinese military authorities. The Japanese troops were concentrated to stand by and watch the movements of the Chinese troops.

Meanwhile all the gates of Peiping were closed, at 12:20 p.m., on July 8th, suspending communication between the walled city and the outside world. At 8 p.m., the same day, martial law was proclaimed in Peiping with General Shao Wen-kai, Commander of the Gendarmerie, appointed as commander of the martial law forces. Part of the Japanese infantry remained in Peiping for the protection of Japanese residents. The situation in Peiping was comparatively quiet on that day.

NEGOTIATIONS AT WANPING FAIL

Colonel Morita arrived on the spot on the morning of July 8th, and immediately proceeded to Wanping to negotiate with the

Chinese military authorities, who, however, refused to accept the Japanese demands, contending, on the contrary, that both the Japanese and Chinese troops should withdraw to their respective, original positions.

At 2 o'clock on the following morning, July 9th, the Chinese military authorities pledged themselves to withdraw their troops at Wanping to the right bank of the Yungting river by 5 o'clock that morning. Actually, however, the Chinese troops there failed to withdraw even by 6 o'clock, and, on the contrary, increased their numerical strength and from time to time fired upon the Japanese troops which were watching their movements. The Japanese were compelled to accept the challenge, and silenced their fire.

The Japanese military authorities immediately lodged a vigorous protest with the Chinese military authorities against the failure of the Chinese troops to observe the agreement. As the result of this protest, at 7 o'clock on the morning of July 9th, the Chinese sent their Brigade Commander with one staff-officer, to press the Chinese troops to withdraw promptly.

The Chinese troops for a time seemed to be fulfilling the Japanese demands, but in reality they started war preparations by concentrating troops on the western bank of the Yungting river and by replenishing their stocks of arms and ammunition.

Beginning in the early morning of July 10th, these troops fired illegally from time to time upon the Japanese troops near Wanping-hsien.

The Chinese troops, which marched south from the direction of Yamenkou the evening of July 10th, seized Lungwangmiao in defiance of the agreement concluded with the Japanese at 2 a.m. on July 9th, and launched an attack on the Japanese troops near Wanping-hsien. Thereupon the Japanese troops started a counter-attack against the Chinese and occupied Lungwangmiao about 9 p.m., dealing a heavy blow on them. Japanese casualties in the engagement included 6 killed and 10 wounded.

The Japanese troops withdrew from Lungwangmiao early in the morning of July 11th, with their main body massed near Wulitien about 2 kilometres northeast of Wanping. About that time, some 800 Chinese troops armed with guns took positions at Papaoshan and the district south of it, while the Chinese troops at Changhsintien and Wanping were reinforced with defence works erected on the western bank of the Yungting river and on the heights near Changhsintien.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the Japanese Troops in China conducted vigorous negotiations with the leaders of the Hopei and

Chahar Political Council for an amicable settlement of the incident; but with the attitude of the Chinese leaders stiffening, there was no way of breaking the deadlock, and negotiations were threatened with rupture. Consequently, on the afternoon of July 11th, the Japanese Chief of Staff left Peiping for the Nanyüan aerodrome.

CHINESE ATTITUDE CHANGES MOMENTARILY

At this point the Hopei and Chahar Political Council apparently saw the firm determination of the Japanese Government and people, and suddenly changed its inexorable attitude. The Council, at 8 o'clock the same evening, handed Colonel Matsui, Chief of the Japanese Military Mission in Peiping, a note signed by Generals Chang Tzu-chung and Chang Yun-yung, the representatives of the 29th Army, accepting the Japanese demands, which included punishment of the Chinese officers responsible for the Wanping-hsien incident, prevention of the recurrence of such an untoward incident in the future, withdrawal of the Chinese troops from Wanping-hsien and Lungwangmiao whose peace and order was henceforth to be maintained by constabulary, and control of all anti-Japanese organizations.

Consequently, the Japanese troops, in pursuance of Japan's policy of non-aggravation, refrained from any positive action and maintained an attitude of watchful waiting. The Chinese troops, however, persisted in provocations against the Japanese, including wanton firing and illegal entry into the Wanping district. The Chinese troops at Papaoshan also continued to maintain their positions with their vanguard advancing steadily, while Chinese reinforcements, together with a large stock of munitions, arrived on the western bank of the Yungting river by the Peiping-Hankow railway.

Another serious provocation then occurred. About 11 o'clock on the morning of July 13th, a small Japanese unit was fired on with machine-guns by Chinese troops belonging to the 37th Division while passing Matsun, about 8 kilometres south of Peiping, by motor-lorry. The Japanese responded to the fire and repulsed the Chinese, but suffered several casualties.

On the other hand, the Chinese troops constructed triple lines of defence from Papaoshan to the Peiping-Hankow railway with their wing spread from Sipienmen to Yamenkou. The Chinese troops at Changhsintien and on both banks of the Yungting river apparently were reinforced by troops of General Wan Fu-lin, while a cavalry unit from the south reached Liangsiang, about 15 kilometres south-west of Wanping on the Peiping-Hankow railway.

The situation in Peiping had also become aggravated. Such was

the anti-Japanese sentiment among the local Chinese authorities and troops that cases of trespasses on the premises of Japanese nationals and molestations of Japanese women and children were frequently reported. Consequently such unrest prevailed among the Japanese colony in Peiping that many Japanese sought refuge in Tientsin or moved from the West City to the East City.

Such was the situation in North China. An examination of the attitude of the Nanking Government toward the incident is now in order.

ATTITUDE TAKEN BY NANKING GOVERNMENT

After the outbreak of the incident on July 7th, the Nanking Government not only ordered its air force to stand by, but urged the Hopei and Chahar Political Council to oppose Japan, promising to send four divisions of central troops to the Council's assistance. The Nanking Government manifested its determination to offer armed opposition to Japan on the one hand, and, on the other, launched systematic propaganda against Japan, by holding Japan responsible for the outbreak of the original incident which was entirely due to the provocations of Chinese troops, by refusing to recognize Japan's treaty rights to hold manoeuvres in North China, and by misrepresenting the manoeuvres of the Japanese Garrison troops as being preliminary moves toward the realization of Japanese territorial designs in North China.

JAPAN'S POLICY IS NON-AGGRAVATION

In sharp contrast to the attitude of Nanking, the Japanese Government consistently pursued a policy of non-aggravation and localization, and endeavoured strenuously to seek a settlement on the spot. In view, however, of the Chinese attitude, and particularly of the extreme menace to which the lives and property of Japanese nationals in China were subjected, the Cabinet decided on July 11th to send an expeditionary force to North China. The Cabinet held that this course was not only absolutely necessary for the protection of Japanese lives and property in North China, but also for the preservation of peace and order in East Asia, so that a solid guarantee be obtained against the recurrence on the part of the Chinese of illegal, provocative and insulting actions against Japan. Prince Konoe, Prime Minister, proceeded to the Imperial Villa at Hayama on the afternoon of July 11th to obtain Imperial sanction for the Cabinet's decision. It may be mentioned, however, that the Japanese Government had not abandoned its hope for peaceful negotiations designed to localize the incident, and was as

desirous as ever of reaching an amicable settlement with China. Needless to say, the Japanese Government is fully prepared to protect the vested rights and interests of foreign Powers in North China. This can be seen from the Government's statement issued on July 11th. The statement reads, in translation:

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED

The Japanese troops garrisoned in North China have always maintained a calm and patient attitude towards anti-Japanese outbursts in North China. But unfortunately, on the night of July 7th, an inevitable clash occurred when Japanese troops were wantonly fired upon by soldiers of the 29th Army, which had been co-operating with our forces in maintaining peace and order in that region. As a consequence the atmosphere in the Peiping and Tientsin districts grew so tense that even the lives and property of Japanese nationals were endangered. However, the Japanese authorities made strenuous endeavours to localize the affair and prevent it from becoming further aggravated, and succeeded in persuading the 29th Army authorities to agree to a peaceful settlement.

Yet, on the night of July 10th, the 29th Army, in violation of the agreement, suddenly fired upon the Japanese troops, causing considerable casualties. Besides, China has since pushed warlike preparations by increasing its forces on the first lines by ordering the Chinese troops at Siyuan to advance southward and also by ordering Central Government troops to the front. China has not only failed to manifest any sincerity to seek a peaceful solution, but has gone the length of flatly rejecting all Japan's offers for an amicable settlement at Peiping. This leaves no room for doubt that the present incident has been brought about as the result of well-planned armed operations on the part of China against Japan.

There is no need of dwelling on the vital importance to Japan and Manchoukuo of the maintenance of peace and order in North China. What is most urgently needed is that the Chinese not only apologize for the recent lawless actions and manifestations of antagonism and opposition to Japan, but give an adequate guarantee against a recurrence of such outrages in the future.

An important decision has been reached by the Japanese Government at today's Cabinet meeting to take all necessary measures for dispatching military forces to North China.

But, desirous as ever of preserving the peace of East Asia, the Japanese Government has not yet abandoned its hope for peaceful negotiations effecting non-aggravation of the situation, and its hope for prompt reconsideration on the part of China which may bring about an amicable solution. As regards the safeguarding of the rights and interests of the Powers in China, the Japanese Government is, of course, prepared to give full consideration.

INCIDENTS RECUR

On July 14th, when a Japanese cavalry unit was passing a small village about 15 kilometres south of Peiping, toward the west, its

[Page 28 was transcribed with GPT (Codex CLI), not Claude.]

rearguard was fired on by Chinese troops. Although the main body was unmolested, one trooper was killed in the ensuing action.

Again, a Japanese unit was suddenly fired on by the Chinese Constabulary about 8 o'clock on the morning of July 16th when it was approaching Anping, about 34 kilometres southeast of Tungchow, marching along the Tungchow highway from Tientsin. The Japanese immediately returned the fire and succeeded in disarming the constabulary.

Meanwhile Nanking was sending troops steadily northward. The total strength of troops sent by the Nanking Government to North China was estimated at 21 divisions, up to the 15th of July, and 24½ divisions by July 18th, which, combined with the 29th Army, created an army estimated at 30 divisions. The majority of these Central troops were being concentrated between Changteh and Chengchow while part of them were advancing as far north as Changhsintien.

The main body of the Chinese air force apparently was being concentrated at Chengchow, Loyang, Haichow and Suchow.

The reported concentration of Central troops in Hopei Province violates the military agreement made between Lieutenant-General Yoshijiro Umezu and General Ho Ying-chin. The Japanese Garrison authorities in China ordered a scouting plane to Southern Hopei to reconnoitre the movements of the Chinese Central Government troops. This plane confirmed the reported concentration of Central troops in Southern Hopei. While flying between Shunteh and Yuanshih in South Hopei, the Japanese scouting plane was fired on from a moving Chinese troop-train, on which, by returning the fire, the plane inflicted some loss.

At 1 o'clock on the afternoon of July 18th, General Sung Che-yuan and General Chang Tzu-chung of the 29th Army called on Lieutenant-General Kazuki, Commander of the Japanese Troops in China, at the Japanese Army Club at Tientsin, and expressed an apology for the incident, at the same time pledging themselves to prohibit the activities of the Communists, the Blue Shirt Society and other anti-Japanese organizations, and also to redouble their efforts in promoting friendly relations between Japan and China.

Despite the pledge of those two leaders of the 29th Army and the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, the Chinese troops at Wanping-hsien, at 6 p.m. on the following day, July 19th, illegally fired upon the Japanese patrol unit west of West-Wulitien and seriously wounded a Japanese company commander. Since the outbreak of the original incident on July 7th the Japanese Garrison authorities in North

China had pursued a policy of non-aggravation and localization, as announced by the Japanese Government, and had faithfully carried out the terms of local agreements reached with the Chinese military authorities, patiently anticipating observation of the agreement by the Chinese troops. The Japanese troops so far had not fired a single shot other than in strict response to the repeated wanton firing by the Chinese on them. But the illegal firing by the Chinese troops at Wanping on the Japanese at Wulitien on July 19th, wounding a Japanese company commander, exhausted the patience of the Japanese Garrison authorities, who, therefore, communicated to the Hopei-Chahar Political Council that the Japanese troops would take free action on and after noon of July 20th, if the Chinese troops should repeat such an act of bad faith. A public statement to this effect was issued at the same time.

On the night of July 19th, representatives of the Japanese Army and the 29th Army met and concluded a detailed agreement designed to facilitate the execution of the local agreement signed on July 11th.

HOPEI-CHAHAR COUNCIL GIVES PLEDGE

The representatives of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council pledged themselves not only to punish those responsible for the North China incident and to apologize for the outbreak of the incident, but to take thoroughgoing measures for the control of the anti-Japanese activities of the Blue Shirt Society, the Communists and other anti-Japanese organizations which were ascertained to be behind the recent incident. The detailed agreement, which was based on a written note submitted by the representatives of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council provided, in order to facilitate the stipulated control of anti-Japanese activities in North China:

(1) That official persons whose activities are injurious to the friendly relations between Japan and China be dismissed;

(2) That the Communists be suppressed drastically;

(3) That rigid control be exercised over all anti-Japanese organizations and agitations as well as over anti-Japanese education.

The Hopei-Chahar Political Council also communicated to the Japanese Garrison authorities that the 37th Division of the 29th Army which was mainly responsible for the clash with the Japanese troops was being transferred from the Peiping area to another district in order to preclude the possibility of recurrence of such an untoward incident.

In spite of the due conclusion of all these agreements, however, the Chinese troops at Papaoshan and near Changhsintien at 1 p.m. on

the following day, July 20th, opened bombardments on the Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Fengtai were thus compelled to return the gunfire: a regular artillery duel ensued. The Japanese punitive bombardments soon silenced the Chinese gunfire, but the Chinese troops at Wanping and near Papaoshan resumed firing at 4 p.m. The Japanese artillery responded and silenced them in due course, but the Japanese side suffered 1 killed and 1 wounded. It is to be deplored that Japan's hope for localization and non-aggravation of the incident was thus shattered.

Yet still were the Japanese Garrison authorities hoping that the Chinese would fulfil the terms of the agreements of July 11th and 19th. Up to July 24th, the Chinese troops manifested no sincerity in observing the terms of the agreements, but on the contrary those in the Peiping area were reinforced, while the Chinese were not only strengthening their positions at Papaoshan but were constructing new positions at Tientsin, Kungtsun, Huangtsun and also at points north of Peiping.

The hostile attitude of the 29th Army seemed to be augmenting itself further until July 22nd when General Hsiung Pin, Vice-Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese Army, arrived in Peiping and the army showed a tendency to fulfill the agreements mentioned above.

The Japanese military authorities, therefore, sent their Vice-Chief of Staff to Peiping to press the Chinese for a prompt observance of the agreements, while the Japanese authorities were proceeding with preparations against the worst eventuality.

INCIDENT AT LANGFANG

The Japanese military telegraph wires between Peiping and Tientsin had been repeatedly cut by Chinese troops since the outbreak of the original incident on July 7th. The wires again were tampered with near Langfang station, 70 kilometres north-west of Tientsin, on July 25th, which fact was duly communicated to the Chinese authorities. To put the wires in order, the Japanese sent a squad of signal corps men, accompanied by a supporting infantry unit, from Tientsin. The Japanese detachment arrived at Langfang about 4:30 p.m., on July 25th, and immediately started necessary repair work on the telegraph wire, after going through the prescribed negotiations with the local Chinese military authorities.

At about 11:10 o'clock the same evening, while the Japanese were still engaged in repair work, Chinese troops in the Langfang station compounds suddenly opened rifle and light machine-gun fire upon the Japanese detachment. The Chinese troops in the barracks about

300 metres north of Langfang station also shelled the Japanese with trench-mortars. The Japanese were compelled to return the fire, and maintained their position against very heavy odds.

On receipt of this news, the Headquarters of the Japanese Troops rushed the Koito detachment to the spot. This detachment reached Langfang station about 6:30 a.m., the following morning, and, assisted by the Hirobe detachment which was on its way to Peiping, and also by an aerial attack, routed the Chinese troops by 8 a.m.

In the engagement, the Japanese casualties included 1 non-commissioned officer and 3 soldiers killed and 1 non-commissioned officer and 9 soldiers wounded. The Chinese troops which wantonly attacked the Japanese at Langfang belonged to the 226th regiment of the 38th Division under the command of General Chang Tzu-chung.

GENERAL KAZUKI SENDS STATEMENT

Thus, the withdrawal of the 37th Division, as stipulated in the agreements, had made no progress, and, with the situation further aggravated by the Langfang incident, Lieutenant-General Kazuki, at 3 p.m. on July 26th, sent the following communication to General Sung Che-yüan, Chairman of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council and Commander of the 29th Army:

It is greatly to be regretted that a clash occurred between the Chinese and Japanese troops at Langfang on the night of July 25th through the wanton firing by your troops on a Japanese detachment sent to secure the communication line. The fresh outbreak is entirely due to lack of sincerity in fulfilling the terms of the agreements concluded with the Japanese military authorities and also to the failure in modifying the provocative attitude on the part of Chinese troops.

If your Army authorities still intend to prevent aggravation of the situation, you are hereby requested that the troops of the 37th Division near Wanping and Papaoshan be withdrawn by noon tomorrow to Changsintien on the Peiping-Hankow Railway; that all troops of the said division immediately leave the walled city of Peiping; that these troops, together with those of the 37th Division stationed at Siyüan, a short distance north-west of Peiping, be moved to points west of the Yungting River by noon, July 28th, via the region north of the Peiping-Hankow railway line, and that these troops be then steadily transported in the direction of Paotingfu without interruption.

If these requests are not complied with the Japanese troops will be constrained to think that you have no sincerity in observing the agreements and, with regret, will have to take free action. Your army must bear all responsibility for the consequences in such an eventuality.

INCIDENT AT KWANGAN GATE

Later, the Hirobe detachment reached Fengtai whence it proceeded to Peiping. Prior, however, to its entry into the Japanese barracks within the walled city of Peiping, Colonel Matsui, Chief of the Japanese Military Mission in Peiping, negotiated with General Chin Teh-Chun, mayor of Peiping to permit the Hirobe detachment to enter Peiping by the Kwangan Gate.

General Chin gave permission, whereupon Major Sakurai, Japanese military adviser to the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, proceeded to the Kwangan Gate at about 6 p.m. as liaison officer. But the Major found the gate closed. After repeated negotiations the Chinese troops guarding the gate consented to open it at about 7:30 p.m., yet when two-thirds of the Japanese detachment were admitted, the Chinese troops suddenly closed the outer gate and attacked the Japanese now divided into two sections, one within the gate and the other without, using hand-grenades and machine-guns. Japanese casualties in the engagement totalled 19, including 12 privates killed, 1 major, 1 captain, 1 sergeant, 5 privates, 2 civilians in the military service and 2 journalists wounded. In addition, the interpreter who accompanied Major Sakurai was killed.

JAPAN'S PATIENCE IS EXHAUSTED

In view of the ever-increasing cases of bad faith and outrages of the Chinese troops, General Kazuki, at midnight on July 27th cancelled his note of the previous day addressed to General Sung Che-Yuan, and sent him a new one, informing him that the Japanese troops would take free action, because the Japanese troops could no longer bear the insincerity of the Chinese troops as manifested in their failure to observe the terms of the agreements as well as in their repeated provocative actions. The note made special reference to the Kwangan Gate incident, which was declared to be an insult upon the Japanese troops, because of its deceptive nature. The note also requested General Sung Che-yuan to withdraw all Chinese troops from Peiping immediately in order to prevent hostilities from spreading to Peiping.

Accordingly the Japanese troops early in the morning of July 28th started punitive operations against the Chinese troops in the Peiping and Tientsin area, and at the same time issued a statement to the effect that the Japanese had no intention of antagonizing the people in Hopei Province, nor had they any territorial designs on North China. The statement also declared that the Japanese troops would respect the vested rights and interests of foreign Powers and

protect the lives and property of foreign residents in Hopei Province.

GOVERNMENTAL STATEMENT OF JULY 27th

In view of the alarming situation in North China, the Chief Secretary to the Cabinet issued the following statement at 1:30 o'clock in the afternoon of July 27th:

Japan is gravely concerned over the maintenance of peace and order in North China. The consistent anti-Japanese policy pursued by the Chinese, however, has repeatedly menaced peace in North China and has finally led to the outbreak of the Wanping-hsien incident.

In accordance with its policy not to aggravate the North China situation and to seek a local settlement for the sake of peace in East Asia, Japan has been making every effort to dispose of the matter peacefully.

It has submitted very lenient local demands to the authorities of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, merely including suspension of the stationing of Chinese troops near Wanping and on the left bank of the Yungting river, necessary guarantees for the future, punishment of those responsible for the incident and an apology on the part of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council. Although this Council recognized these demands on the night of July 11, it has failed to show sincerity in carrying them out.

On the other hand, the Japanese Government asked the Nanking Government on July 17th immediately to suspend provocative utterances and actions and not to obstruct the local settlement of the North China incident. Disregarding realities, however, the Nanking Government did not comply with the Japanese Government's requests.

On the contrary, it strengthened its preparations for war, thus increasing unrest. While Japan was making efforts for a peaceful solution of the situation with patience and self-restraint, the Chinese on July 26th illegally fired on a Japanese detachment at Langfang, where it was engaged in repairing military telegraph wires. On the same evening, the Chinese resorted to unwarranted acts of violence by closing the wall gate to a Japanese detachment which was entering the walled city of Peiping, after reaching an understanding with the authorities of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council, to protect Japanese nationals, and by suddenly firing on the Japanese.

These two cases constitute an armed interference on the part of the Chinese troops in the primary duties of the Japanese Garrison in North China, which duties are to make secure the communication lines between Peiping and Tientsin and to protect Japanese nationals residing in the area.

Thus the Japanese army has been forced to take self-defensive measures necessary in the execution of its duties and also in securing full observance of the terms of the agreement concluded between Japan and the Hopei-Chahar Political Council. The aim of the Japanese Government is to eradicate the fundamental causes for the outbreak of untoward incidents such as the present one. Japan does not entertain enmity toward law-abiding Chinese people. Nor has it any territorial designs. It goes without saying that Japan will make every effort to give protection to the vested rights and interests in China of foreign Powers.

Although the situation has come to such a pass, Japan, whose mission is to secure peace in East Asia, desires that the Chinese reflect on their position, that the affected area be minimized, and that the incident be settled amicably as soon as possible.

JAPANESE OPERATIONS BEGIN

The Japanese troops started operations against the Chinese around Peiping early in the morning of July 28th. The Kawagishi, Kawabe and Kayashima columns, assisted by flying corps, attacked the Chinese 38th Division in the neighbourhood of Nanyüan from three directions, south, east and west. Being unable to withstand the concerted vigorous attacks by land and air, the Chinese troops started fleeing northward about 8 o'clock the same morning. The main body of the Kawabe column dashed to Matsun half way between Nanyüan and Peiping to cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops while part of the column continued attacks on the Chinese barracks at Nanyüan. About 11 o'clock the main-body reached a point northwest of Nanyüan and cut off the retreat of the Chinese, in conjunction with the Kayashima detachment which reached a point northeast of Nanyüan. The Kawagishi column cleared the remnants of the 38th Division from Nanyüan which the Japanese troops completely occupied at 3 o'clock, the same afternoon. In the engagement, the Japanese dealt the 4 battalions of Chinese troops in and near Nanyüan a crushing blow with the result that only some one hundred of them succeeded in fleeing to Peiping.

In the region north of Peiping, the Sakai column dislodged the Chinese troops from Shahochen, about 20 kilometres north of Peiping, around 11:30 o'clock the same morning, and immediately advanced on Siyüan along a terrible road. The column reached a point north of Wanshushan toward evening, while the Suzuki column attacked the Chinese at Chinghochen, about 9 kilometres north of Peiping at 11 o'clock in the morning and occupied it at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. This column then continued its southward advance.

The flying corps joined the operations. Several military planes hopped off from their base in a severe thunderstorm and dropped bombs on the Chinese barracks at Siyüan at 5:30 and at Nanyüan at 6:20 o'clock, inflicting heavy losses to the Chinese. Later, the flying corps supported the Japanese infantry and artillery in their operations against the Chinese troops.

No untoward incident occurred to the Japanese troops and civilian residents in Peiping, but the Legation Quarter was surrounded by several companies of the 29th Army, while "plainclothes" men infested the Quarter, spying on the movements of the Japanese

troops. Also, since the morning of July 28th, the Legation Quarter had been isolated, with telegraphic and telephonic communications cut off.

DESTROYER IS FIRED ON

A Japanese destroyer sent to Tangku to make contact with the Japanese transports coming from home ports, was suddenly fired on with trench-mortars by the Chinese at Taku, at 3 o'clock on the afternoon of July 28th, while the destroyer was sailing off Taku. The Japanese ship responded to the fire.

ACTION AT TIENTSIN

At midnight on July 28th, the Japanese aerodrome near Tientsin was attacked by several detachments of the Chinese Constabulary, but the Japanese held their position till early the next morning when the attackers were repulsed by aerial bombing. The Chinese troops and constabulary staged night raids at about 1 o'clock the next morning, the Headquarters of the Japanese Troops in China, the Okura farm, the East and Central stations, and the Japanese provisions depot in Tientsin. However, they were repulsed by the Japanese after three and a half hours of fighting. The attackers comprised the 26th Independent Brigade of the 38th Division and part of the Chinese Constabulary.

The Headquarters of the Japanese troops issued a statement on the afternoon of July 29th, declaring that it had become urgently necessary and imperative for the Japanese troops in self-defence to bombard the bases of the Chinese troops and constabulary in order to preserve peace and order in Tientsin and to protect the Japanese residents there. At 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon of the day following the above-mentioned statement, the Japanese artillery and flying corps started bombardments on the bases of operations established by the Chinese at the offices of the Peiping-Shanhaikwan Railway Administration and the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Administration, the Headquarters of the Chinese Constabulary, the Headquarters of the Chinese Garrison, the Chinese Municipal Office and other places. The Japanese succeeded in dislodging the Chinese troops and constabulary from their bases and in clearing the Tientsin area of them.

CLEAN-UP EFFECTED IN TIENTSIN-PEIPING AREA

In the Peiping area, the Japanese troops pressed hard upon the Chinese. The main body of the Sakai column occupied Huangtsun while part of the detachment occupied Yamenkou by the evening of July 29th. The Suzuki column, after defeating the Chinese at

Siyüan reached a point west of Peiping and the Kawabe column completely occupied Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping, shortly after 6 o'clock in the afternoon.

The Chinese troops north-west of Peiping were entirely driven beyond the right bank of the Yungting river by nightfall on July 29th.

Thus, the Japanese troops, within two days after the start of operations, succeeded in dealing a crushing blow to the 29th Army. The following day, July 30th, the Japanese troops began a clean-up campaign against the remnants of the Chinese troops in the Peiping and Tientsin areas. The Kawabe column, at about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of July 30th, advanced to the heights at Changhsintien on the right bank of the Yungting river, from which the Chinese troops retreated far south. Hence, there was not a single Chinese soldier to be seen north of Liangsiang. On the other hand, the Suzuki column on August 1st occupied Peiyuan and disarmed the 39th Independent Brigade, about 3,000 strong.

In the Tientsin area, Japanese troops repulsed the repeated attacks of the Chinese with the consequence that the situation at Tientsin had apparently returned to normal by the morning of July 30th. But a large number of Chinese established their bases at the Nankai University, the Constabulary Headquarters and other public establishments, from which vantage points they bombarded the Japanese Settlement. Accordingly, as mentioned elsewhere, the Japanese artillery and flying corps were compelled to return the bombardments, and Japanese troops succeeded in mopping up the remnants of the Chinese by July 31st.

In the Tangku area, the Japanese troops, which were repeatedly fired on by Chinese, started a counter-attack in cooperation with a Japanese naval force and occupied Taku on July 30th. The Mizoguchi detachment captured a Chinese gunboat in the engagement.

THE TUNGCHOW MASSACRE

Tungchow is the seat of the Anti-Communistic Autonomous Administration of East Hopei. Japanese residents at Tungchow have usually numbered about 300, guarded by a unit of Japanese troops. After the outbreak of the original incident, however, the number of Japanese residents increased to about 380, while the Japanese Garrison men were reduced to only 100, the rest being engaged in operations elsewhere. Early on the morning of July 29th, Chinese troops and constabulary, about 3,000 strong, started an attack, in which a cadre of the constabulary, the one most trusted by Mr. Yin Ju-keng, chief executive of the East Hopei Administration, took a most active

part. The cadre, instigated by the communistic elements of the 29th Army, and blindly believing in the rumoured victory of the Chinese troops, rose up in conjunction with the remnants of the 1st and 2nd Constabulary corps.

A little after 3 o'clock in the morning of July 29th, the Japanese troops in Tungchow, were attacked by the constabulary, conservatively estimated at 2,000 in number, but succeeded in holding their barracks and magazines stubbornly. By carrying out sorties from time to time, the Japanese finally drove away the attackers who were invading the compounds of the barracks.

About 10 o'clock, the same morning, the Chinese Constabulary and troops took up positions on the embankments round the Japanese barracks and intensified their gun and rifle fire. As time went on their fire took more and more effect with the result that many casualties occurred among the Japanese troops and part of the barracks was destroyed. With both telegraph and wireless apparatus put out of order the Japanese barracks were completely isolated.

Nothing daunted, however, all the inmates of the Japanese barracks, both regulars and employees, bravely fought against the overwhelmingly large numbers of the enemy.

Shortly after noon, an enemy shell hit the cases of gasoline heaped in the yard of the barracks, causing a fire. Additional shells hit motor-lorries loaded with ammunition, destroying 17 of them. Explosions of the ammunition lasted about three hours.

At about three o'clock several Japanese military planes appeared over Tungchow and dropped bombs on the enemy, causing them to abate their attack for a time. With nightfall, however, the Chinese increased their fire from the embankments round the Japanese barracks, which the Japanese Garrison succeeded in holding, by bitter resistance.

On receipt of information that the Japanese troops at Tungchow were being attacked, the Headquarters of the Japanese Garrison in China ordered military planes to reconnoitre the situation at Tungchow and drop bombs on the enemy. At the same time the main body of the Kayashima detachment was rushed to the spot to reinforce the Japanese troops.

News of coming reinforcements reached the Japanese troops at Tungchow at about 2:30 o'clock in the morning of July 30th, stiffening their morale. At about 11 o'clock, the same morning, Japanese military planes again appeared over Tungchow and bombarded the enemy, who, then, began to retreat from round the Japanese barracks in a northerly direction. The Kayashima detachment reached Tungchow at 4:20 o'clock on the afternoon of July

30th and immediately started to mop up the remnants of the Chinese troops and constabulary in the town. This detachment has since been maintaining peace and order in Tungchow.

The offices of the Japanese Military Mission were also attacked by the enemy at about 3 o'clock in the morning of July 29th. Lieutenant-Colonel Hosoki, Chief of the Mission, was killed by the Chinese just in front of the office of the East Hopei Administration when he endeavoured to enter the building in a valiant effort to pacify the constabulary. All other members of the Mission, under the command of Major Kai, fought courageously against overwhelming odds, and most of them were killed. The casualties of the Japanese troops included 18 killed and 19 wounded while the Japanese Military Mission suffered 9 killed, including Lieutenant-Colonel Hosoki.

CRUELTIES ARE BEYOND COMPREHENSION

In this connection, mention must be made of the cruelties committed by the Chinese against the Japanese residents in Tungchow—cruelties which are not only beyond the imagination of civilized peoples, but are revolting to their sense of morality and humanity. Of the 380 Japanese residents in Tungchow, no more than 120 were rescued by the Japanese Garrison, while most of them were wounded by the Chinese troops. Later investigation revealed that the Chinese had planned a wholesale slaughter of Japanese residents including women and children, and systematically attacked the houses occupied by Japanese.

Most of the Japanese women massacred were first kidnapped by Chinese and subjected to unmentionable dishonour for fully 24 hours by them before being butchered. The Chinese pierced wires through the nostrils and lips of some of the women they slaughtered, and, binding the hands and feet of others, dragged them along to the East Gate of Tungchow and threw them into the pond. Some of these women victims were also found murdered after they had been subjected to shocking atrocities such as acid smeared over their faces. Space forbids further enumeration of such brutalities. Suffice it to say that not only were the Japanese homes looted, but the bodies of the massacred Japanese nationals were totally stripped by the Chinese troops and constabulary.

SINO-JAPANESE LOSSES SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE INCIDENT

Since July 7th when the original incident broke out, up to noon, August 3rd the casualty list of the Japanese Troops in China included:

Chinese losses are not clear, but information from the Headquarters of the Japanese troops gives the following figures which evidently do not cover all Chinese losses and casualties:

ATTITUDE OF NANKING GOVERNMENT; MOVEMENTS OF CENTRAL TROOPS

General Chiang Kai-shek issued a statement to the Chinese press, on the evening of July 29th holding himself responsible for the debacle of the 29th Army in the Peiping and Tientsin area. The statement reads, in substance:

"With the aggravation of the North China situation, I ordered Central troops to advance north, but General Sung Che-yuan requested for suspension of troop movements. This rendered organized resistance against the Japanese troops impossible. The Japanese Government apparently instructed Mr. Kawagoe, Ambassador to China, to proceed to Nanking for negotiations, but I will never enter into negotiation with Japan unless my minimum four-point demands, announced on July 19th, are accepted by that country. Now that the issue has become national in

nature, both Government and people are urged to unite solidly in winning the conflict with Japan.

Since the issuing of this statement, Chinese Central troops have steadily poured into North China both by the Peiping-Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow lines.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. —ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—

PRESS SECTION, WAR DEPARTMENT

AN outline of the campaign of the Japanese troops for clearing the Peiping and Tientsin area of the Chinese 29th Army was given in the August issue of the TOKYO GAZETTE. Subsequent operations of the Japanese Army in North China, including the Peiping and Tientsin area, Chahar, Shansi and Suiyüan provinces, and the Shanghai sector will be summarized here.

Along the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway

The Japanese forces operating along the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway started an attack on the Chinese troops near Nankow Station at dawn on August 12th, and drove them away from their positions. The right wing of the Japanese troops occupied the Huyu district, while the left wing, at 6 o'clock on the same evening, started an offensive on Nankowchen and the heights to its west. The Japanese reduced Nankowchen at 8 o'clock.

At 4:30 o'clock, the following afternoon, the Japanese troops captured the heights on both sides of the railway line north of Nankowchen. On the evening of August 14th, they dislodged the Chinese 89th division from its positions near Nihang. Thus, the front ranks of the Japanese troops had advanced to the line connecting Huitien and Lungtang, by the evening of August 15th.

The Sakata detachment then succeeded in outflanking the right wing of the enemy positions. This detachment advanced to Sungshupien at 8 o'clock on the morning of August 14th and to a spot near the Great Wall on the evening of the same day. The detachment then attacked the 1,390 metre height held by part of the Chinese 4th division.

The situation along the Peiping-Suiyüan railway steadily developed favourably for Japan. The Japanese troops on the morning of August 18th launched an attack on the Chinese 89th division which had been holding Chuyüngkwan, a narrow defile, and steep ascents on both sides of the pass.

As may be imagined, fierce fighting ensued between the opposing forces, but the Japanese troops reduced Chuyüngkwan at 6 o'clock on the morning of August 23rd, and occupied Shangkwan, another barrier, at 10 o'clock on the morning of August 25th. At 1:30, the same afternoon, the Japanese forces captured Pataling, a former frontier city which was very strongly defended by walls built of stone and brick.

The Japanese then started a drive on the Huailai plain. After crossing the Outer Great Wall on August 24th, they swept everything before them and made a triumphant entry into the city of Huailai at noon, August 27th.

Another Japanese detachment, in concert with the Japanese troops which advanced from Nankow, started operations on August 17th against approximately 3 divisions of Chinese troops, which held the hilly area extending from the district west of the Peiping-Suiyüan railway to Chenpiencheng. At 4 o'clock on the morning of August 22nd, this detachment occupied the 1,120 metre height east of Chenpiencheng and of Huiling to the south. The same evening, the detachment entered Chenpiencheng.

One section of the detachment occupied heights north and west of Chenpiencheng, while another captured a height, 1,390 metres, the highest peak of the Pataling range, about 10 kilometres west of Chuyüngkwan. At dawn, August 24th, the combined Japanese forces broke through the enemy line. At 7 o'clock, the same morning, the vanguard of the Japanese troops passed the line connecting the Great Wall and Shitangtze, about 12 kilometres south of Huailai. The main body of this detachment advanced on the Huailai plain early in the morning of August 25th.

The Japanese military air force in close cooperation with the first line of the Japanese troops dropped bombs on the enemy positions at Yinking and Huaiju from early in the morning of August 24th despite adverse weather conditions. The air bombardments seriously disturbed the rear positions of the Chinese troops.

The Japanese air force attacked not only the Chinese troops retreating south of Shacheng in Chahar province but raided Tatung, strategically the most important point on the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway, and dropped bombs on military establishments there.

The Senda and Nara detachments which also pursued the Chinese troops along the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway captured Kangchuang and Yinking on the evening of August 27th.

The Aihara detachment, after reducing Huailai, continued its westward drive along the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway, and occupied Shacheng at 5:30 o'clock on the afternoon of August 28th. The following

night the detachment made entry into the walled city of Hsinpaoan.

Detachments of the Kwantung Army, operating from the north, started eliminating remnants of the Chinese troops near Kalgan on the morning of August 25th. They entered Kalgan, capital of Chahar province at 11 o'clock on the morning of August 27th. The Tsutsumi detachment of the Kwantung Army captured Hsuanhua on the night of August 28th. About 7 o'clock, the following evening, the detachment occupied Hsiahuayuan where General Tang En-po, commander of the Chinese 13th Army, had set up his headquarters. On the night of August 29th, the Tsutsumi detachment established contact with the Aihara detachment, thus effecting direct contact between the Kwantung Army, operating from the north, and the Japanese Garrison Troops in North China, which advanced from Nankow. Close cooperation between these two Japanese forces hastened the capture of Kalgan and also the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway.

Chinese troops which attempted a drive on the Peiping and Tientsin area along the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway were miserably routed by the Japanese troops. They fled in confusion in the southwestern direction, namely toward Fanshanpu, Taoshanpu and Weihsien, leaving a large number of killed and wounded. It is ascertained that the Chinese 4th and 89th divisions were wiped out with the exception of one or two battalions, while the Chinese 21st and 72nd divisions lost the majority of their numerical strength.

The Kwantung Army in its operations in Chahar captured about 20,000 rounds of dumdum bullets from the Chinese troops up to August 31st.

Along the Peiping-Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Lines

Simultaneously with the advance of Chinese Central Government troops along the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway, having the Peiping and Tientsin area as their objective, no less than thirty divisions of the Chinese Central Government troops, about 400,000 strong, moved northward along the Peiping-Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow Railways up to August 20th with the same object in view. Especially brisk was the Chinese troop movement along the northern section of the Peiping-Hankow railway, from Chochow, 64 kilometres south of Peiping, to the Yungting River via Kuan, about 50 kilometres south of Peiping. Part of the Chinese troops advanced to the base of the mountains northwest of Liangsiang on the Peiping-Hankow

Railway which had been held by the Japanese. Accordingly, the situation became so tense and alarming, that the Japanese troops started operations against those Chinese troops at dawn on August 20th. The following evening the Japanese advanced their positions to the line connecting Tolitsun, Kungshufen and the southern limit of Liangsiang.

On the morning of August 25th, the Japanese troops started a general offensive against the enemy which held the hilly district from Peicheying to Yangtzekang. At 9:30, the same morning, the Japanese succeeded in dislodging the Chinese from the 500 metre and 348 metre heights south of Peicheying.

At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of August 27th, the Japanese troops started artillery bombardments on the 382 metre height about 3 kilometres northwest of Yangtzekang, the last stronghold of the enemy in this district. Assisted by their air force, the Japanese captured the height at 5:15, the same afternoon, thus destroying the Chinese positions west of Tolitsun which menaced the Japanese positions at Liangsiang.

On the other hand, the Hadori detachment, which had advanced south along the defile between mountains from Sangyutsun, attacked and occupied the enemy positions at Huashihpien on the morning of August 28th. The Hadori detachment, in cooperation with the Hisashige detachment, on August 29th launched an attack on the enemy at the 700 metre height about 4 kilometres south of Huashihpien; at 3:30, the same afternoon, the right wing projection of the enemy positions was captured. At 5:30, the following morning, the Japanese completely occupied this height.

Examination of the Chinese soldiers who surrendered to the Japanese in the engagement in a hilly district west of Tolitsun on August 27th and investigation of their belongings revealed the shocking fact that Chinese troops themselves or through inhabitants infected well water and provisions with bacilli in an attempt to massacre the Japanese troops. Fortunately, however, no victim was reported among the Japanese troops which had taken every possible precaution against such inhuman warfare.

Along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Line

The Akashiba detachment occupied Chinghai on the Tientsin-Pukow railway line about 30 kilometres south of Tientsin on August 24th. This detachment, early in the morning of August 29th, resumed its southward advance and occupied Chenkwantun about 12 kilometres south of Chinghai shortly after 11 o'clock, the same morning. Giving hot chase to the retreating enemy, the detachment

advanced to Lukwantun, about 8 kilometres south of Chenkwantun at 4:30, the same afternoon. There the detachment started preparations for launching an offensive against the remnants of the Chinese 29th Army which had taken up positions at Machang, about 60 kilometres south of Tientsin.

To reconnoitre the enemy positions and also to facilitate the advance of the Akashiba detachment, three Japanese air force units, about 10 o'clock on the morning of August 30th, raided Siaowangchuan and dropped bombs on the military centres there. Japanese air forces also raided Tsangchow where the Chinese troops had established their base of operations, and dropped bombs on the military barracks, the railway station, troop trains and other military establishments, dealing heavy damage to them. The Chinese anti-aircraft guns at Tangkwantun and other places opened furious fire upon the Japanese planes, which, however, all returned to their base in safety.

On August 31st, the Japanese air force again raided Tsangchow and effectively bombarded the railway station, three troop trains and military establishments, as the result of which the city was thrown into confusion.

The Nakai detachment, during a heavy rainfall on August 31st, attacked Wangkouchen, about 12 kilometres west of Chinghai, and occupied it the same night. The enemy fled in confusion, sustaining heavy losses due to the repeated Japanese air bombardments and the fierce onslaught of the Japanese infantry.

The Situation in Chahar

Early in August, the Nanking Government began sending large numbers of troops to Chahar province, which were a serious menace to the security of Manchoukuo. This action constituted a flagrant violation of the Tangku Truce Agreement, and also of the Doihara-Chin Teh-chun Agreement (cf. August, TOKYO GAZETTE). Therefore, the Kwantung Army which is jointly responsible with the Manchoukuoan Army for safeguarding the national defence of Manchoukuo, determined to suppress the Chinese troops in Chahar.

A unit of the Kwantung Army air force started operations, at midnight on August 20th, against the 3,000 Chinese troops which had crossed the Great Wall north of Kalgan and invaded Inner Mongolia. The campaign developed very favourably, so that on August 21st the enemy fled in the direction of Kalgan, crossing the Great Wall south of Changpei, hotly pursued by the Japanese detachment. At 7 o'clock, the following morning, the detachment occupied

Wanchuan. A section of it reached Kungchiachuan at 7 o'clock on August 24th and cut off the Peiping-Suiyüan Railway. At midnight the detachment effected an entry into Kalgan, cut the retreat of the Chinese troops which had invaded Chahar province, and started pursuing the enemy.

The Mongol troops which are cooperating with the Japanese troops encountered a Chinese cavalry force, about 3,000 strong, west of Changpei on the morning of August 24th and routed them with heavy losses.

Situation in the Peiping and Tientsin Area

Peace and order have gradually returned to the Peiping and Tientsin area with the successful Japanese campaign for eliminating remnants of the Chinese 29th Army which infested various places in the area after the main body of the army was routed by the Japanese troops. Representatives of Chinese citizens started a movement for maintaining peace and order, as the result of which a peace maintenance commission was organized in Peiping on July 30th, including Chiang Chao-tsung, formerly acting Premier of the Peking Government, Tsou Chuan-sun and Pan Yu-kuei. A similar peace maintenance commission was also formed in Tientsin on August 1st, including Kao Ling-wei, formerly Premier of the Peking Government, and ten other members. Conditions have been returning to normal in the Peiping and Tientsin districts. Train service between the two cities was resumed on August 6th, and railway, telegraphic and telephonic services between Peiping and Shanhaikwan were partially resumed from August 7th.

The Autonomous Government of East Hopei collapsed for a time with the Tungchow incident, but Chih Tsung-mo, as acting Chief Executive temporarily removed the seat of the government to Tangshan in East Hopei where he has been devoting his energies to the reorganization of the Autonomous Government and restoration of popular confidence.

The Japanese forces entered Peiping at noon of August 8th, when their commander issued a proclamation, assuring the citizens of Peiping that the Japanese troops would be responsible for maintaining peace and order in Peiping.

Shanghai Situation

The Shanghai incident was caused by the Chinese violation of the Shanghai Truce Agreement of 1932. When the situation became aggravated, the Japanese Government sent troops to Shanghai.

Early in the morning of August 23rd, the Japanese troops in cooperation with the Imperial Navy successfully landed near Lotienchen, on the estuary of the Yangtze River, and also near Woosungchen in the face of the enemy. Since then, the Japanese troops in concert with the Marines are steadily advancing their positions, pressing back the Chinese troops.

The Japanese detachment which landed at a point on the estuary of the Yangtze River completely occupied Lotienchen, strategically a very important point on the enemy's left wing, at noon on August 28th, after fierce fighting for 40 hours.

The Asama detachment inaugurated attacks on Yuehpuchen and Lion's Forest Forts on the morning of September 1st. This detachment occupied Lion's Forest Forts about 5 o'clock, the same evening, while a section of it captured Yuehpuchen. The detachment then pressed the Chinese troops southward.

The Japanese detachment which landed near Woosungchen launched an attack on Yinhangchen on the morning of August 27th and occupied an important point near Yinhangchen at 10 o'clock, the same morning. The detachment thus established a position menacing the rear of the enemy at the Chapei and Yangtzepoo districts.

Covered by naval and air forces, the main body of the Takamori detachment successfully effected a landing north of Woosungchen at 10 o'clock on August 31st. The detachment after 50 minutes fighting, occupied Woosungchen and the district north of it in cooperation with another Japanese force which operated from the iron bridge across the Woosung Creek. Fiercely pursuing the enemy which fled in confusion, the detachment at 1 o'clock, the same afternoon, reached the line connecting Lichiatze and the Mercantile Marine School building via Chuchiatze. The following evening, September 1st, the detachment made a further advance and reached the line from the southern limit of Woosung Fort to Tachinchiatsun.

Unit after unit of strong Japanese reinforcements landed near Woosung during the morning and afternoon of September 1st. The three arms of the Japanese forces, land, sea and air, in concerted action are now making combined attacks on the Chinese troops at Tachangchen.

Likewise on September 1st, an additional Japanese military detachment landed at the International Settlement of Shanghai.

II. THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

The Situation around Shanghai

Following the conclusion between Japan and China of the Agreement for the Cessation of Hostilities on May 5, 1932, China began, as time elapsed, to manifest insincerity in the observance of the agreement. She increased the number of her constabulary. In violation of the stipulations of the agreement, she started to strengthen the military equipments of these policing forces to an unnecessary extent. Likewise, in various parts of the forbidden area, she began to make warlike preparations such as the construction of trenches and other military works, including a secret attempt at the reconstruction of the fortress at Woosung, rearmament of which was strictly prohibited in the terms of the Truce.

Again, since the Sixth Plenary Session of the Central Executive and Supervisory Committee and the Fifth Plenary Session of the Kuomintang Congress, which sessions were held in the autumn of 1935, China had concentrated vast forces of her Central Armies in the district between Nanking and Shanghai. This constituted a grave menace to Japanese rights and interests there; it served somewhat as a turning point in relations between the two countries. Furthermore, China converted regular troops into constabulary and plain-clothes soldiers whom she sent surreptitiously into the forbidden area, where she caused them to construct military works resembling tochkas and various other establishments of warlike character. When Japan protested against such violations of the Truce, China simply dodged the issue, showing no signs of honest dealing, while she continued to exhibit even greater arrogance and contempt toward Japan and the Japanese.

When the present affair broke out in North China, the Nanking Government openly ordered its armies around Shanghai to push preparations against Japan. At the same time, the constabulary in Shanghai secretly and feverishly constructed trenches in the neighbourhood of the Municipal Government Building and Kianwanchen, while in the Chapei district strong sand-bag positions were erected. From August 7th, the Chinese worked night and day constructing tochkas and other military works around the Municipal Government building and the North Station in flagrant violation of

the Truce.

In this warlike atmosphere, at about 6:30 o'clock on the evening of August 9th, an incident occured in which the Chinese Constabulary murdered Lieutenant Isao Oyama and First Class Seaman Yozo Saito of the Japanese Marines. The site of the murders was a point on Monument Road (an extension road of the International Settlement, to the east of the Hungchiao Aviation Field), about three hundred metres to the north of the southeastern gate of the air field.

On the following day, post mortem examinations were conducted on the spot in the presence of the Japanese and Chinese officials concerned. These revealed unspeakable brutality on the part of the constabulary; the fact of their looting was established; and the Chinese, who had been trying to hide their guilt to the last, were compelled to admit the complete falsity of their contentions.

On August 12th the Chinese began to strengthen their garrison at Woosung with regular forces in complete disregard of the Truce, while railway traffic between Nanking and Shanghai was closed to passengers and devoted to military purposes. Then, early in the morning of the following day, Chinese plain-clothes soldiers sniped sentinels of the Japanese Marines on Darroch Road, Dixwell Road and in various other parts of the Settlement. Despite such provocations by the Chinese, the Japanese still remained calm and prudent and refused to take up the challenge. However, upon being fired at by Chinese regulars as well as by plain-clothes soldiers, the Japanese Marines could not but return the fire.

Even under circumstances such as these, the Japanese Navy, earnestly solicitous of saving Shanghai from being involved in hostilities, and of insuring the safety of the lives and property of the three million innocent citizens there, refused to abandon the hope that their desire would somehow be realized. Accordingly, when on August 12th the consuls-general of Great Britain, the United States and France proposed mediation for the cessation of hostilities to the Japanese and Chinese authorities concerned, the Japanese proceeded promptly to give careful consideration to the proposal. Therefore, even when the bi-motor Martin monoplane bombers, the pride of the Chinese air force, appeared over the Japanese quarter of the International Settlement, on the afternoon of August 13th and carried out an intimidating flight toward the Hongkew area at the low altitude of only seven hundred metres, the Japanese took no action, but continued to exert their efforts for a peaceful settlement of the situation, by giving favourable consideration to the mediation proposal.

Apparently construing this peaceful attitude of the Japanese as a sign of weakness, the Chinese forces, ignoring the mediation proposal

of the three Powers, sent a large aerial force over Shanghai on the 14th which not only attacked Japanese Marines and destroyed Japanese property, but wrought havoc with the pier and warehouses owned by British nationals and caused a terrible explosion of oil tanks of the American Standard Oil Company. At about 4:45 o'clock on the afternoon of the same day, the Chinese aeroplanes again appeared over the city and dropped bombs into the midst of several thousand refugees assembled at the Great World, the famous amusement centre of Shanghai. This was followed by another outrage at about 6:30 o'clock, when a Chinese plane dropped two bombs in front of the main entrance of the Cathay Hotel at the corner of Nanking Road, the finest and the most congested business centre of Shanghai. This resulted in numerous casualties as large numbers of refugees were concentrated there at the time of the attack. The scene of the disaster presented an indescribably appalling spectacle. According to the report of the Journal de Shanghai of the following day, casualties caused by these Chinese bombings amounted to 445 killed and 821 wounded in the French Concession and 495 killed and about 600 wounded in the International Settlement.

When the state of affairs came to such a pass, the Imperial Japanese Navy was at last resolved to take the necessary measures and commenced operations with lightning speed after issuing the following statement on August 14th:

The outrageousness of the Chinese in the Oyama incident has been definitely ascertained by the post mortem examination held on the spot in the presence of Japanese and Chinese representatives and members of the Shanghai Municipal Council. Notwithstanding this the Chinese have not only failed to reflect on their wrong act, but have manifested an aggressive attitude toward us, thereby rendering the situation around Shanghai extremely strained. However, in consideration of the international character of Shanghai with its many foreign residents, Japan has continued to exert utmost caution. Accordingly, we have done nothing other than respond to the wanton attacks made against us by the Chinese forces since last night, and we have refrained from attacking the Chinese aeroplanes flying low over the Settlement, in view of the fact that we were deliberating on the proposal of mediation, submitted on the 13th by the ambassadors of third Powers, to Japan and China. But at about 4 a.m. today, the 14th, more than ten Chinese aeroplanes went the length of perpetrating the outrage of bombing our warships, the headquarters of our Marines, our Consulate-General and other places. The Imperial Japanese Navy, which has consistently maintained an attitude of patience and perseverance until today, has now finally been compelled to resort to all such measures as are necessary and effectual. That we have been forced to take this step is greatly regretted in view of

the hope for peaceful settlement which we have always entertained, but it is indeed unavoidable.

The Determined Fighting of the Marines

From that date, the Japanese Marines numbering only several thousand, opposed the overwhelmingly large Chinese forces scores of times as numerous as themselves. And though successively harassed night and day by the raids of the Chinese regular troops and by the intrusion of plain-clothes soldiers, they tenaciously held their positions in the area extending from Hongkew to Yantzepoo, by inflecting heavy losses on the enemy. However, in view of the necessity of clearing the environs of Shanghai of the enemy forces, in order to assure the safety of the international metropolis, Imperial Army contingents forced a landing in the face of enemy fire, perhaps the most difficult of military operations, in the grey of the morning of August 23rd, under cover of Japanese warships and aerial forces. After an hour of hand-to-hand fighting, they occupied the enemy positions.

The morale of Japanese forces on the Shanghai front was greatly heightened by the landing of Army contingents. Thus all Imperial forces began a concerted advance; they secured their lines around the Settlement, repulsed the enemy's air raids and repeated counter-attacks, and swept the Chinese plain-clothes soldiers from the rear which the latter had been attempting to disturb.

By these activities of the Japanese forces, communications in the Yangtzepoo area have been secured; various public utilities, such as water-supply and electric light and telephone services have just begun to be restored, so that the going and coming of foreigners in that district has increased. And while keeping strict guard against the surreptitious entry of lawless Chinese elements, the Japanese forces have at the same time begun a general readjustment within the Settlement.

The Closing of the Chinese Sea Coast to Traffic of Chinese Vessels

Time and again the Japanese Government has made it clear that, despite its earnest efforts to prevent an aggravation of the situation, hostilities have unavoidably been extended. Since the situation has assumed serious proportions, the adoption of all effective measures to destroy the fighting power of China appears to be the sole means of making China reconsider her erroneous attitude and of bringing the affair promptly to an end, thereby restoring peace as soon as possible.

From this viewpoint, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided to close the Chinese sea coast, extending from the mouth of the Yangtze River through Fuchow and Amoy to Swatow, to traffic of both government and private vessels of China, and issued, on August 25th, the following proclamation in the name of the Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet.

I hereby proclaim that, beginning at 6:00 p.m., August 25, 1937, the sea coast of China from 32°4′ north latitude and 121°44′ east longitude, to 23°14′ north latitude and 116°48′ east longitude is closed to the traffic of Chinese government and private vessels by the naval force under my command.

The present closure shall be valid against all Chinese vessels.

Traffic of vessels of third Powers as well as those of Japan in the area closed by the present proclamation will not be interrupted.

Done on August 25, 1937. Vice-Admiral Kiyoshi Hasegawa Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet.

Subsequently, the Japanese Navy decided to extend the area of the closure to the entire Chinese sea coast. On September 5th the following proclamations were issued:

I hereby proclaim that, beginning at 6:00 p.m., September 5, 1937, the Chinese sea coast from 40° north latitude and 119°54′ east longitude, to 34°30′ north latitude and 119°55′ east longitude, except Tsingtao, is closed to traffic of Chinese government and private vessels by the naval force under my command. The present closure shall be valid against all Chinese vessels, and there will be no interference with vessels of third Powers as well as those of Japan.

Done on September 5, 1937. Vice-Admiral Zengo Yoshida. Commander-in-Chief of the Second Fleet."

"I hereby proclaim that, beginning at 6:00 p.m., September 5, 1937, the Chinese sea coast from 34°30′ north latitude and 119°55′ east longitude to 21°33′ north latitude and 108°03′ east longitude, except leased territories of third Powers, is closed to traffic of government and private vessels of China.

The present closure shall be valid against all Chinese vessels, and there will be no interference with vessels of third Powers as well as those of Japan.

This proclamation supersedes the proclamation issued by me on August 25, 1937.

Done on September 5, 1937. Vice-Admiral Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet

Activities of the Naval Air Force

On the afternoon of August 14th Vice-Admiral Hasegawa, Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet, issued the following important statement:

The Third Fleet has been forced to take necessary defensive measures an account of provocative attacks by the Chinese forces. Consequently, the people dwelling in the areas occupied by Chinese forces and in the neighbourhoods of their military establishments are advised to move to other suitable districts.

Soon after the issuance of the above proclamation, an order was dispatched to the Japanese Naval Flying Corps which had been awaiting action. No sooner had the order been received than the pick of the Imperial Naval air force began operations. Breaking through the raging centre of a typhoon, crossing over vast expanses of the sea, and braving all other hazards of the elements both night and day, the Japanese planes flew not only over Shanghai and its neighbourhood but deep into the interior of China, and conducted aerial campaigns unprecedented in the annals of aerial warfare. The activities of the Naval Flying Corps may be gleaned from the following records.

August 14th:

An aerial force hopped off from its base braving stormy weather. At about 6:30 o'clock in the morning, one of its units bombed the air fields of Hangchow, Chiekiao and Kiaossu, while another unit bombed the Kuangte Air Field. By these air raids Japanese forces destroyed an aerodrome and several planes lying outside the aerodrome at Chiekiao, and two hangars and several planes lying outside the aerodrome at Kuangte. In an aerial combat they shot down four enemy planes.

In the bombing attack on Hangchow, one Japanese bomber (commanded by a petty officer of the Naval air force) received seventy shots, large and small, from anti-aircraft guns, and from over ten enemy fighters. One of the engines and the wireless apparatus of the plane were shot through and rendered useless, but the pilot valiantly continued to fight, and, after shooting down two enemy planes, he returned his plane safely to its base. The return flight, made alone, since much time had elapsed, was managed successfully through a dangerous storm over the sea, with but the remaining engine functioning. The bravery and composure of such a crew as this are indeed worthy of highest admiration; the power of Japanese aeroplanes has been demonstrated to the world.

August 15th:

1. A squadron approached the Nanchang Air Field around noon, although its planes lost sight of one another in the dense atmosphere caused by a raging rain storm. This field was bombed, and nine enemy planes outside the aerodrome were destroyed in addition to serious damage which was inflicted on the commanding headquarters and on the field itself.

2. A squadron raided Nanking at about 9:30 o'clock in the morning. Flying low through rain over the air bases in and around the Chinese capital, Japanese planes bombed and destroyed three aerodromes, commanding headquarters, and over eight planes of the Chinese force. This squadron also engaged in severe aerial combats over Soochow and Nanking. The definite number of enemy planes shot down in these encounters was nine.

3. A squadron representing the pick of the Japanese Naval air force flew to Kiaossu and Shaosing (on the southern coast of Hangchow Bay) in spite of terrible weather conditions. At about 9:00 o'clock in the morning, the planes bombed the enemy airfields at these points, destroying six planes lying on the ground, and inflicting damage on the aerodromes.

Another squadron bombed the Chiekiao Air Field at about 3:30 in the morning and caused damage to the field and hangars. At the time these bombings were carried out, the Japanese planes engaged with a large force of enemy fighting planes, and shot down nine of them.

4. A squadron bombed the Hangchow Air Field, destroying a fighting plane and four hangars.

The loss sustained by the Japanese forces in the bombing raids carried out in the two days described above amounted to eight planes, the majority of which were lost on account of daring flights made while flying at low altitudes during stormy weather.

August 16th:

1. A squadron raided the Kasing Air Field at about 6:00 o'clock in the morning during heavy rainfall. Eight Chinese planes that were preparing for action were destroyed, while two other planes were shot down in the air. Another squadron bombed the Hungchow Air Field and destroyed two enemy planes. Additionally, a hangar, a barrack house and other buildings were shattered to pieces. In this attack, a slight injury received by one aviator was the extent of the Japanese casualties.

2. With part of its force, the corps which, in the forenoon,

bombed the Chinese air bases at Kasing and Hungchiao and inflicted severe damages on them, cooperated with Japanese Marines, and bombed the enemy artillery positions in Kiangwanchen, Nansiang and Tachangchen several times during the morning and afternoon. Another unit of the same corps, engaging in aerial combat, shot down two Douglas planes and one Corsaire plane without sustaining any loss to itself.

3. Leaving their base early in the morning, two bombing squadrons, one for Küyung and the other for Yangchow, bombed these two places at 11:00 o'clock in the morning and 0:30 in the afternoon, respectively. At Küyung, the Japanese force bombed and destroyed thirteen enemy fighting planes that lay outside the aerodrome, and in aerial combat shot down eleven out of twenty enemy fighters. At Yangchow, the Japanese planes bombed and destroyed six large and three small enemy planes which were lying outside the aerodrome, and in aerial combat shot down two enemy machines.

In these two raids, the Japanese loss consisted solely of one plane which was missing. One of the planes which raided Küyung lost sight of its companion fliers due to inclement weather. It remained to engage in combat with additional enemy planes, and shot down three of them. Although it received numerous bullets in its fuselage, some of which pierced its fuel tank and injured members of the crew, it returned to its base without mishap, as the crew selected a suitable course with admirable presence of mind.

4. A squadron which hopped from its base at night, taking advantage of the darkness, made a surprise attack on the Nanchang Air Field. After inflicting extensive damages to the enemy, it returned safely to its base.

By similar series of operations, the Japanese Naval air force carried on bombing expeditions to Pengpu, Hwaiyin, Haining, Nanking, Chiuchiang, Kuangteh, Chuchow, Hankow, Hsiaokan and other places. By shooting down numerous aeroplanes of the enemy, and by cooperating with the Japanese troops, the Corps has wrested control of the air around Shanghai.

Evacuation of Japanese Nationals in China

Since the outset of the present affair, the Imperial Japanese Navy has adopted a most careful attitude to prevent the affair from spreading to Central and South China and has devoted efforts toward the protection of Japanese nationals as well as their rights and interests in China. However, anti-Japanese acts in China daily increased in violence and insidiousness. Chinese merchants conducting

any business relations with Japanese were persecuted as traitors, and finally the Chinese began to hurl stones at Japanese women and children as well as to refuse to sell any provisions to Japanese residents. Under such circumstances, the Chinese employees of Japanese firms and factories ceased to attend to their work for fear of persecution likely to be dealt on them by their own people, thereby compelling the closure of the firms and factories. General business transactions by Japanese ceased and their livelihood was menaced. Moreover, Chinese armies and constabulary constructed various military works around the Japanese Concession and other Japanese-inhabited districts, while these forces were rapidly concentrated so as to besiege the Japanese areas. The general condition of affairs became such that the dreadful Tungchow incident (cf. August TOKYO GAZETTE) might be repeated at any moment in those districts. In view of such circumstances, it was decided to evacuate Japanese residents from the upper regions of the Yangtze River.

Evacuation of Japanese nationals from various points along the Yangtze began toward the end of July under the protection of Japanese warships. This progressed so steadily that all Japanese residents numbering 2,800, scattered in different places along the river extending over 1,000 sea miles between Chungking and Shanghai, were evacuated without a single mishap within the brief period of some days.

In Tsingtao an incident occurred on August 14th in which two Japanese seamen patrolling the streets were shot by Chinese plain-clothes soldiers. The alarm caused by this affair subsided following diplomatic negotiations; but when on August 21st the corps of Chinese Salt Guards dispatched by the Nanking Government came into the Tsangkow district and replaced the local police, the situation again became so tense that the evacuation of all Japanese women and children was carried out on August 23rd. Three days later, namely on August 26th, an order was issued for the evacuation of all remaining Japanese. They quit the port city, leaving behind them their entire property and business for which they had toiled for past decades.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—Advance of the Imperial Army—

Press Section, War Department

The Shanghai Front

(From August 28th to October 6th)

THE Nagatsu and Wachi detachments which landed on the estuary of the Yangtze succeeded in capturing the district near Lotienchen at noon, August 28th.

On September 5th, part of these detachments encircled 1,000 troops belonging to the 31st regiment of the Chinese 51st division at Yangchialou and Choutze about 2 kilometres north-west of Lotienchen and overcame them. In the engagement the Japanese captured several guns.

The Asama detachment reduced Lion's Forest Forts at 5 p.m., September 1st. At 10 o'clock, the following morning, the detachment advanced to a district south of the Forts. At noon, September 3rd, this unit occupied Kuchiatze and, in cooperation with the Takamori detachment advancing from the south, hemmed in the Chinese troops at Paoshan and the district west of it.

The Takamori detachment which landed at a point north of Woosungchen advanced to a line connecting the southern extremity of Woosung Fort, Paochiachuang, Wingchiatze and Tachinchiatsun on the evening of September 1st. This detachment succeeded in taking Woosung Fort at 9:30 o'clock, the following morning. On the evening of September 3rd, the detachment advanced to a line connecting the southern side of Paoshan, Tsaochiapin, Yinchiatze and Ssutang Creek, where, at 4 o'clock the following afternoon, it launched an offensive against the enemy who had taken up positions along a line connecting Paoshan, Tsaochiashang, Chinchiatze and the right bank of Ssutang Creek. The enemy offered stiff resistance, taking advantage of the walls of Paoshan and the creek. Fierce fighting continued till night when part of the enemy staged a counter-attack which was repulsed by the Japanese.

Meanwhile the Japanese had completely enveloped Paoshan.

The Takamori detachment on the morning of September 5th gave full play to its artillery in attacking Paoshan from the south, while the Asama detachment approached the western side of the town from the north. The newly-arrived Amaya detachment advanced north from the left wing of the Takamori detachment. At noon, the same day, the enemy was dislodged from Chinchiatze. Toward evening, the Japanese captured the south-western corner of Paoshan, which the Japanese occupied completely at 11 o'clock on the morning of September 6th.

The Amaya detachment near Chouchiatze west of Paoshan inflicted a crushing blow on several hundred Chinese troops which fled from Paoshan. This detachment advanced to a line connecting Miaochiatze and Chouchiatze at 2:30 p.m., September 6th. The following morning, the detachment joined the Asama unit, thus establishing junction between the Japanese troops which landed at Woosung and those which landed on the upper estuary of the Yangtze.

The Amaya and Asama detachments pushed further west and advanced near Wangchiatze 2 kilometres east of Yuehouchen on the evening of September 7th. The following morning, they started an attack on the enemy near Yuehouchen and about noon advanced within 300 metres of the enemy position.

The Takamori detachment which reduced Paoshan continued its drive on the enemy which had been putting forth stiff resistance at Chinchiatze west of Paoshan and also at Tsachiashang south of Paoshan. After dislodging the enemy from those positions, the detachment crossed Ssutang Creek and at noon, September 7th advanced to Chinchiatze, about 3 kilometres west of Paoshan. At noon, September 8th, the detachment advanced to a line connecting Puchiatze and Chinchiachang about 2 kilometres west of Ssutang Creek where it immediately launched an attack on the enemy.

The Ishii and Kawanami detachments, assisted by artillery, launched an offensive against the enemy from the morning of September 7th. The Ishii detachment in cooperation with the Takamori detachment advanced to a line connecting Chenchiachang and Laoyangtze by noon, September 7th, and to a line connecting Chinchiachang and Shenchiatze by noon, September 8th, while the Kawanami detachment advanced to a line connecting Tachiwan, Lushangpin and Tangchiachiao at noon, September 7th. The following morning, part of this detachment pushed further south and at noon, the same day, reached a line connecting Yuchiachiang and Lichiatze.

At 4 p.m., September 3rd, the Iida detachment together with artillery units landed at the International Settlement to dislodge the Chinese troops from Chunkung Road which leads from Shanghai to

Woosung, with a view to effecting junction between the Japanese troops at Woosung and the Japanese forces at the International Settlement. The detachment made preparations for the projected advance near the University of Shanghai on the night of September 5th. At six o'clock, the following morning, the Iida detachment started a drive northward. Assisted by the artillery of the Army and Navy and also by the naval air force, the detachment reached the Chiehpingchiang Creek at 11 o'clock despite the stubborn resistance of the enemy. To facilitate the drive of the Iida detachment, the Nakamura unit landed at the Jukong wharf in face of the enemy at 6 o'clock, the same morning, covered by both military and naval forces, and occupied a strategically important point on the Whampoo river. A detachment of the Japanese marines also advanced to the west side of Chunkung Road and reached Yangchiatze.

The Iida detachment crossed the Chiehpingchiang Creek at 4 p. m., September 6th and together with the Nakamura detachment made further advances. Toward evening, both detachments reached a line about 600 metres north of the creek. On the morning of September 8th, assisted by the military and naval artillery and also by the naval air force, the detachments resumed the offensive against the enemy. The Morihara unit, which formed the extreme left wing of the two detachments, took Shenchiachiangchen about 1 kilometre west of Chunkung Road at 11 o'clock on the morning of September 8th, by dislodging the Chinese troops from their No. 1 and 2 tochkas near Chiehpingchiang Creek.

The Nagatsu and Wachi detachments which occupied the district near Lotienchen started a drive southward on September 11th and reached Lienchitang Creek on the same evening. The detachments then attacked the enemy which had established positions along the road from Yuehouchen to Lotienchen. On September 13th they effected junction with another Japanese detachment which had been advancing southward from Yuehouchen. On September 15th, the Nagatsu detachment advanced to Hochiatze north-west of Lotienchen, while the Wachi detachment proceeded to Machiao to the east of Lotienchen.

Meanwhile the Adachi and Asama detachments advanced to Wangchiatze 2 kilometres east of Yuehouchen on the evening of September 7th. The next morning, these detachments started an onslaught on the Chinese troops near Yuehouchen and succeeded in dislodging them from their positions at Yuehouchen and its surrounding districts at 2 p. m., September 10th. At 4 p. m., September 12th, the detachments advanced to a line connecting Tungchienchiao (about 3 kilometres west of Yuehouchen), Shenchiangtze and Sichangchia. The

following morning, the detachments pushed further, and at noon, September 13th, reached a point about 4 kilometres east of Lotienchen. On September 15th, the Asama detachment reached Chinchiatze, while the Adachi detachment advanced to Wuchiachiao, about 6 kilometres south-east of Lotienchen.

The Tagami and Ishii detachments attacked the Chinese troops along the line extending north and south from Yanghangchen for the two days of September 10th and 11th. The Ishii detachment, at 4 p. m., September 11th, succeeded in taking Choutsun, a strategically important point, which achievement enabled all the Japanese to advance within 200 metres of the enemy positions. Assisted by the bombardments of artillery and of the naval air force, the detachments at 10 a.m., September 12th, dislodged the Chinese troops from their positions and at 2 o'clock on the same afternoon reached a line extending north and south of Yenshihfang, about 3 kilometres west of Yanghangchen where they inaugurated an attack on the Chinese positions to the east of Kuchiatze. Under cover of artillery bombardments, the detachments on the morning of September 13th advanced within 500 metres of the enemy positions.

The Kawanami detachment, which dislodged the Chinese troops from the Shanghai-Woosung railway line, advanced to a line connecting Tangchiachiao, Yuchiachiang and Lichiatze at 2 p.m., September 10th.

The Morishige detachment which started a southward push from Woosung at noon, September 13th, along Chunkung Road dislodged the Chinese troops from their positions south of Shenchiachiang and reached the University of Shanghai at 1 o'clock, the same afternoon, thus establishing junction between the Japanese troops at Woosung and the Morihara detachment which had advanced from the International Settlement northward along Chunkung Road.

The Morihara detachment, at 4 p.m., September 9th, occupied No. 4 tochka and made an onslaught on the enemy near Shenchiachiang, after consolidating its positions along Chunkung Road. In cooperation with the Morihara detachment, Japanese Marines then advanced to the line between Chouchiatze and Yangchiatze. The Chinese troops in front of the Morihara detachment showed an indication of retreating in the direction of Kiangwanchen on the night of September 12th ; the Morihara detachment gave timely chase to the enemy and the following noon, advanced to the Shanghai-Woosung railway line west of the Chinese Municipal Government building. The Japanese Marines which had occupied the Far Eastern Race Course advanced westward from the district south of Jukong Creek in concert with the drive of the Morihara detachment.

The Japanese reinforcements which joined the Kawanami and Morihara detachments from the rear launched an offensive on September 14th and reached a line connecting Luchiachiao, Kweichiatze (2 kilometres north-east of Kiangwanchen) and Chichiatze late in the afternoon. They continued their drive on the enemy positions north and east of Kiangwanchen until Chunkung Road was cleared of Chinese troops and the Far Eastern Race Course firmly secured by the Japanese.

The Japanese reinforcements which landed on the estuary of the Yangtze advanced on the region south-east of Liuhochen after September 19th, thus strengthening the right wing of the Japanese positions and menacing the left wing of the Chinese troops.

With the arrival of reinforcements on September 21st, the Japanese forces along the entire Shanghai front, which had kept comparatively quiet, preparing for a general offensive, since September 15th, launched a general attack. Covered by artillery bombardments, the Japanese forces made a steady advance in spite of the heavy rain, pressing back the Chinese troops. The Japanese reached a line connecting Liuhochen, Lotienchen, Liuchiahang and Kiangwanchen.

With regard to the Liuhochen sector, the Japanese reinforcements which landed on the estuary of the Yangtze had finished concentration and were standing by on September 15th. On the morning of September 19th, they started operations and reached the line between Kaotze (4 kilometres south-east of Liuhochen) and Wutze, whence they pushed further westward and occupied the line between Chutze and Chenchiatsun toward evening. On September 21st, in a heavy rain, the Japanese forces launched another general offensive and toward evening reached a line connecting Hsuanlutze (about 4 kilometres north-west of Lotienchen), Shentze and Chiangtze.

At the Lotienchen sector, the onslaught started by the left wing of the Japanese forces took steady effect, so that by the evening of September 15th, the Japanese had advanced to a line connecting Machiao (about 1 kilometre east of Lotienchen), Wuchiachiao and Hochiatien. The following morning the Japanese resumed their westward drive, and on September 17th after severe fighting reached the line between Nantangkow (about 2 kilometres east of Lotienchen) and Machiatze (about 500 metres south-east of Nantangkow). The following evening the Japanese occupied the line between Nantsaotang (about 2 kilometres south-east of Lotienchen) and Wuchiatze.

The combined attack, both by land and air, started by the Japanese forces on September 20th, forced the Chinese forces to fall back further west. The following day, the Japanese occupied the line between Sunchiatze (800 metres south-east of Lotienchen) and

Chuchiatze.

At the Liuchiahang sector, the Tagami, Ishii, Takamori and Takeda detachments advanced to the line between Huoshaochang and Yangmuchiao on September 15th. The following day, they resumed their attack on the enemy positions at Chinchaiwan, Yangchiatze and Yangchiayen, which they occupied within the same day.

On September 19th when the long rain had stopped, the Japanese started a general offensive, assisted by artillery, and steadily approached the line between Liuchiahang and Wangwanfang.

The eastern front had been comparatively quiet for the two days preceding September 15th, but on that date the Japanese artillery force trained their guns on the Chinese positions at Kiangwanchen, where every shell fired took effect. The Japanese armoured cars were also active, while the Kawanami and Iida detachments steadily pressed on Kiangwanchen. The Morihara detachment along the Shanghai-Woosung railway, at dawn, September 15th, started a drive on the Chinese troops on the western side of the railway line.

The Sato and Takahashi detachments at the Liuhochen sector started operations on the region north of Lotienchen on the night of September 21st. The detachments dislodged the Chinese troops from their positions at Wangchiatze on September 25th and pushed further west. On September 27th, they occupied a line connecting Tutze, Huangtze, Shenchiachiao, Yunghanchiao, Tanshihchiao, Peichintze and Wangchiatze.

The Japanese forces in the Lotienchen sector launched a general offensive at dawn, September 21st. Assisted by bombardments of the artillery and the naval air force, the Japanese infantry succeeded in steadily pressing back the Chinese after fierce fighting. And by September 29th, the right wing of the Japanese forces advanced to a line connecting Chinchiatze, Chenchiatze, Yuanchiatze and Lichiatze, while the left wing reached a line extending from Peichutze and Shenchiachiao to Yuantze, Tientze and Sichientze. Thus, the Japanese succeeded in dislodging the Chinese troops from all the positions around Lotienchen.

In this connection, mention must be made of the " White-Walled House " south of Lotienchen, which harassed the Japanese troops.

The Wachi detachment operating in the Lotienchen sector failed to take the " White-Walled House " which resisted attacks for 26 days. Little wonder that the second offensive of the Wachi detachment was concentrated on the mystery house which stood south of Lotienchen, only 70 metres away from the Japanese first line ! The house had white walls about 10 metres high and a circumference of about 100 metres. The walls had numerous crenels with scores of

machine-guns trained on the Japanese positions. Additionally, a creek about 4 metres wide ran between the Japanese positions and the " White-Walled House," thus hampering the advance of the Japanese forces.

The commander of the detachment decided to capture at all costs the mystery house on September 23rd, the Festival of the Autumnal Equinox. With artillery fire concentrated on the house at 2 p.m. as the signal, several Japanese armoured cars led the storming party which crossed the creek over which as a forlorn hope engineers had spanned a bridge.

The Japanese engineers since September 19th had been constructing an underground road from the Japanese positions to a point 35 metres from the " White-Walled House." A Japanese death-band crept through the underground road and dashed 20 metres to blow up the white walls which they did successfully.

The combined attacks by artillery, aeroplanes and armoured cars together with the storming party which dashed through the subterranean passage resulted in the obliteration of the " White-Walled House " and paved the way for the advance of the infantry which occupied the spot at 4:30 o'clock, the same afternoon, dealing a crushing blow to the enemy. The infantry further advanced and occupied the red-brick barracks behind the " White-Walled House," thus interrupting the highway to Shanghai.

The Tagami, Ishii, Takamori and Takeda detachments which had been attacking Liuchiahang, launched a combined onslaught on the enemy positions along the line between Liuchiahang and Wangwanfang on the morning of September 20th, assisted by the artillery and air force. By pressing back the enemy steadily, those detachments reached the line connecting Changchiachiao, Liuchiahang, Peishatze and Echiatze by September 30th.

In the engagement at this sector, reference must be made to the capture of the Chinese wireless station, which was effected by the Hosomi detachment in cooperation with the Ishii detachment after hand-to-hand fighting. The enemy which took up positions near the wireless station at Liuchiahang offered stubborn resistance to the Ishii detachment. At 2 p.m., September 22nd, part of the Hosomi detachment succeeded in occupying the enemy positions near Wangwanfang which had been extending strong support from the flank to the Chinese troops near the wireless station. From that date, hand grenade warfare lasted for ten days between the Japanese troops and the Chinese forces whose positions were only 20 metres apart. A valiant unit of the Hosomi detachment dashed against the crenels of the enemy positions when the Ishii detachment launched a general

attack and succeeded in taking the wireless station.

The Kano, Tsuda, Tanikawa and Fukui detachments started operations on the night of September 25th and concentrated in the rear of the left wing of the Japanese forces which had been attacking the Chinese positions near Liuchiahang. On September 28th, those detachments reached a line connecting Paochialung, Hsutze and Kiangchiatze.

At the Kiangwanchen sector, the Japanese forces occupied Tangchiatze, Luchiaku and Chuangchiaku on September 20th and also Changchiang (south-east of Futan University) and Wangchiatze.

The Japanese troops which had been operating in the regions south and east of Liuhochen steadily pressed the enemy and occupied the line connecting Hsuanlutze, Lichiatsun and Yangtze on October 3rd. They then advanced to the creek on the eastern side of Tungchenchiang.

The Asama, Adachi and Nagatsu detachments which had been operating in an area south of Lotienchen started a westward drive at dawn, October 2nd, and broke through the enemy positions on the western side of the highway to Shanghai. They kept up their drive, so that their right wing reached the line between Yangchiatsun and Chenchiatze on October 3rd and their left wing advanced to the line between Chiangchiatze and Chichiatsun the same day. They established junction with the newly-arrived reinforcements on the line between Chichiatsun and Wuchiachiao. A further advance enabled them to occupy the line connecting Peichoutze, Yuanchiatze, Peitze, Chentze, Suchiatze, Wannienchiao and Tangchiatze on October 4th.

The Isa and Shimomura detachments which formed the right wing of the Japanese forces at the Liuchiahang sector resumed their drive on the morning of October 2nd and succeeded in advancing 2 kilometres in one stretch, so that they reached the line between Lichiufang and Echiachiao at 4 o'clock, the same afternoon. The next day they followed up their drive and occupied the line connecting Nanmeitze, Laotze and Luchiatze. On October 4th, they advanced further and reached the line extending from Hsintze and Hsinmuchiao to Yangchiatze and Tsaichiachiang.

The Kawanami, Tagami and Ishii detachments formed the centre of the Japanese forces operating at the Liuchiahang sector.

The Kawanami detachment on October 2nd launched a southward push and at 4 o'clock, the same afternoon, reached a line extending west and east from Hsiehningchiao, 2 kilometres south of Liuchiahang.

The Tagami detachment on October 3rd resumed its southward

advance and reached Wangchiatze via Hsiaolutze. The Ishii detachment at 7 o'clock on the morning of October 3rd took Echiatze. The detachment crossed the Shanghai highway and at 4 o'clock, the same afternoon, captured Changchiatze. The following day, October 4th, part of the two detachments advanced to the Yuntsaopin Creek, while the main body pushed to the west of Echiatze and reached the line connecting Wangchiatze, Wangchiang and Chaochiatze in cooperation with the Kawanami detachment.

The Fukui and Tsuda detachments, which formed the left wing of the Japanese forces operating in the Liuchiahang sector, dislodged the enemy from Chunghsingtze and Hsinchia on October 2nd. The following day, the detachments reached the Yuntsaopin Creek. At dawn, October 6th, the detachments crossed the creek and advanced to the line connecting Lichiachiao, Changyentze and Tsaotze toward evening.

The Suiyüan and Shansi Front

(From September 1st to October 6th)

The Japanese troops which had been making a drive on Tatung in northern Shansi province along the Peking-Suiyüan Railway, occupied Huaian at 3 p.m., September 1st and took Yungchiapu toward evening, the same day. On September 7th, the Japanese forces occupied Tienchen, 80 kilometres south-west of Kalgan, while another Japanese detachment operating in the northern area occupied Nanhaochien, about 70 kilometres west of Kalgan on September 6th.

The main body of the Japanese forces took Yangkao, about 50 kilometres north-east of Tatung, on September 8th. The vanguard of the Japanese troops which reduced Chulopu on September 11th kept up its advance and reached Tatung on the morning of September 13th, when the Chinese troops surrendered by hoisting the white flag. Tatung, a strategically important town in northern Shansi, was captured by the Japanese very easily. Part of the Japanese forces advanced further and reduced Huaijen on September 14th.

The Mongol troops operating against the Chinese forces which invaded Inner Mongolia made steady advances and routed the 2,000 Chinese troops at Shangyi, about 50 kilometres west of Changpei, on September 8th. The Chinese fled westward. The Mongol forces also defeated the Chinese troops at Tehua, which retreated in the direction of Shangtu.

The Senda detachment which pushed westward along the Peking-

Suiyüan Railway had to fight not only the Chinese troops which put up stiff resistance, but also snow and difficult mountain passes. At 1 p.m., September 17th, the detachment occupied Fengchen on the Peking-Suiyüan Railway. On September 20th, the detachment started a northward drive along the railway, and reduced Old Pingtichuan on the following day. In cooperation with the artillery, and assisted by the Mongol troops which had advanced from Hsialiuho the unit succeeded in capturing Pingtichuan on September 24th.

Meanwhile the Hasegawa detachment which had played, strategically, a most important role in the Japanese military operations since the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese conflict, was sweeping everything before it in its operations in northern Shansi province. At dawn, September 18th, this detachment after a few hours' vigorous fighting occupied Yuyu, a border town. Giving hot chase to the retreating enemy, the detachment on September 20th occupied Shahukow, a barrier in the Great Wall, thus cutting off the retreat of the Chinese troops in Suiyüan province toward Taiyüan, capital of Shansi province, along the Liangcheng highway which leads from Shahukow to Suiyüan via Liangcheng. The Japanese occupation of Shahukow forced the cavalry and motorcar units of the Chinese troops in Suiyüan province to flee in confusion toward Suiyüan city. The Hasegawa detachment advanced further and occupied Liangcheng on September 23rd.

The Mongol forces which reduced Shangtu on September 17th, pursued the Chinese troops which retreated in a south-western direction. They occupied Taolin on September 26th. The converging operations of the Japanese troops on three routes, with Suiyüan, capital of Suiyüan province as objective, compelled the Chinese troops to retreat toward that city.

The Japanese forces which had taken Hsüanhua and Huailai made a spectacular advance on the Weichow plain. On the evening of September 11th, they occupied Weichow, a strategically important town in southern Chahar province. They continued their southern drive and occupied Yangyuan on the afternoon of September 12th. After crossing the provincial border, they steadily pressed on Kwangling, an important town in the northeastern part of Shansi province.

The enemy at Kwangling, unable to withstand the severe attack of the Japanese forces, fled in western and southern directions shortly after 10 a.m., September 13th, hotly pursued by the Japanese forces. On the morning of September 16th, the Yamada detachment occupied Hunyüan and the Aihara detachment took Laiyüan, thereby driving away the Chinese troops from Chahar province.

The Nagano and Yamada detachments on September 19th started

their advance on Laiyüan which they reached the following evening. In cooperation with Japanese forces which were already on the spot, the detachments consolidated their positions and sent part of their strength to Futuku and Paishihkow to guard against possible Chinese counter-attacks.

The Aihara and Oba detachments on September 20th dislodged Chinese troops about one brigade strong from an area south of Kwangling and near the southern border of Chahar province. The detachments then attacked the communist troops at Lingchiu, which they took the same evening. From September 24th they started a drive on enemy positions near Tayingchen from the east and north, and occupied them on the afternoon of September 30th.

The Japanese force which reached Yinghsien in northern Shansi province on September 24th succeeded in occupying Hanchih on September 29th, thrusting a powerful wedge into the Chinese positions in northern Shansi province. Another Japanese force which swooped down on northern Shansi from the north occupied Shohsien on September 28th, after driving away the Chinese cavalry. The Japanese force kept up its westward drive and subsequently occupied Ningwu. The Chinese positions in northern Shansi province, extending over 80 kilometres, were threatened with imminent collapse, since both wings were outflanked and because of the strong wedge thrust into their centre by the Japanese forces.

The Mongol troops which had taken Taolin kept up their westward drive and on September 29th occupied Wulanhua. A Mongol detachment on September 30th reduced Pailingmiao, a Mecca to the Mongols, and cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops toward the west. This action, together with the advance of the Japanese troops both by the Peking-Suiyüan Raiway via Pingtichuan and by the Liangcheng highway, rendered the position of the Chinese troops at Suiyüan, capital of Suiyüan province, absolutely hopeless.

The Japanese forces which swooped down on Shohsien in northern Shansi province from the north, as mentioned before, took Ningwu at 6 p.m., September 30th. They were pursuing the enemy toward Taiyüan, capital of the province. The Goto detachment, on September 28th after severe mountain fighting, occupied Juyuehkow, an important barrier in the Inner Great Wall between Pingchikwan and Yenmenkwan. This detachment continued its southern drive and at 7:30 p.m., September 29th, took Hanchih, thus dividing the 80,000 Chinese troops along the Inner Great Wall line, with the aid of the Japanese occupation of Tayingchen on the eastern front of Shansi province. The Goto and Ishikura detachments on September 30th reduced Taichow and forced the 80,000 Chinese troops along

the Great Wall in northern Shansi to retreat in a south-eastern direction. In this connection, it must be recalled that General Yen Hsi-shan, warlord of Shansi, spent over one million yuan in constructing fortifications at Hanchih which were taken by the Japanese forces on September 29th. The fall of Hanchih spelt the downfall of the enemy in northern Shansi.

The Goto and Ishikura detachments continued their southern drive on Taiyüan. After taking Kuohsien, these detachments pushed further southward. On October 6th, their vanguard occupied Yuanping, which, strategically, is most important in Shansi province, ranking next only to Taiyüan. General Yen Hsi-shan, has long wielded great influence over Chinese politics by advocating the principle of Shansi for Shansians, but the day is apparently very near, when he will be forced to flee from Taiyüan.

The Peking-Hankow Railway Front

(From September 6th to October 3rd)

The Kanda and Okamoto detachments, on September 6th, succeeded in dislodging the two divisions of the Chinese Central Government troops from Chienchuntai, a mountainous district on the upper reaches of the Yungting river, about 50 kilometres west of Peking. The enemy then fell back to the mountains west of Chienchuntai where they offered stubborn resistance. The Chinese, however, suffered severe losses through the violent onslaught kept up by the Japanese for about a week, and fled westward in confusion at 3 p.m., September 13th. This removed the menace to the Japanese troops in the Peking and Tientsin area from the west.

The Suzuki detachment on the night of September 11th dealt a crushing blow to the Chinese troops, about one regiment strong, which under cover of night launched a counter-attack in the southern area of Lianghsiang. On September 15th, the detachment occupied Fangshan. The following evening, the right wing of the Japanese forces advanced to the line between Choukowtien and Towtienchen and at dawn, September 17th, pressed back the Chinese troops commanded by General Sun Lien-chung between the Liuli river and Chochow. At 7 a.m., September 18th, the Japanese troops advanced to the western area of Chochow and at 2 o'clock, the same afternoon advanced to the line between Siting and Sunchiachuang on the right bank of the Chuma river, thus enabling the Japanese to take up a position enveloping Chochow and promising spectacular developments in the Japanese military operations along the Peking-Hankow

Railway.

The Sakanishi, Ishiguro and Morita detachments, which advanced to the line between Kwantsunchen and Sitsaochuang on September 15th, had to their credit the successful breaking through of the centre of the 60,000 Chinese troops under Generals Feng Chan-hai and Wan Fu-lin on the line between Kuan and Yungching. On September 16th, the three detachments successfully crossed the Chuma river, overcoming all obstacles, and continued their westward drive, by pressing back the Chinese troops.

At dawn, September 17th, these detachments converged at Sunglintien station on the Peking-Hankow Railway south of Chochow, which was thus threatened with combined attacks both from the north and south. The detachments, by crossing the Yungting and the Chuma rivers, now stood on the Peking-Hankow Railway track south of Chochow, which they succeeded in encircling by boldly breaking through the centre of the Chinese positions.

The Chinese Central Government troops under General Sun Lienchung at Chochow were trapped by the Japanese forces which attacked them from Fangshan in the north and from Sunglintien in the south. The Chuma river which had defied the Japanese advance now appeared to be cutting off the retreat of the Chinese troops. The Japanese encircling movement was completed early on the morning of September 17th, which dawned on the Cholu plain ushering in a brilliant victory for the Japanese forces.

The left wing of the Japanese forces which occupied Niutzechen on the evening of September 15th continued its advance in heavy rain and on muddy roads the following day. At 7 p.m., September 18th, the Taching river near Hsinchiao was reached, thus strengthening and extending the Japanese enveloping movement.

The last but not the least important factor in the success of the encircling movement was the advance of the Yamada detachment on Laiyüan where it dominated Chochow across the mountainous region along the Great Wall, and also the successful operations of the Japanese forces along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway which by then had reached Tsangchow and were tightening the eastern end of the huge drag-net spread by the Japanese forces on the Cholu plain with Chochow as its centre.

It was the Japanese armoured car unit that took the lead in the attack on Chochow, by cutting the Peking-Hankow Railway at Sunglintien south of Chochow, thus cutting off the retreat of the Chinese troops.

Speculation was rife as to whether the Chinese troops at Chochow would fight against the Japanese to the bitter end or attempt a wholesale retreat.

About noon, September 18th, the Toyama detachment rushed to the front from the rear and launched a fierce onslaught on Chochow, which completely disarmed the opposition of the Chinese troops. Thus the Toyama detachment was the first to enter Chochow, from which the enemy fled in utter confusion toward Paoting.

Other Japanese forces started a southward drive in pursuit of the retreating Chinese, without entering Chochow.

Falling back on their intimate knowledge of geography and their traditional superiority in retreating tactics, the Chinese troops managed to escape the annihilation that was threatened by the Japanese encircling movement from three directions, north, south and east. The Chinese troops under General Sun Lien-chung fled to the mountainous region in the south-west, while those under General Feng Chan-hai fled in the direction of Ichow and those under General Wan Fu-lin toward Paoting. Yet in spite of this escape, an utter debacle overtook the Chinese forces, exceeding 100,000, which were routed by the Japanese troops, far inferior to them in numerical strength. The Chinese casualties in the Chochow battle are estimated to be more than 6,000. It may be also noted that the battle came to an end on September 18th, an anniversary of the outbreak of the Manchurian incident.

The Japanese forces steadily followed up their victory and on September 19th reached the line between Ichow and Tinghsing, and on September 20th, the line connecting Tanghuchen, Laotsun and Kuchengchen, in pursuit of the retreating Chinese.

On September 21st, the right wing of the Japanese forces reached the northern area of Tunglungmen and the central and the left wing advanced to the Tatse river, pursuing the enemy which was fleeing in the direction of Paoting.

The Sakanishi, Ishiguro and Morita detachments at dawn, September 23rd, reduced Nancheng and advanced on Paoting from the north-west. Early in the afternoon of the same day, the detachments reached the line connecting Ssupingchuang, Hanchiachuang and Fangshunchiao west of Paoting and interrupted the Peking-Hankow Railway, cutting off the retreat of the Chinese troops to Shichiachuang, an important railway juncture.

The Okamoto, Hasegawa and Yasuda detachments which had been making a frontal attack on Paoting, the seat of the Provincial Government of Hopei, reached the line between Kuokuochuang and Changchuang at 9 a.m., September 23rd, after capturing the tochkas near Peilou. Other Japanese detachments took a circuitous route in the east and advanced on Nantayüan, pressing on the eastern side of

Paoting.

The Japanese detachments, which had been attacking from the north, stormed the northern projection of the walled city of Paoting at 9:45 a.m., September 24th, covered by artillery fire. In face of severe Chinese trench-mortar and machine-gun fire, the Japanese troops crossed the 20-metre moat below the outer wall, and scaled the 15-metre inner wall, on the top of which they hoisted the Japanese flag. Shortly after 10 o'clock, the same morning, the Japanese firmly secured the north and west gates of Paoting. The fierce Japanese onslaught forced the Chinese troops to make full retreat. The retreating Chinese, however, had another enemy in the rear, in the form of the Desertion Prevention Corps, which ruthlessly fired on its fleeing compatriots. Consequently, disastrous fighting ensued between the Chinese themselves at various points.

Since the Peking-Hankow railway was cut off south of Paoting, the Chinese troops fled through the south gate of the city, the only safe outlet, toward the south either on foot or by motor-lorry. The roads leading to Paicheng and Changtien from Paoting were seething with Chinese troops fleeing from Paoting. After clearing Paoting of the remnants of the Chinese troops, the Japanese forces cut off the retreat of the enemy at Peikoutao and Hsiaochuchai, 8 kilometres south of Paoting, and dealt a crushing blow to the Chinese.

The main body of the Japanese forces, led by the Hasegawa detachment, made a triumphant entry into Paoting, the seat of the Provincial Government of Hopei and the base of the anti-Japanese operations in North China, at 2:40 p.m., September 24th. The fall of Paoting took place within a week of the collapse of Chochow.

The Japanese forces lost no time in following up their victory, by giving hot chase to the Chinese troops retreating in the southern and western directions.

The Kimura detachment occupied Hsinlo, 80 kilometres south of Paoting on September 25th. Meanwhile the Japanese military air force visited various strategically important points between the Peking Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow railways, including Hochien, Hiunghsien and Fucheng and effectively bombed the Chinese troop concentrations and military establishments there.

The Japanese forces, after occupying Hsinlo on the Peking-Hankow Railway, stopped some time there to prepare for their southern drive and also to repair the railway bridge south of Hsinlo which had been damaged.

On October 3rd, the Japanese troops started a southern push from Hsinlo and occupied Tunganchen, whence they advanced further south to dislodge the Chinese troops from Shichiachuang, an important

railway junction, from which a branch railway line, about 270 kilometres long, runs to Taiyüan, capital of Shansi province.

The Tientsin-Pukow Railway Front

(From September 4th to October 3rd)

The Akashiba detachment, which had been advancing along muddy roads on Tangkwantun and Machang on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, started a general offensive on Tangkwantun and Machang on the morning of September 4th.

The sky was overcast, rain was still falling. The Japanese military air force, flying extremely low, dropped bombs on the Chinese positions at Tangkwantun. The thuds of air bombings together with the booming of artillery fire shook air and ground. Covered by the artillery and air force, the Akashiba detachment captured Tangkwantun at 4 o'clock, the same afternoon. The fall of Tangkwantun presaged the fate of Machang, an important position on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway.

The Nakai detachment which had been operating on the western area of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway dislodged the Chinese troops from Tungtzeyaochen on the evening of September 3rd, and started a southern drive along the Tzeyao river.

The Japanese forces which occupied Tangkwantun at 4 p.m., September 4th, stopped some time there, preparing for a further drive. At dawn, September 10th, the forces launched an attack on the Chinese positions at Machang and its surrounding districts.

The Japanese vanguard dashed ahead through the flood, hip-deep. The situation developed favourably for the Imperial forces through close cooperation between infantry and artillery. The Japanese air force was also active, bombing Liuhochen and Jenhochen, where the Chinese military barracks were situated, and inflicting heavy damage to the Chinese troops and military establishments.

At 11 a. m., September 10th, the Numada and Nagano detachments captured Liuhochen, while at 4:30 o'clock, the same afternoon, the Akashiba detachment crossed the Machang river near Chientun in face of the enemy and occupied part of the Chinese positions at Machang.

Early in the following morning, the Japanese forces under cover of darkness stormed the Chinese positions. By 3 a.m., September 11th, the Japanese completely occupied Machang, from which the Chinese troops fled in confusion southward, leaving a large numer [sic] of wounded and killed. The Numada, Nagano and Akashiba detachments

advancing through muddy waters, gave quick chase to the retreating Chinese forces and at 9 o'clock, the same morning, passed the line connecting Siweitsun with the southern extremity of Machang. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, they reached the line extending west and east from Lukwantun. The Akashiba detachment kept up its southern push and at 3:30 o'clock, the same afternoon, took Chinghsien, a strategically important town about 12 kilometres south of Machang. The Nakai detachment made a southern drive along the Tzeyao river, pressing back the Chinese troops, and on the morning of September 12th occupied Yaomatu, about 16 kilometres west of Tangkwantun, while the Numada and Nagano detachments at 4:20 p.m., September 13th, reduced Hsingchichen, about 10 kilometres south of Chingchow.

The Japanese forces, which had been preparing for a southwestern drive along the line between Tacheng and the Tzeyao river, launched a general offensive at dawn, September 22nd against the Chinese positions at Tacheng and Paiyangchiao, which are key points in the plain of northern Hopei province. The Japanese dashed through the marshy, muddy ground and took those two important points. Thus the Japanese forces operating along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway achieved a southern advance parallel to that made by those pushing south along the Peking-Hankow Railway.

The Numada, Nagano and Akashiba detachments, which took Hsingchow, 22 kilometres south of Machang on September 13th, kept up their southern drive on the line extending west and east from Yaokwantun station, which formed the first Chinese defence line for Tsangchow, covered by artillery.

About 2 p.m., September 21st, the Japanese forces launched a general offensive on Tsangchow in cooperation with the artillery and air force. The Japanese air force raided the Chinese positions at Tsangchow early in the morning of September 23rd and bombed the Chinese positions at Tunghuayüan and Sihuayüan, west of Yaokwantun. The Japanese Akashiba detachment shortly after 9 a.m., September 22nd, succeeded in taking Tunghuayüan.

The combined, fierce attack by the Akashiba, Numada and Nagano detachments resulted in the successive capture of Yaokwantun and Malocheng, thus breaking the first line of defence of the enemy. At 5 p.m., September 23rd, the Japanese forces started a regular attack on the strongly fortified positions north of Tsangchow and at 6:30 o'clock, the same afternoon, succeeded in occupying Tsangchow. The Japanese forces followed up their victory and fiercely pursued the retreating Chinese. They took Chiehchih, about 8 kilometres south of Tsangchow at 10 a.m., September 25th.

The Japanese forces operating along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway maintained their southern drive. On the evening of September 28th, they occupied Hiunghsien and Paitaochen, while the Japanese left wing force on September 30th took Tungkwang, an important point on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway north of Tehchow.

The Japanese forces which kept up their southern push along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway crossed the border between Hopei and Shantung provinces on October 1st and occupied Sangyüan in north-western Shantung province. The same evening they reached a point 3 kilometres north of Tehchow which is 70 kilometres south-west of Tsangchow. The Japanese vanguard immediately started an attack on Tehchow. The offensive became general on the following morning, when the air force also participated. Meanwhile the main body of the Japanese forces succeeded in outflanking the Chinese positions at Tehchow without being noticed by the Chinese troops whose attention apparently was engrossed by the Japanese attack on the north-western projection of the Chinese positions.

The Chinese, therefore, were taken aback by the attack of the Japanese main body from the rear and flank, and were routed. The Chinese fled in confusion toward the south-west. The first serious engagement in Shantung province thus ended in a signal victory for the Japanese.

The Numada detachment made a triumphant entry into Tehchow at 11 o'clock on the morning of October 3rd.

II

FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

A Summary of Naval Operations

On the Shanghai front, Chinese troops opened the morning of September 1st by directing machine-gun and rifle fire on North Szechwan Road and the headquarters of the Japanese Marines. The Japanese naval force smashed enemy positions by subjecting them to incessant gun fire.

September 2.—Japanese hydroplanes shot down four Chinese aeroplanes over Woosung. Japanese planes also bombed the Chenju Wireless Station, on September 1st and 2nd, destroying most of its equipment.

September 3.—Certain Japanese warships made their way into the harbour at Amoy and bombarded the Paishih battery, the air field, and the batteries at Hulishan and Tapankio, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy.

September 4.—In an aerial combat over Liuhochen with two enemy squadrons of three fighting planes each, two planes of the Japanese Naval air force shot down three of the opponents. At 3:00 p.m., another Japanese air force attacked the Chinese artillery position located at a point serving as a base for Chinese military operations which was adjacent to the districts guarded by British and American troops. The Japanese planes avoided flight over the Settlement and, after a daring low flight under extremely difficult conditions, bombed the enemy position on which they inflicted extensive damages.

In the afternoon of the same day, warships, in conjunction with an air force, twice bombarded severely the forts at Swabue and Makung ; at 8:00 p.m., an aerial squadron bombed and damaged extensively military establishments at Haichow, the enemy's important strategic point at the terminus of the Lunghai Railway.

September 5.—In Shanghai, Japanese forces subjected the North District and Hongkew to concentrated fire and inflicted severe damage.

September 6.—In conjunction with army forces, a naval aerial force attacked the enemy on the Chunkung road. In South China a squadron of planes flew over Swatow and carried on extensive bombing of fortified areas causing considerable damage. Another squadron of

Japanese hydroplanes raided Amoy and destroyed the wireless station and the headquarters of the Constabulary.

September 7.—An air force bombed the enemy's air bases at Hangchow and Kwangteh, shot down six opposing planes, and returned safely to its base.

September 8.—In the Shanghai sector the enemy made several counter-attacks upon Imperial forces at Shakingkang in the north of the Settlement, but the Japanese Marines drove them back each time with heavy losses.

A squadron of the air force operating in cooperation with land forces smashed the enemy positions on the Chunkung Road and at other points, while a part of the squadron additionally bombed railway bridges and tracks, as well as vessels carrying military supplies at Kunshan and Sungkiang inflicting heavy damages on them all.

September 9.—A force of Marines advanced to the north-west of the University of Shanghai. An aerial squadron bombed the enemy's heavy artillery positions at Kiating, air bases at Hangchow and Changhing and the Kiangnan Aircraft Factory. While in South China, the planes from the Japanese fleet bombed the building of the Department of Pacification Commission, the headquarters of the Constabulary and the Municipal Government building at Swatow, and later attacked and severely damaged the enemy's headquarters at Chungshan Park, the railway station and military barracks at Chaochow.

September 10.—The Yasuda unit of the Marines, under cover of an artillery and aerial bombardment, stormed and wrested from the enemy the positions to the west of the Chunkung Road. At noon, the Chinese artillery on the Pootung side made a wanton attack on the Japanese hospital ship, the America Maru which was anchored at the N.Y.K. pier by the Japanese Consulate-General. This attack resulted in several casualties on board the vessel. Countering the attack, Japanese warships soon silenced the enemy.

An aerial squadron bombed enemy positions in the neighbourhood of the Municipal Government building at Yuehpoochen and Yanghangchen.

September 11.—The enemy forces made counter-attacks against the position held by the Sato unit to the west of the University at 5:00 o'clock in the morning, and against the Marines at Patzuchiao in Chapei from midnight till dawn, but Japanese Naval forces shattered them and drove them back.

September 12.—A squadron of the air force bombed the enemy positions to the south of Lotienchen, and at Kiangwangchen, Tachangchen, Yanghangchen and the Municipal Government

building.

At 8:00 o'clock in the morning, Chinese airplanes bombed the Japanese hospital ship, the Asahi Maru, which was anchored in the Yangtze River, but fortunately there were no casualties. In South China a flotilla of destroyers bombarded the enemy forts at Paiya in Bias Bay, and simultaneously a unit of Marines was landed which destroyed two of the enemy's field guns and captured one. In this attack, the powder magazine at the fort caught fire and was completely destroyed by explosion. The same destroyer flotilla bombarded and demolished the Canton Naval Wireless Station at Pinghai at 6:00 o'clock in the afternoon.

September 13.—At the Shanghai front the Shibakita unit of the Marines captured the enemy position at the Far Eastern Race Course.

In the morning, one Japanese warship was attacked by two Northrop planes in the neighbourhood of Wanshan Islands to the south-west of Hongkong, but suffered no damage.

September 14.—In Shanghai the Furuta unit captured the Aikuo Women's School and subsequently the East Canton High School, both of which had been enemy bases.

A warship, with a destroyer flotilla, approached the fort at Humen and subjected the batteries there as well as two cruisers, which lay under the fort, to heavy bombardment. One of the cruisers heeled over and was forced aground with a large shell hole behind the bridge, while the other was also severely damaged and forced aground. The enemy batteries were of course silenced.

In the forenoon the same warship was attacked four times by Chinese planes. One of the bombs dropped by the enemy exploded in the water near the bow ; splinters from the bomb wounded five of the crew, but the ship itself and its armaments suffered no damage.

September 15.—A destroyer was attacked by enemy planes five times successively in the forenoon, outside Swatow harbour. The Chinese dropped twenty-four bombs altogether, all of which missed their mark.

September 16.—An aerial squadron attacked the enemy's artillery positions and massed Chinese troops with annihilating effects. On the sea a warship on duty for interruption of traffic along the South China coast was fired at from the enemy batteries at Annankiang in the Hainan Straits. The ship fought back fiercely for a short while, dealing considerable damage to the enemy.

September 17.—A part of the enemy's air force bombed their own men who were retreating en masse toward the west of Lotienchen.

September 18.—Although this was the anniversary of the September

18th incident, the day was rather quiet, except for a night raid by several enemy planes, one of which was shot down in the Japanese counter-attack.

September 19.—An air squadron bombed the enemy forces at Kiaosze and also bombarded the enemy's positions at Tachangchen and Nanhsiang and the air field at Changhing. A squadron of hydroplanes while reconnoitring various parts of Central China bombed the aerodrome and barracks at Haichow and completely destroyed three of the barracks. At Süchow it bombed and smashed the engine shed and other equipment of the railway station.

September 20.—A unit of the air force bombed the Kwangteh Air Field as well as enemy positions and other military establishments at Kiating, Tachangchen, and Soochow.

A large force of naval planes carried out raids on Süchow and Lienyünchiang ; at the former place it destroyed military trains and an engine shed in the station compound ; at the latter it bombed storehouses of military supplies and crude-oil tanks and set them on fire.

September 21.—A squadron of the air force raided the Kwangteh Air Field, the Tsining Air Field, the railway station at Süchow together with military supply trains, the air field and powder magazine at Hwaiyin, and also the Yenchow railway station.

A large air force raided Canton, where it engaged some fifteen enemy planes in aerial combat and downed eleven of them (two others appeared to fall to the ground but their fate could not be ascertained). In addition, it bombed the air fields at Tienho and Paiyün, destroying a hangar, barracks and six planes outside the hangar at the former air field, and two hangars and a fuel storehouse at the latter, besides bombing and destroying a part of the powder-mill at Tsengpu.

At about 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon another air raid was made on Canton. The Japanese air force fought in mid-air with about ten enemy fighting planes and shot down six of them ; then forcing its way through the heavy fire of anti-aircraft guns, attacked the Tienho Air Field, destroying five hangars and a storehouse on the east side of the field. The squadron also carried on bombing operations against the Paiyün Air Field and destroyed a hangar and barracks, besides bombing to pieces five enemy planes of intermediate size which lay outside the hangar there. Throughout these operations the Japanese planes remained safe and the raiding party returned to its base intact.

September 22.—An air force raided the Tienho Air Field and the army headquarters, after which it bombed the Paiyün Air Field and

destroyed hangars and barracks as well as one aeroplane, besides inflicting considerable damage on three other planes which were on the ground. After this, the same air force made a raid on the air field at Tsunghwa and destroyed two hangars and a plane on the ground. In these operations one Japanese plane was lost after a gallant fight.

An aerial raid on Canton was once more carried out at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon with the following heavy damages inflicted on the enemy : At the Humen Air Field, 1 hangar was destroyed by bombs ; at the Tienho Air Field, 2 hangars were destroyed by bombs and burned down ; the munitions arsenal was destroyed ; the Shektsing Arsenal collapsed ; and a factory of military supplies was destroyed by bombs.

September 23.—An air squadron, taking advantage of darkness, raided Canton, and bombed the air fields at Paiyün and Tienho, the army headquarters and the military academy, following which it attacked Yenchow, and Nanchang causing substantial damage there. The squadron returned safely to its base.

September 24.—An air squadron flew the long distance to Hankow and Nanchang to make sudden raids on those places, where it caused the following heavy losses : At Hankow, the arsenal and the iron works were extensively damaged, and two enemy planes shot down in aerial fight ; at Nanchang, both the old and the new air fields were bombed, a repair shop, barracks and several planes preparing for action were destroyed, while large fires started in several places.

September 25.—1. Air raids on Nanking : In the morning and afternoon four air raids were successively carried out by naval air units, which bombed the Department of War, the headquarters of the communications corps, the anti-aircraft batteries at Peichiko, and the wireless station.

2. Air raids on Canton : An air squadron raided the Canton area twice, bombing the Paiyün Aeronautical School, the Humen Air Field and the Military Academy, besides bombing and forcing aground an enemy gunboat at a point above Kishan.

3. Air attacks on enemy warships in the Kiangyin area : An air squadron bombed a cruiser of the Haitse class and a gunboat of the Yatsen class and forced both to run aground.

4. Two of the planes which raided Nanking met a heroic end there when shot down by enemy guns. Another plane made a forced landing near the Kiangyan fortress, but a member of its crew was saved by a companion plane.

September 26.—1. At noon a naval air force carried on bombing

operations on the following points on the Chekiang-Kiangsi Railway causing extensive damages to the following objects : At Kinhwa, railway tracks and several freight cars ; at Chüchow, railway station, tracks, and a score or more freight cars ; at Shangjao, an engine shed and several freight cars ; at Kinkiang, railway tracks and several freight cars.

2. A part of the air force bombed and destroyed a Northrop plane awaiting action at the Kwangteh Air Field, and similarly damaged the aerodrome at Ningpo.

September 27.—1. Air raids on Nanking : A naval air force twice raided Nanking, bombing the Nanking Military Supply Works, the Pukow Railway Station and various points of military operations.

2. Air raids on Canton : A squadron attacked the Canton area three times during the forenoon and afternoon. In the first and second raids, it bombed important points on the Canton-Hankow Railway, inflicting specially heavy damage on a bridge south of Kongtsun and tracks near Yinchanyao. In the third raid, this force severely bombed and damaged the Humen Air Field and barracks as well as a gunboat of the Haining class. In the first raid there was an aerial fight in which the Japanese force downed one of the enemy's fighting planes. Deep anxiety was felt for one Japanese aeroplane which was missing after the raids were over, but the plane was found by a British steamer off the coast of Amoy where it had made a forced landing, and the crew were saved and handed over to a Japanese destroyer.

3. Bombing of Kiating : A squadron of planes bombed and smashed the enemy positions on the southern outskirts of Kiating.

September 28.—The following important air raids were carried out : At Canton, main buildings of the Pakow Arsenal were bombed and burned ; five hangars and barracks of the Tsungfa Air Field were bombed and destroyed. At Nanking, hangars at the Tachao Air Field were bombed. At Küyung, the air field and hangars were greatly damaged, two planes on the ground were destroyed and in an aerial fight one fighting plane of the Curtiss-Hawk type was shot down. At Wuhu, five planes were bombed and destroyed, and a fuel storehouse was fired ; additionally, one fighting plane of the Curtiss-Hawk type was shot down in an aerial engagement. At Hangchow, the air field was bombed. At Kwangteh, hangars of the new air field as well as the Aeronautical School were severely damaged. At Süchow, the railway station, military freight cars, and storehouses of military supplies were bombed and destroyed. In the Shanghai area, the enemy's

main positions were bombed throughout the day in cooperation with land forces. Extensive damage was inflicted on the enemy there.

September 29.—1. A squadron of the air force swooped down on the Kwangteh Air Field in the grey of the morning and smashed a hangar and about ten storehouses there. Another squadron raided Kiangyin and bombed a cruiser until it heeled over.

2. In the forenoon naval aeroplanes bombed Hwaiyin where they destroyed two planes on the ground, and then raided Tsining, destroying an engine shed and barracks in the air field. In the afternoon they bombed the Süchow East Station and destroyed storehouses of military supplies.

3. A unit of planes discovered an enemy cruiser near Canton, bombed her and caused a large fire on the ship.

September 30.—1. A squadron of planes raided the Nanhsiang, Kiangwanchen and Hangchow areas and inflicted damage on the enemy's military establishments and transport organs.

2. A squadron of aeroplanes bombed an enemy cruiser lying west of Hwangpu, and sank a gunboat in midstream off Tanchiang.

October 1.—1. An air force carried out bombing operations in the forenoon and afternoon with the following results :

At Nanchang, two hangars and main buildings were completely destroyed ; at Kwangsin, an engine shed was demolished ; at Pengpu, the railway station building was thoroughly damaged.

2. A squadron of planes bombed enemy warships at Kiangyin with the following results : 1 gunboat sunk, 1 gunboat hit in the side and forced to run aground.

3. A squadron of planes reconnoitring the Lunghai Railway bombed the enemy's barracks at Haichow with devastating effect.

4. At midnight enemy planes repeatedly appeared over the Japanese forces and dropped some fifteen bombs, but each time they were driven back withont [sic] causing any loss to the Japanese side.

October 2.—1. An air squadron bombed Tachangchen, Miaohangchen, Kiangwanchen and other enemy bases in the forenoon and afternoon inflicting on them severe damage ; one Japanese plane was shot down.

2. A naval air squadron attacked enemy warships near Kiangyin with the following results : 1 cruiser was directly hit and stranded ; 1 gunboat was severely damaged and set on fire, another was broken in half, a third gunboat was damaged considerably.

3. A squadron raided Hwangpu and Canton and caused great losses there. On its return flight it encountered four enemy planes

of the Curtiss-Hawk III type. The Japanese squadron leader, engaging the entire enemy squadron in single combat, shot down one of the opposing planes.

4. At midnight enemy planes twice appeared to attack the Japanese force but were driven back each time.

October 3.—Important results of air raids were as follows : At Anking, two planes on the ground were bombed and destroyed ; a canvas-made hangar was damaged. At Nanhsiang, heavy damages were inflicted on military establishments ; railway tracks and 15 freight cars were destroyed. At Kunshan, a car-shed, three storehouses, a locomotive and freight cars were destroyed. At Kashing, a car-shed was destroyed ; a storehouse and railway tracks were considerably damaged. On the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, freight trains carrying defeated enemy forces from Hanchwang, Maotsuntsi and Sanpaoyi were bombed and destroyed.

Japanese and Chinese Aircraft Losses

Material losses inflicted by the Imperial Navy on the Chinese air force within the period between August 14th and September 22nd may be summed up as follows :

Against the above losses on the Chinese side, the Japanese Naval Air Force sustained loss of only 31 aeroplanes during the same period.

The Occupation of Pratas Island

On the morning of September 3rd, a Japanese warship visited Pratas Island, and sending ashore a party of Marines, occupied the island. A solitary island, lying 180 sea miles to the south-east of Hongkong, Pratas Island has a Chinese naval wireless station, meteorological observatory and lighthouse. The sea in its neighbourhood is noted for the production of a species of sea-weed, known in Japanese as " kaijinso," the extract of which is used for medicinal purposes.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—Advance of the Imperial Army—

PRESS SECTION, WAR DEPARTMENT

The Shanghai Front

(From October 6th to November 12th)

THE Asama, Adachi and Nagatsu detachments in the Lotienchen sector started an offensive on the morning of October 10th, braving stormy weather. They broke through the enemy line south of Wangchiawan and reached Yangking Creek at noon.

The Kano and Tsuda detachments in cooperation with an engineering unit organized themselves in a forlorn hope and succeeded in crossing the creek in the face of the enemy early in the morning of October 6th, reaching the southern bank.

The Japanese force in the sector south of Woosung steadily pressed back the enemy and on October 9th reached the line connecting Wangchiatze, Chinchiakang and Chinchiatao. Part of the Japanese force advanced to the line between Wuchiatze and Luchiachiao.

The Japanese Marines on the Chapei front took the Tsungteh Girls' School building on October 4th and occupied Sanyi lane on the following day. By dislodging the bulk of the Chinese troops from the eastern side of the Shanghai-Woosung railway, the marines secured the North Szechuan Road sector.

From August 23rd when the Japanese troops landed near Shanghai up to October 5th, the Japanese forces inflicted such heavy losses to the Chinese troops that they picked up 5,706 bodies of Chinese soldiers killed on the battlefield. The Japanese also took 580 Chinese prisoners and captured 482 machine-guns and 3,147 rifles.

On October 8th, General Matsui, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army in the Shanghai area, issued a statement, intimating his determination to wage a decisive battle with the enemy in the near future. At the same time, the General also made an appeal to the Chinese people to take a dispassionate view of the situation, both at home and abroad.

Entrenched warfare developed in the Shanghai area, unlike North China where the Japanese Army made a long drive in spectacular fashion. Since the occupation of Shanghai by the Japanese forces would deal a crushing blow to the anti-Japanese and pro-Communist Nanking Government from military, financial and moral viewpoints, the Chinese Army fought desperately against the Japanese there, even going to the extreme of using poison gas.

[Map: Map of Shanghai and its environs showing the progress of the Japanese forces from Oct 1st to 27th. Legend: Japanese forces' lines; Chinese entrenchments. Scale: Japanese ri (2.44 miles).]

Information revealed that the Chinese troops on the first line exceeded 420,000 men against which land and air units of the Japanese forces were brought into action, sometimes utilizing subterranean passages constructed by engineers. The Japanese steadily pressed back the Chinese troops, dislodging them from strongly established positions one after another. Following the occupation of an important position on the northern front of Shanghai, the Japanese forces started a southern drive, at the same time guarding against the enemy in the west. These tactics ushered in important developments in the Shanghai situation.

The enemy positions in front of Tachangchen lay 5 kilometres deep in trenches which were reinforced with iron rails. Both the Japanese military and naval air forces concentrated bombardments on these strongly established Chinese positions, from which the enemy offered desperate resistance. Led by tanks, the Japanese forged their way through all manner of difficulties and reached within easy striking distance of Tachangchen.

The Tanikawa detachment which was attacking the Chinese troops in the Kiangwanchen sector occupied Futan University at 11 a.m., October 24th.

This detachment took the Commercial College building south of Kiangwanchen on October 25th as well as the Tienlo Temple east of it. Then the detachment started a drive on Kiangwanchen from a point along the Shanghai-Woosung Railway. On October 26th this unit took the Race Course, which served as a signal for a general onslaught on Kiangwanchen. With Kiangwanchen thus occupied, the Japanese troops pursued the enemy in western and south-western directions.

The advance line of the Japanese force which suddenly pushed south from the northern front reached Tsouma Creek on the morning of October 24th. The enemy planned to hold the southern bank of the creek as well as Tachangchen at any sacrifice. The Chinese troops established strong positions on the southern bank of Soochow Creek and ordered the Chinese inhabitants to evacuate Nantao, the southern Chinese quarter of Shanghai for the purpose of defending this sector to the last. Strong fortifications were also made at Hungjao, a southern suburb of Shanghai.

On the night of October 24th the Japanese troops resumed their attack. Early the next morning they crossed Tsuoma Creek and caused the enemy to retreat toward the west and south, battering Chinese positions at Tachangchen and east of it.

The following night the Oda detachment after fierce fighting occupied a salient of the enemy position at Miaohangchen, where, in the Shanghai incident of 1932, three Japanese soldiers leaped into international fame by blowing themselves up with ignited bombs in an effort to cut a way through barbed wire entanglements.

The Japanese force continued the attack on the Tachangchen sector, by continuing to cross Tsouma Creek on October 25th. The following morning the Japanese crossed the Nanking-to-Tachangchen highway west of Tachangchen. The Hosomi detachment broke through a salient of the Chinese positions at Tachangchen and advanced upon the wireless station at Chenju. Part of the detachment reached Choutze on the Shanghai highway and harassed enemy positions from the rear.

In concert with the advance of the Hosomi detachment, the Ishii and Oshima detachments reduced western Tachangchen, while the Tagami detachment occupied the enemy positions near Changtze and Litze. Meanwhile the Fukui detachment broke through the centre of the enemy positions at Tachangchen which was thus completely occupied by the Japanese. The Iizuka detachment also entered Tachangchen from the east.

The Tsuda detachment in close cooperation with the Fukui detachment likewise reached Tsouma Creek east of Tachangchen.

The Tagami, Takamori and Kawanami units which had been attacking the enemy positions west of Tachangchen in concert with the Ishii detachment started a drive on Soochow Creek by breaking through strong enemy positions and reaching the line connecting Loyangchiao, the Chenju wireless station and Tangchiatze.

An army air force, in cooperation with the troops, attacked the enemy positions along the line extending west and east from Tachangchen from the morning of October 26th and inflicted heavy damages on the enemy.

Early in the morning of October 27th, Japanese marines launched a general attack on the Chapei sector. By breaking the stiff resistance of the enemy on the first line, they succeeded in dislodging the Chinese troops from Chapei. The Japanese naval ensign was hoisted at the top of the Railway Administration Office building, while the North Shanghai Station was also captured by the marines. Junction between army and marine forces was effected in the north-western part of the Chapei sector.

From August 23rd when the Japanese Army landed near Shanghai up to October 23rd when the Japanese started a general attack along the whole front, the Japanese suffered 5,173 killed, while the Chinese casualties during the same period are estimated at 250,000, of which 60,000 dead bodies were picked up by the Japanese. In position warfare, the attacker usually suffers more than the defender, but the reverse was true in the Shanghai campaign in which the Japanese casualties were considerably lower than the Chinese. The Japanese also captured 7,000 rifles, 1,000 light machine-guns, 100 heavy machine-guns, 100 trench-mortars, 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition and 10,000 hand grenades.

By breaking through the Chinese Hindenburg line connecting Tachangchen and Kiangwanchen, regarded so highly by Chinese military leaders, the land, sea and aerial arms of the Japanese forces kept up their combined attacks on the Chinese positions, which fell one after another. By crossing Soochow Creeek successfully, the Japanese troops established positions completely encircling Shanghai.

The Japanese detachments which had been pursuing the retreating Chinese troops round the International Settlement, rallied on the northern bank of Soochow Creek by October 30th. The same morning these troops launched an attack on major enemy positions at Peihsinking and other points on the southern bank of Soochow Creek in cooperation with the military and naval air forces.

On October 31st, the Tagami detachment on the northern bank of Soochow Creek launched an onslaught on enemy positions on the southern bank of the creek and succeeded in crossing the creek aided by

an engineering detachment and covered by artillery fire.

The following morning at 11 o'clock, preceded by aerial and artillery bombardments on the enemy positions, the Nonaka engineering detachment succeeded in constructing pontoon bridges across Soochow Creek south of Hungjaochen, enabling the Wakisaka infantry detachment to cross the creek. This unit, in cooperation with the Shimoeda detachment which also crossed the creek shortly after it had stormed the enemy positions at Yaochiatze and Changchiatze on the southern bank of Soochow Creek, pressed back the enemy in a southward direction.

Early in the morning of November 2nd, the Japanese air force swung into full action, reconnoitring and bombarding enemy positions south of Soochow Creek in cooperation with the offensive maintained by the troops. With the advance of the Japanese forces on the southern bank of Soochow Creek, the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway came into the range of Japanese artillery fire.

Severance of communications between Nanking and Nantao, the southern Chinese quarter in Shanghai, which is the spear-head of the Nanking Government's war resources, has now become a matter of hours.

The Shansi Front

(From October 3rd to November 12th)

The Japanese troops operating in northern Shansi province were confronting about 10,000 Chinese troops at Kuohsien, about 32 kilometres south of Taichow on October 4th. They started a general attack on the Shansi force at noon, October 7th, and completely occupied Kuohsien the following morning. The siege lasted five days, during which time the Japanese vigilantly watched the enemy, superior in numerical strength.

The Gotoh and Igakura detachment stormed Yuanpingchen on October 10th and continued their drive on Sinkowchen to the south.

Fall of Taiyüan

The Koito detachment which was advancing on Taiyüan, capital of Shansi province, along the Chengtai Railway from Hopei province, started an attack on the enemy at Niangtze Pass on the border between Hopei and Shansi provinces on October 15th. This unit steadily pressed back the enemy thus menacing the headquarters of the Shansi troops at Taiyüan.

The Japanese aerial force carried out bombardments almost daily on the Shansi forces at Sinkowchen and Niangtze Pass in concert with the attacks of the Japanese troops.

From October 13th the Japanese forces were attacking about 150,000 Shansi troops at Sinkowchen which put up stubborn resistance, taking full advantage of their geographical position. At 11 p.m. November 2nd, the Wada engineering detachment organized in a forlorn hope, yet succeeded in blowing up a salient of the enemy position. This provided a signal for a general offensive by the Japanese, who, braving showers of bullets and shells, dashed into the enemy positions, where hand-to-hand fighting developed.

[Map: Map of North China showing the progress of the Japanese military operations up to November 6th. Legend: Japanese troops; Chinese entrenchments. Scale: Japanese ri (2.44 miles).]

Early in the morning of November 3rd, the anniversary of the birth of the late Great Emperor Meiji, the Japanese successfully occupied enemy positions at Sinkowchen and its neighbourhood which extended over 32 kilometres in length and about 4 kilometres in width.

Later the Japanese pushed farther south and reduced Sinhsien, 36 kilometres north of Taiyüan. The enemy suffered over 30,000 killed and wounded in the engagements at Sinkowchen and Sinhsien.

The Koito detachment which had been attacking Niangtze Pass on the border between Hopei and Shansi provinces from the east along the Chengtai Railway since October 15th, succeeded in taking the new barrier of Niangtze Pass early in the morning of October 27th, after arduous mountain warfare.

Another Japanese detachment, the Morimoto unit, which cooperated in storming the new barrier continued its westward drive and reached Shimenkow in the Pingting plain, after defeating the enemy on the highway from the new barrier to Pingting.

The Kobayashi detachment advanced westward along the Chengtai Railway, after clearing the heights east of Tsingsing of the enemy. Early in the morning of October 26th, this detachment, covered by artillery fire, started an attack on the enemy positions at a height north of Niangtze Pass. After successfully cooperating in the reduction of the Pass, the detachment gave hot chase to the retreating enemy and took a southern route to Tungwuchuang.

The border region stretching about 20 kilometres from Tsingsing to Niangtze Pass along the Chengtai Railway is mountainous, and the mountains are usually rocky and bald without any vegetation. The only passage lies along the Chengtai Railway which runs along the Yaho River.

Taking advantage of the steep mountain sides, the enemy dug a series of caves and fortified them all. This defence line continued 20 kilometres from Tsingsing to Niangtze Pass.

The Morimoto detachment which started a large-scale flanking movement successfully negotiated the Tahsing mountain range south of the Chengtai Railway and defeated the enemy at Tunghaichen about 36 kilometres south-west of Tsingsing on October 25th. The following day the detachment maintained its westward drive and dealt a crushing blow to two enemy divisions near Potsing. The detachment then successfully outflanked the enemy at the new barrier of Niangtze Pass and cut off its retreat. The enemy left 2,000 dead in the engagement at Potsing.

The Chinese guarded Niangtze Pass with approximately 10 troop divisions, one-half of which were either killed or wounded by the Japanese. The dead left by the enemy exceeded 10,000, while the Japanese captured a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Japanese losses were negligible.

The Japanese forces, after reducing Niangtze Pass, swooped down on Shansi province and took Yangchuan on October 30th.

Giving close chase to the enemy which fled in confusion from Yangchuan, the Kobayashi detachment reached Hsinhsingchen, about 8 kilometres north-west of Pingting, on October 31st. The detachment suffered from bad roads as well as from shortage in drinking water and provisions, but nothing daunted it kept up its westward drive. After dislodging the

enemy from Pataotsun, about 3 kilometres west of Hsinhsingchen, the detachment passed through Tzeshih on November 1st and defeated the enemy concentrations on the old highway in the west.

The Okazaki cavalry detachment hotly pursued the retreating enemy, after breaking through Chinese positions at Sinchuanchen on November 2nd. The same day the detachment successfully occupied Showyang, a strategically important town on the Chengtai Railway. The air force also cooperated with the cavalry and attacked the enemy retreating from Showyang. The enemy left 2 locomotives and 54 freight cars in fleeing from Showyang. The air force followed the escaping enemy and visited Taiyüan where it bombarded the military establishments there.

Taiyüan fell before the successful converging movement of the Japanese forces, of which one swooped down the city from northern Shansi province along the Tatung-Puchow Railway and the other drove west toward the Shansi capital along the Chengtai Railway from the east.

The Kobayashi and Suzuki detachments took Yutze, an important town at the junction of the Chengtai and the Tatung-Puchow Railways on the evening of November 4th, thus cutting off the southern retreat of the Chinese troops from Taiyüan.

The Japanese detachments which pushed south from Sinchow succeeded in encircling Taiyüan on November 6th. Prompted by the desire to avoid needless bloodshed and spare non-combatants of the horrors of war, the Japanese troops refrained from storming the capital of Shansi, and instead advised the Chinese troops to evacuate the walled city peacefully. But the Chinese failed to respond and resorted to unwarrantable provocation. This was the signal for a Japanese general attack on Taiyüan, covered by artillery and air bombardments. Taiyüan fell at 9:30 a.m., November 8th.

The Inner Mongolia Front

A dashing Mongol cavalry force defeated the 6th division of the Chinese Northeastern Army at Chihsiayingtze and occupied Wuchuan north of Suiyüan, capital of Suiyüan province, while the militia force led by the Prince of the Chung-kung Banner in western Inner Mongolia in cooperation with the Mongol troops started a drive on Kuyang, 120 kilometres north of Paotow, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyüan Railway.

The Japanese Segawa, Nakajima and Yoshitomi detachments which had been operating in western Shansi province started a northern drive from Shohsien on October 8th and firmly secured Pinglu, by defeating about 1,500 cavalry troops under General Ho Chu-kuo at Niupingchen and Pinglu.

The Nakajima detachment, which led the van of the Japanese troops on that front, defeated the Chinese cavalry at Tsienpaimiaotze on October 11th. The following day the detachment reached the Tungtaheiho River, about 6 kilometres south-east of Suiyüan, where the Chinese established strong positions. In cooperation with the Kawamura detachment, the Nakajima detachment reduced the Chinese positions on the Tungtaheiho River and swooped down on Suiyüan and Kweihua, which the Japanese took on October 14th.

Occupation of Paotow

The Japanese troops were quick to follow up their victory at Suiyüan and Kweihua. The Matsuura and Hasegawa detachments continued their westward drive. On the morning of October 16th, they eradicated about 500 Chinese troops led by General Ma Chang-shan. On October 17th, the Kawamura detachment took Paotow, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyüan Railway. The detachment did not rest long at this city, but soon started a drive on Wuyüan. At 6 p.m., the same evening, the detachment occupied Paoho on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, about 30 kilometres south of Paotow.

The Tanaka detachment which entered Paotow, closely following the Kawamura detachment, kept up its southern march and took Nanhaitze, about 8 kilometres south of Paotow.

The main body of the Japanese forces and the vanguard of the Mongol troops made a triumphant entry into Paotow on October 17th. All was quiet within the walled town. The prefectural government had not been functioning due to the flight of officials, but a peace maintenance commission was voluntarily organized by the leading citizens on October 17th. The Mongol inhabitants of Paotow manifested their friendly sentiments toward Japan in various ways. For example, the local constabulary cooperated with the Japanese forces in eliminating the remnants of the Chinese troops.

General Ma Chang-shan, who had been commanding the enemy forces in Paotow and its neighbourhood, fled toward Wuyüan with the fall of Paotow.

On October 19th, Prince Teh, the supreme commander of the Mongol forces, arrived at Paotow by aeroplane from Pailingmiao, where he had established his headquarters.

With the occupation of Suiyüan, Paotow and other important towns in Suiyüan province by the combined forces of Japanese and Mongol troops, the Chinese militarists who had been oppressing both the Mongol and Chinese people at Suiyüan have been driven away and apministration [sic] of the province is being conducted by the Peace Maintenance Commission elected by the people, which is also conducting affairs pertaining to economics and transportation as well as maintenance of peace and order. On October 23rd, a mass meeting of citizens took place, at which time resolutions were unanimously adopted, declaring independence from the Nanking Government and adopting the Jenghiskhan era and the Mongolian flag. The meeting was held under the slogans of rehabilitation of Mongolia and suppression of Communism.

A national assembly of Mongolia took place at Suiyüan on October 28th, when the 500 delegates of the Mongol and Chinese populations totalling 3,000,000 unanimously adopted resolutions organizing the Federated Autonomous Government of Mongolia. The Assembly elected Prince Yun as chief executive of the Federated Autonomous Government and Prince Teh as deputy chief executive. Laws governing the organization of the government were also approved. Thus the Federated Autonomous Government of Mongolia was established at Suiyüan on October 28th

under the anti-Comintern banner. The Assembly also renamed Suiyüan Khohokotu as capital of the Federated Autonomous Government of Mongolia.

The Peking-Hankow Railway Front

(From October 3rd to November 12th)

On October 8th, Japanese troops started a general attack on Chengting in concert with air and artillery forces. Failing to withstand the combined attacks of the Japanese from land and air, the Chinese retreated from Chengting toward the south. The Japanese entered the walled town of Chengting the same evening. With the capture of Chengting, the Japanese now launched a vigorous attack on Shihchiachuang, where the Chinese troops who had been defeated at Paotingfu had been rallying in order to offer desperate resistance to the Japanese troops. About 200,000 Chinese troops were deployed along a line 120 kilometres long having Shihchiachuang as its centre and running from the heights at Pingshan to Anping and Shenhsian. The Chinese, who were reinforced by two divisions of Central Government troops, took advantage of the Huto River in strengthening their positions. It was evident that the Chinese planned to wage a decisive battle with the Japanese forces on the Shihchiachuang line.

At dawn, October 10th, the Suzuki, Morimoto and Kobayashi detachments started attacks on the left wing of the Chinese positions at Pingshan. Covered by artillery fire, the detachments successfully crossed the river in face of the enemy and occupied Wangmutsun and Tienhsing on the Chinese left wing, thus establishing a very advantageous position from which to storm the left flank of the enemy positions at Shihchiachuang.

The Ishiguro and Sakanishi detachments also crossed the river near Chentsun about 12 kilometres north-west of Shihchiachuang under cover of artillery fire, and dashed into the enemy positions at Shihchiachuang, where fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Giving close chase to the Chinese who fled in confusion toward the south and south-west, the detachments occupied Shihchiachuang the same afternoon.

It was ironical that the date on which the Japanese forces captured Shihchiachuang, where the Chinese troops had established the last line of defence in North China, was October 10th, the Chinese Double Tenth Festival, when Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek made an appeal to the Chinese forces to hold that city.

The fall of Shihchiachuang served as a signal for the southern and westward drives of the Japanese forces along the Peking-Hankow Railway. The Koito detachment which pursued the enemy westward along the Chengtai Railway occupied Tsingsing on October 11th. The following day this unit advanced farther westward and eventually captured Niangtze Pass, one of the three famous barriers in China. The Morimoto and Ishiguro detachments which chased the enemy southward inflicted a crushing blow south of Chaochow and also near Yuanshih.

The Kanda and Inogi detachments which crossed the river in front of Shihchiachuang pushed farther south and took Luancheng at noon, October 11th, while the Okamoto detachment defeated the enemy near

Tashihchiao south of Chaochow on October 13th. The following day the detachment reached Tungyitsun, about 16 [illegible] kilometres south-west of Paisiang.

On October 12th, a Japanese aerial force visited Naikiu, Tangshan and Shunteh along the Peking-Hankow Railway, and Taiyüan, Yutze and Shouyan in Shansi province and effectively bombarded the Chinese military establishments and troop concentrations in those places.

The Ono and Katagiri detachments which had been sailing up the Tzeyao River to attack the right flank of the enemy at Shichiachuang, occupied Ningtsin on October 12th, while the Nagasawa and Sasaki detachments took Kiashichuang, 24 kilometres north of Ningtsin, and then chased the enemy between Chaochow and Ningtsin toward the south-west.

Carrying everything before them following the capture of Shihchiachuang, the Japanese troops crushed the Chinese forces at Meihuachen, Chaochow, Yuanshih, Lungping, Tangshan and Sikiatsun. On October 15th they reduced Shunteh, while the Toyama detachment which advanced south along the Peking-Hankow Railway occupied Hantan on the morning of October 17th.

At 8 p.m., October 17th, the Japanese troops left Hantan by train for the south to give fierce chase to the retreating enemy. After defeating the Chinese troops at Mataochen, about 20 kilometres south of Hantan, they dashed through Kwangluchen and Tzechow, the last station on the Peking-Hankow Railway in Hopei province. Having covered 40 kilometres through territory which was swarming with enemy troops in this manner, the Japanese armoured train crossed the border and ran into Honan province. At dawn, October 18, this train overtook and engaged an enemy train carrying retreating troops on the Chang River north of Fenglochen, inflicting heavy damage on them.

The Noda and Sukegawa detachments occupied Kwangping on the afternoon of October 17th. The Japanese detachment which sailed up the Tzeyao River covered a distance of 280 kilometres in 10 days over wretched roads. After defeating the Chinese troops at Wukiang, Ningtsin and Tangshan, they participated in the general attack on Shihchiachuang.

The Japanese troops which had been operating in Hopei province have already crossed the border and are now advancing in Honan province.

A Japanese force occupied the southern bank of the Chang River on October 19th, while another detachment which crossed the Chang River on its upper course, occupied Paochang, 2 kilometres west of Fenglochen on October 22nd. The Ishiguro detachment which crossed the lower reaches of the river took Fenglochen and continued a southern drive.

All Japanese troops which crossed the Chang River are now massed on its southern bank, awaiting an opportunity to launch a general attack on Changteh, a strategically important town in northern Honan province whose fall is generally regarded as imminent.

The Tientsin-Pukow Railway Front

(From October 3rd to November 12th)

The Japanese troops which had been operating along the Tientsin-

Pukow Railway started a brisk movement on October 3rd. The Numada and Nagano detachments occupied Kucheng, 16 kilometres south-west of Tehchow at 9:30 a.m., the same day, while the Kuwada detachment took Enchow, 28 kilometres south of Tehchow. The same evening, the Fukuei detachment attacked the enemy, which had taken up positions extending west and east from Pingyüan. At midnight, the detachment broke through the line connecting Pingyüan, Chengcheng and Fangchengchuan and advanced south of Pingyüan, which it occupied the following morning.

The detachment carried out an attack on the Chinese, about one brigade strong at Lengchichai, 3 kilometres north of Changchuang, outflanked the enemy under cover of darkness the same night, and occupied Lengchichai the following morning. Changchuang subsequently fell into the hands of this unit.

When the Japanese troops started operations in this section of Shantung, information was circulated that the Chinese 29th Army had retreated, being replaced by troops under General Han Fu-chu, Governor of Shantung province, which apparently planned to resist the Japanese advance. The right wing of the Japanese force in the Techow sector was not confronted by any large body of Chinese troops. But in the Yucheng sector, along the Tientsin-Pukow railway, the 74th and 81st divisions of the Shantung Army were feverishly making war preparations. The appearance of Shantung troops under General Han Fu-chu suggested an important development in the North China situation with a decisive battle on the Yellow River looming as a possibility.

Following the occupation of Tehchow, an important town on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, the Japanese troops continued their southern drive and occupied various other important towns, including Kucheng, Enchow, Pingyüan and Tuchiao. By consolidating their positions, they were preparing attacks on the Chinese troops which had taken up positions along a line extending west and east from Tehchow. The Japanese Fukuei detachment occupied Changchuang on October 14th and the Akashiba detachment took Linghsien, 28 kilometres south-east of Tehchow at 9 a.m., October 22nd. This detachment reached the line between Fenghuangtien and Machiamou on October 23rd, thus paving the way for a decisive battle on the Yellow River.

Up to October 20th, the enemy left 12,270 dead on the Tientsin-Pukow front, while the Japanese captured 4 field-guns, 4 howitzers, 25 trench-mortars, 12 heavy machine-guns, 83 light machine-guns, 52 motor-lorries and motor-cars, 27 freight wagons and 5,500 cases of gasoline.

On October 23rd, a Japanese air force visited Taming and Lintsing, important towns lying between the Peking-Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow Railways. At Taming, the Japanese raiders bombarded Chinese troop concentrations, while at Lintsing the air force bombarded military barracks and 50 armed junks on the canal.

The Japanese troops are now eliminating remnants of the Chinese troops from an area east of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway. On October 20th, the Suenaga detachment defeated part of General Han Fu-chu's troops near Fenghangtien and on October 30th crushed the enemy at Ningtsien about 40 kilometres east of Sangyüan, thus securing the line between these two places.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II

—FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION—

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

The Marines in Shanghai

October 6th Covered by units of the Naval Air Force, the Japanese marines fiercely attacked the enemy in the Chapei sector and advanced to the Shanghai-Woosung Railway.

October 7th No change was recorded on the front. The Chinese staged a counter-attack on the Sanyi lane sector, but were repulsed with heavy losses.

Chinese troops in the Pootung sector bombarded the Japanese positions at night, but were soon silenced by the Japanese artillery.

October 8th The enemy again launched a counter-attack on the Japanese positions early in the morning, but their attempt failed through prompt response on the part of the Japanese marines.

October 9th and 10th No change occurred on the front, although at nightfall on October 10th the enemy in the Pootung sector started bombardments on the Japanese warships on the Whangpoo River and also on the International Settlement. The Japanese warships promptly responded and silenced the enemy fire.

October 11th The Chinese in the Chapei sector were strengthening their positions, apparently with newly-arrived reinforcements.

October 12th and 13th Early in the morning of October 12th, the enemy made a fierce counter-attack on the North Szechuan Road sector, which was repulsed by the Japanese marine force. In cooperation with naval air units the marines inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at about 8 a.m., October 13th, aided by aerial and artillery bombardments.

At 11 p.m., October 13th, the Chinese made a vigorous counter-attack on the northern front, but were driven away.

Fresh reinforcements arrived at the Chinese positions, which had been subjected to severe Japanese artillery fire for the past several days, resulting in several hundred casualties every day.

October 14th All day long, both air and artillery bombardments were made on the enemy positions in the Chapei sector, inflicting heavy damage to them.

At about 5:30 p.m., the enemy concentrated field-gun and trench-mortar fire on the western front and later on the North Szechuan Road sector. At 7 p.m. approximately one battalion of Chinese troops made a counter-attack from Jukong Road, which was repulsed after two hours of fighting.

October 15th All was quiet on the front except for small counter-attacks made by the enemy on the northern front and in the Chapei sector. These were immediately repulsed.

October 16th Combined attacks with the Naval Air Force were made on the enemy positions in the Canton Middle School building in the Chapei sector and the Commercial Institute building south of Kiangwanchen. Air

bombardments were followed by machine-gun fire which was directed against the fleeing enemy.

October 17th Heavy artillery positions of the Chinese north-west of Chapei were destroyed by aerial and artillery bombardments.

October 18th The enemy positions south of the Commercial Press building and in the North Shanghai Middle School and the Canton Middle School and the neighbourhood were obliterated in cooperation with naval aeroplanes.

October 19th No change occurred on the front.

October 20th The Chinese made three air raids on Shanghai, but the Japanese suffered no damage.

October 21st At about 11 p.m. an enemy plane raided the Japanese positions, but was immediately driven away by anti-aircraft batteries. No damage was inflicted on the Japanese side.

October 22nd All remained quiet.

October 23rd The Chinese troops apparently started to retreat. The marines in cooperation with army units were closely watching the movements of the enemy in the Chapei sector.

October 24th The marines launched a general offensive and advanced on North Szechuan Road.

October 25th The marines maintained their advance and occupied the enemy positions in the Commercial Institute back of Futan University shortly after 8 p.m.

The extreme left wing of the marine force dashed ahead from Haskell Road on the evening of October 24th, while another marine unit advanced to Haskell Road from Jukong Road on October 25th.

October 26th In concert with the army occupation of Tachangchen, the marine force at about 8:30 p.m. launched a fierce attack on the enemy in the Chapei sector.

October 27th Before dawn, the Japanese marines started an advance along the whole front. The right wing dashed ahead in order to cut off the retreat of the enemy and about 7 a.m. reached the western extremity of Chapei. This detachment in concert with other units pressed back the enemy to Soochow Creek which forms the boundary of the International Settlement, from the north and north-east. By 6 p.m. the marine force occupied the whole of Chapei except the points into which several hundred Chinese troops were driven. One marine unit drove farther west and took Chenjuchen by 6 p.m., October 27th. The Chinese troops left about 900 dead, while the Japanese marines took about 300 Chinese prisoners and captured an enormous quantity of arms and ammunition. The losses of the marines were negligible. Although there were 27 casualties, including the commander of a marine company who was wounded, no Japanese was killed.

October 28th Remnants of the Chinese troops who lost their chance to escape from the Chapei district found their way into the Four Banks Savings Society's godowns, where they pretended to offer stiff resistance to the Japanese marine force. Out of humanitarian and chivalrous considerations, the marines advised the Chinese to surrender. The Japanese did not desire any needless bloodshed, nor were they blind to the complicated international situation, arising from the fact that the godowns in question were contiguous

to the sectors guarded by the British troops and also bordered the International Settlement on the north and the south-east.

October 29th The Japanese marine force was busy eradicating the remnants of the Chinese troops in the Chapei district and also keeping watch on the Chinese troops in the Four Banks Savings Society's godowns.

The commander of the Japanese landing party issued the following proclamation to the Chinese people:

"The Japanese landing party operating in Shanghai, intends to punish the Chinese troops, but has no intention of antagonizing the Chinese people, who are, therefore, advised to understand the true intentions of the Japanese marines and pursue their business as usual.

"The following actions shall be punished severely:

(a) Espionage in favour of the Chinese troops.

(b) Tampering with telegraphs, telephones or electric wires, railways, bridges, etc. or with military establishments.

(c) Arson, murder, burglary, theft and trespassing on the premises of others.

(d) Disturbance of peace or stirring up of sedition by spreading false rumours or by other means.

(e) Acts or movements injurious to the Japanese forces."

Shortly after noon, Chinese forces in the Pootung sector bombarded the Japanese positions as on the previous evening. There was also an enemy air raid in which the Japanese suffered no damage.

October 30th The Chinese troops in the godowns of the Four Banks Saving's Society still offered stubborn resistance.

October 31st Remnants of Chinese troops attempted to stampede into the International Settlement through an alley from the godowns of the Four Banks Savings Society at about 2 a.m. Accordingly the Japanese marines attacked those Chinese troops and stormed the godowns, which they occupied at 3:20 a.m.

November 1st and 2nd No changes occurred on the front.

The Situation in Shanghai

The situation prevailing in Shanghai at the end of October was as follows:

(1) In the Hongkew and Yangtzepoo districts, gunfire was heard only in the distance after October 27th. Enemy air raids were carried on at night, but no damage was caused to the Japanese side. General unrest disappeared and business became brisk. All people looked cheerful. Traffic control, light control and prohibition of the use of coal-gas was expected to be enforced for some time. Northern and Chapei sectors remained closed to the general public, as the former battle fields were being restored to order.

(2) It was feared for a time that remnants of the Chinese troops might force their way into the International Settlement south of Soochow Creek. Due, however, to the strict guarding of the border by foreign troops, not a single Chinese soldier entered the Settlement.

Chinese refugees sought safety in the International Settlement. Otherwise

everything was quiet in that sector where all shops conducted business as usual on October 28th. The foreign residents on Hungjao Road and on the extension of the Settlement all took refuge within the International Settlement itself.

(3) The French Concession was strictly guarded, especially on the southern border adjacent to the Chinese quarter. A large number of Chinese refugees thronged around this Concession, but everything remained quiet within.

Japanese Domination of Shanghai

The Japanese military and naval forces which reduced the Kiangwanchen and Tachangchen sectors on the Shanghai front followed up their victory by giving close chase to the enemy retreating in a south-western direction.

The Japanese detachments which were making a southern drive crossed Soochow Creek at various points on October 31st in face of the enemy. They pressed back the Chinese steadily.

Capture by the Japanese of the Patzechiao (Eight Letter Bridge) on November 4th greatly alarmed the enemy, who started desperate resistance with the arrival of fresh reinforcements.

At this psychological moment, fresh Japanese reinforcements suddenly landed on the northern shore of Hangchow Bay at dawn November 5th, in face of the enemy and immediately started a northern drive. These fresh Japanese troops soon occupied Sungkiang on the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway about 30 kilometres south-west of Shanghai.

In concert with the fresh reinforcements which steadily pushed north-west, the Japanese troops which were driving southward from the northern front of Shanghai kept up their onslaught on November 8th. At 10:20 o'clock, the following morning, the Wakizaka detachment took the airfield at Hungjao, in the neighbourhood of which Lieutenant Oyama and Seaman Saito of the Japanese marine force were murdered by Chinese troops on July 11th.

The Kawanami detachment which had been pushing south along the Chungshan Road successfully stormed Lunghuachen, a southern suburb of Shanghai at 1 p.m., November 9th, completing the Japanese encirclement movement around Shanghai.

Early in the morning of November 8th, when the weather had improved, the Japanese Army and Naval Air Forces swung into full action, by visiting Tsingpu, Kunshan and Soochow and attacking the retreating Chinese troops. The signal success of the Japanese in the Shanghai area must be attributed to the close cooperation and coordination of the land, sea and air arms of the Japanese forces.

The Naval Air Force Secures Command of the Air

The Japanese Naval Air Force has been active not only in Central and South China, but also in North China. Carrying out raids on various strategically important points, it has bombarded effectively Chinese aerodromes,

military arsenals, other military establishments and means of military transportation.

In the Shanghai area, the Naval Air Force operating in concert with the Japanese troops and marines dropped bombs on enemy positions and troop concentrations day after day, inflicting heavy damage. From October 11th to October 20th, the Japanese Naval Air Force lost 7 planes, and destroyed 41 Chinese machines, of which 10 were brought down in aerial combats while 31 were destroyed on the ground.

Comparative figures of Sino-Japanese losses in aeroplanes from August 13th to October 20th follow:

Chinese Losses in Aeroplanes

Japanese Losses in Naval Planes

46

Outline of Activities of the Naval Air Force

October 5th (1) The Naval Air Force attacked enemy positions in the Chapei district throughout the day. These included the Commercial Press building and the Railway Administration Office building.

(2) The air force also attacked enemy positions at Luchiahang in cooperation with Japanese troops.

(3) The air force visited Nanking and engaged four Chinese battleplanes, which, however, managed to escape.

Several naval planes visited Wuhu in Anhui province and attacked the aerodrome there. In the ensuing air duel, they brought down one enemy plane.

(4) Several Chinese planes raided the Whangpoo River at night, but were repulsed by the anti-aircraft batteries of the Japanese warships.

October 6th (1) Central China: The Japanese Naval Air Force visited Nanking, Anking, Wuhu, Soochow, Wusih, Yenchow, and Kwangteh and effectively bombarded aerodromes, munition depots and military establishments there. In a raid on Nanking, the air force shot down 9 Chinese planes as well as two others which were apparently brought down.

(2) South China: The Japanese Naval Air Force visited Shiuchow, Lienkonghow, Pakonghow, Kaotangsu, Sitsun and Whampoa and effectively bombarded aeroplane factories, railway bridges, gunpowder magazines, docks and other military establishments there.

(3) North China: The Japanese Naval Air Force visited the Tientsin-Pukow and the Lunghai Railways. Between Hsuchow and Taian on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, the air force bombarded about 10 locomotives and scores of freight wagons as well as several strategically important points along the railway line. Bombs were dropped on a troop train near Tsaochuang on the Lunghai Railway.

(4) Shanghai Area: A large number of Japanese naval planes attacked enemy artillery positions and troop concentrations in the Chapei, Kiangwanchen and Peisinking sectors.

In a raid on Nanking, the Japanese Naval Air Force lost one plane which was hit by an enemy shell.

October 7th The Japanese Naval Air Force cooperated with the troops and marines by attacking enemy positions in the Shanghai area.

(1) Additionally, the air force visited Pakonghow, Shiuchow, Yunganhsien and Whampoa in Central and South China and attacked Chinese military arsenals, aeroplane factories and warships. It shot down 4 out of 5 Chinese planes in an air duel over Shiuchow.

(2) The air force visited the Tientsin-Pukow Railway in North China and effectively bombarded over a dozen locomotives at points south of Hsuchow and also an engine-shed and the railway track at Taian.

October 8th (1) Shanghai: Attacks were made on enemy positions in the Kiangwan, Chapei and Pootung sectors.

(2) Central and South China: Raids were carried out on Kiangyin, Pokwan, Yingtak and Bocca Tigris and bombardments were effected on military establishments, railway bridges and warships there.

(3) North China: Raids were conducted on Taian, Hsuchow, Tsining and Tsaoya and bombardments made on a dozen engines, an engine-shed, several freight wagons and strategically important points along the railway track.

October 9th Attacks took place on Shiuchow, Yingtak, Bocca Tigris in South China and on Taian and Yenchow in North China where effective bombardments on hangars, anti-aircraft batteries, aeroplane factories, railway tracks, 3 engines, 20 freight wagons, military barracks and other military establishments were made.

October 10th Raids were carried out on Tsungfa, Tienho, Kwangchow, Suhsien, Hsuchow, Taichuang, and Haichow whose aerodromes, military schools and troop trains were effectively bombarded.

October 11th The Naval Air Force in cooperation with Japanese troops and marines bombed the enemy positions in the Shanghai area. Additionally it visited Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway, Yushan and Chinhua on the Hangchow-Nanchang Railway, Soochow, Kiating, Tatsang, Pootung, Nanchang and Canton and bombed enemy positions, troop concentrations, airfields, military barracks, military depots and other military establishments.

October 12th to October 14th (1) Shanghai: Attacks on Chapei, Pootung, Kiangwanchen, Tatsangchen, Kiating, Nansiang, Wusih, Soochow, Wukiang, Kunshan, Sungkiang and Kashing were carried out, in which enemy positions, troop concentrations, military establishments and lines of communication were bombed.

(2) North China: Raids were made on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway with telling attacks on troop trains and scores of engines and freight wagons.

(3) Central China: Raids were conducted on Nanking and Hofei with effective bombing of the aerodromes and gunpower [sic] magazines there.

The Japanese Naval Air Force brought down 8 Chinese planes in an aerial

combat over Nanking and destroyed 2 Chinese planes on the ground at Hofei in Anhui province.

(4) South China: Shiuchow and other points on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited. Bombs were dropped on the hangar and arsenal as well as several points along the railway track.

October 15th In concert with the army and the marines, the Japanese Naval Air Force made effective attacks on the enemy positions and troop concentrations in the Pootung, Chapei, Tachang, Kiangwanchen and Nansiang sectors in the Shanghai area. Furthermore, it visited Hangchow and several points on the Canton-Hankow Railway, bombing the military establishments and railway tracks there.

October 16th The Chapei, Kunshan and Pootung sectors in the Shanghai area were again raided, and bombs were dropped on enemy positions, and on artillery positions in particular.

In addition, the air force visited Kiating and Nanking and attacked the airfields and munition factories there.

October 17th (1) Shanghai: Raids were carried out on Chapei, Pootung, Soochow, Kashing and Kunshan and attacks made on the military establishments, machine-gun emplacements, military depots, engines and caravans of military motor-cars and motor-lorries there.

(2) North China: Taian, Tsining, Yenchow and Lincheng were raided. Troop trains, engines, and freight wagons were bombed.

October 18th (1) Shanghai: Visits were made to Chenju, Soochow, Kunshan, Pootung, and Hangchow and attacks launched on enemy positions, troop trains, engines, freight wagons and railway tracks there.

(2) Nanking: Military establishments were bombed.

(3) Hankow: The airfield at Hankow was raided, in which encounter 9 Chinese planes of large size were destroyed and a large number of small-sized ones were badly damaged. Two Chinese planes were shot down in the ensuing aerial combat.

(4) North China: Raids were conducted on Taian, Yenchow, Tsining, Hanchuang and Hsuchow along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and also on Hsinanchen, Chaotun and Haichow along the Lunghai Railway and effective bombardments were made on troop trains, engines, freight wagons and railway tracks.

October 19th (1) Shanghai: The air force attacked enemy positions, especially artillery positions along the whole front in concert with the army. Additionally it visited Sungkiang, Kashan, Nansiang, Sipaochen, Hungjao and Chiwangmiao and dropped bombs on troop concentrations and military depots.

(2) Nanking: Two raids were made on Nanking. The airfield at Tachiao, a suburb, was bombed, destroying several aeroplanes and a hangar.

(3) Wusih: A raid on Wusih and bombardments on the military depots and munitions factories there were carried out.

October 20th In addition to attacks on important enemy positions in the Tachang, Miaohangchen, Kiangwanchen, Pootung and Chapei sectors of the Shanghai area, made in concert with army and marine forces, the Naval Air Force visited Nanking and Nanchang and attacked the airfields, military

barracks and other military establishments there. In an air combat over Nanchang, the Japanese raiders shot down one out of three Chinese planes.

October 21st (1) Shanghai: Chapei, Kiangwanchen, Tachangchen and Pootung in the Shanghai area were raided, as well as Soochow, Changchow and Sungkiang on the Shanghai-Nanking and the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railways. Troop concentrations and lines of communication were bombed.

(2) Kunshan: A raid on Kunshan and attacks on the Chinese military headquarters, anti-aircraft batteries and munition factories were the activities of the day.

(3) Nanking: A raid on Nanking and bombing of the Tachiao airfield, gunpowder magazines and military arsenal took place.

(4) The Lunghai Railway: The Lunghai Railway and the Chinese lines of communication south of Yenchow and also near Hsinanchen were bombed.

October 22nd (1) North China: Raids were carried out on the Tientsin-Pukow and the Lunghai Railways, while the Chinese lines of communication between Taian and Hsuchow on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and also between Tangshan and Hsuchow on the Lunghai Railway were bombed.

(2) Central China: The Naval Air Force attacked enemy positions in the Chapei, Kiangwanchen and Pootung sectors in the Shanghai area in cooperation with the army. The air force also attacked the Chinese lines of communication and military establishments from the rear, including Soochow, Kashing, Wusih, Changchow and Kiating. The air force likewise visited Nanking and Anking and bombed airfields, military barracks and depots. At Anking, the Japanese destroyed one large Chinese plane on the ground.

(3) South China: Shiuchow and Yingtak on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited; military establishments there were bombed.

October 23rd and 24th (1) Shanghai: Sustained attacks on enemy positions in Chapei, Kiangwanchen, Pootung, Tachangchen and Kiating were effected in cooperation with army and marine forces. The Japanese were watching carefully the movements of the enemy, which apparently planned a retreat before the fierce onslaught of the Japanese forces. On October 24th, the Chinese began a full retreat, upon which the Naval Air Force in concert with the army swung into action in pursuing and attacking the retreating troops.

(2) Hankow and Nanchang: A third mass raid was made on Hankow at 5 a.m., October 24th. The Japanese planes were greeted by a squadron of Chinese battle planes, and succeeded in bringing down three of them. The Japanese fliers returned safely to their base, after successfully bombing the aerodrome at Hankow and destroying several planes on the ground there. A raid was made on Nanchang at 6 p.m., October 23rd, where the military depots were successfully bombed. The Japanese repulsed the two Chinese planes which engaged them.

(3) Nanking and Anking: Nanking and Anking were visited on October 23rd and 24th and effective bombardments were made on the airfields there. In a raid on Nanking, October 24th, the Naval Air Force

brought down one enemy plane in an air duel.

(4) North China: Raids were made on the Tientsin-Pukow and the Lunghai Railways, in which troop trains, engines and freight wagons there were bombed.

(5) South China: Attacks were carried out on the Canton-Hankow Railway. Enemy lines of communication between Pakonghow, Yingtak and Lienkonghow were effectively bombed.

October 25th (1) Shanghai: Chinese positions in the Tachangchen, Kiangwanchen, Nansiang, Sungkiang and Chenju sectors were attacked.

(2) The Canton-Hankow Railway: Enemy lines of communication along the Sunning and the Canton-Hankow Railways were bombed.

(3) North China: Raids were made on the Tientsin-Pukow and the Lunghai Railways and bombs dropped on Chinese lines of communication.

October 26th Sustained attacks were maintained on enemy positions at Chenju, Nansiang, Soochow and Kiating in the Shanghai area in concert with the army. Other points, also, were bombed.

(1) Nanking: Two raids on the airfields at Nanking at 3:50 and 4:10 p.m. were made.

(2) Hangchow and Kwangteh: Hangchow, Kuyung and Kwangteh were visited at about 5 p.m..

October 27th Sustained attacks were made on the retreating Chinese along the entire Shanghai front in cooperation with the steady drive of the army. Bombardments on military establishments and lines of communication behind the enemy positions proved effective.

October 28th (1) Shanghai: Prolonged attacks were recorded on enemy positions near Shanghai as well as in the Pootung district, in concert with army and marine forces. The Chinese military establishments at Soochow, Kashing, Sungkiang, Kunshan, Changchow and Wusih were bombed.

(2) North China: Sectors of the Lunghai and the Tientsin-Pukow Railways were visited. Lines of communication between Tsining and Hsuchow on the Tientsin-Pukow line and also east of Hsuchow on the Lunghai Railway were bombed.

October 29th Sustained attacks were made on Chinese positions in the Shanghai area. Bombs were dropped on military establishments in the rear included Kashing, Soochow, Sungkiang, Nansiang, Tatsang and Kunshan.

October 30th In addition to attacks on enemy positions in the Shanghai area and also on troop concentrations and lines of communication in the rear, the Naval Air Force visited Soochow and Kunshan and dropped bombs on military establishments and railway stations there.

October 31st Shanghai: Chinese positions south of Soochow Creek and enemy artillery positions in the Pootung district of the Shanghai area were bombed.

November 1st (1) Shanghai: Continued attacks prevailed on enemy positions south of Soochow Creek in concert with Japanese army forces which were crossing the creek and also on the enemy artillery positions in the Pootung district.

(2) North China: Raids were made on the Lunghai and the Tientsin-Pukow Railways. The airfield at Kweiteh on the Lunghai Railway and

troop trains between Taian and Yenchow on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway were bombed.

(3) South China: A raid on Canton caused bombardments on the Bocca Tigris Fort and other military establishments there.

November 2nd Attacks on enemy positions in the Shanghai area in concert with the drive of the army and bombardments on the anti-aircraft batteries near Nansiang and scores of Chinese military junks between Sungkiang and Soochow continued during the day.

The Naval Air Force was also active in attacking enemy positions in the Pootung, Changhokow, Wangyutao, Chengchiapin and Kaochangchen sectors of the Shanghai area.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—

PRESS SECTION, WAR DEPARTMENT

The Shanghai Front

THE Kawanami and Takamori detachments began a campaign against the remnants of the Chinese troops in Nantao, the southern Chinese quarter in Shanghai, at noon on November 11th and crossed Zahhwei Creek which runs through the western side of that district. The Kawanami detachment then took the southern road near the French Concession and the Takamori detachment, the southern road along the Whampoo. Both started an eastern drive on Nantao.

The Kawanami detachment occupied the District Court, the South Station and the Tatung University buildings, while the Takamori detachment took the Shanghai Arsenal and other buildings, as both steadily penetrated into Nantao. A large number of Chinese troops were disarmed by the Japanese, while many fled into the French Concession and some attempted to escape in junks on the Whampoo River. Confusion was heightened when the Japanese air force opened machine-gun fire on the Chinese troops.

The following day, November 12th, these detachments continued their cleaning-up campaign. The Chinese troops resorted to their favourite tactics and set fire to various parts of Nantao. Through the flames, the Japanese troops covered by the warships on the Whampoo River advanced through meandering lanes and occupied the customs buildings which the Chinese troops had used as a base of operations. At 4:30 o'clock on the afternoon of November 12th, Nantao fell into the hands of the Japanese troops.

Those Japanese forces which had been engaged in securing the western suburb of Shanghai advanced north on November 10th to clear the district west of the city of Chinese troops. They took Chuchiachen on November 10th and Kuanyintangchen the following day. They also captured Huangtuchen and maintained their western drive along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway in the direction

east of Kunshan. The Adachi and Wachi detachments swung north and reduced Nansiang west of Tachangchen. They then drove north-west and took Waikangchen on November 13th.

The main body of the Japanese forces which attacked Liuhochen, the important position at the northern extremity of the Shanghai front, broke through the enemy position on the Liuho, while part of the Japanese forces was attacking Liuhochen. The Japanese swung south-east and completely occupied Tatsang early in the morning of November 14th in cooperation with the Adachi and Wachi detachments which were making a drive on the town from the south. Closely following the reduction of Tatsang, the Japanese forces swung north and took Shachichen the next evening. They occupied Chitangchen on the evening of November 15th and Meilichen on November 16th, thus bringing strong pressure to bear on Chinese positions in the Changshu sector.

The Iizuka, Tsuda, Tanigawa and Fukui detachments which had been advancing north since November 12th, passing east of Nansiang broke through the enemy positions along the line extending north and south of Maluchen and swept down on Kiating which they captured at 11 a.m., November 13th. They then advanced upon the area east of Tatsang in pursuit of the retreating enemy. Part of the fresh Japanese troops which landed on the shores of Hangchow Bay advanced north while others drove west. The situation in both directions developed favourably for the Japanese.

The Drive on Nanking

A portion of the Japanese detachment which pushed north captured Sunkiang, a strategically important town on the Whampoo River 30 kilometres south-west of Shanghai on November 9th and reached the line between Ssuchingchen and Yushanchen the following day when it effected junction with the Japanese forces which were pushing south from the Shanghai area, after crossing Soochow Creek. The main body advanced north, passing west of Sunkiang, and took Tsingpu. This northern drive was continued and Soochow Creek was crossed south of Paihaochiangchen and Wuchiangtan. The main body of the Japanese troops cut the Shanghai-Nanking railway at Antingchen and Luchiapinchen. It pursued closely the Chinese troops retreating in the direction of Kunshan, and captured Tsingyangchiang, 4 kilometres south of Kunshan, on the evening of November 13th. By crossing the creek west of Tsingyangchiang, it advanced north of Yuanming and started an attack on Kunshan on November 14th. Fighting continued all day ; the Japanese occupied Kunshan on the morning

of November 15th.

Both the Japanese forces and foreign observers anticipated stiff resistance on the part of the Chinese troops along the line between Tatsang and Kunshan, where strong positions had been established. But the fierce Japanese onslaught carried everything before it, depriving the Chinese army of its fighting spirit. Many Chinese troops surrendered.

The Okamoto detachment which pushed north after reducing Tsingpu followed a water route in cooperation with an engineer corps. By crossing Lake Tienshan successfully the detachment reached Pingwangchen south of Soochow, early in the morning of November 14th, cutting off the railway from Soochow to Kahsing, while the vanguard of the detachment reached Kintzechiang.

The Kosaki and Kataoka detachments which drove west after landing on the shores of Hangchow Bay immediately took Tinglinchen and reached the southern bank of the Whampoo River, where they swung west and captured Foochingchen on the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway on November 10th. They maintained their western drive and occupied Kashan on November 13th. Pursuing the retreating enemy, they swept down on Kahsing.

The Chinese troops had established strong positions along the line connecting Soochow, Pingwanchen, Kahsing and Haien. These main positions formed not only a powerful defence for Hangchow but also a major defence line against an offensive which might be made on Nanking via Lake Tai. The line connecting Kashan, Pinghu and Chapuchen formed the outpost of the main positions.

The Chiba and Yazaki detachments which advanced west from Kinshanwei broke through the Chinese entrenchments at Tushan, while the Yamada and Yamamoto detachments reduced Chapuchen and pressed hard on the southern area of Pinghu on November 15th. Thus a general attack on Pinghu from the south and east was inaugurated. This together with the attack by another Japanese force on Kahsing was menacing Hangchow, which was the major base of operations for the Chinese south of Shanghai.

A powerful body of Japanese forces landed at Paimao on the estuary of the Yangtze on the morning of November 13th, thus menacing the rear of enemy positions at Changshu and Soochow, to which the Chinese troops, defeated in the Shanghai area, had been fleeing in confusion. The fresh Japanese troops steadily advanced to the west and also to the south. The following day they reached the line east of the highway from Changshu to Tatsang.

The Japanese troops which had been attacking Chinese positions along the line connecting Soochow, Changshu and Fushan where

the enemy had been offering desperate resistance succeeded in breaking through the line at last.

On November 18th, the Noda and Sukegawa detachments started a frontal attack on Changshu from the east, while the Nagatsu, Takahashi and Sato detachments took Yushan to the left of the enemy position. The Hanaya detachment succeeded in crossing Lake Kuncheng from Paimao and took Mochengchen south of Changshu. Their combined attacks reduced Changshu on November 19th. This marked the beginning of the collapse of the Chinese positions between Soochow and Fushan.

The Nagatsu, Sato and Takahashi detachments which took Changshu followed up their victory and pursued the retreating enemy. On the evening of November 20th their vanguard occupied Chitangchen, while the Noda and Sukegawa detachments started a drive on Wusih from the region south of Lake Tai in an effort to break through the centre of the enemy positions connecting Changshu and Fushan. Another Japanese force which reached the line between Hsiaochiachiao and Hsiehchiachiao succeeded in taking Hsiehchiachiao on November 17th after dislodging the enemy from the creek embankment. At midnight, November 19th, it launched an attack on Wusih. A cavalry corps which formed the extreme right wing of the Japanese forces occupied Fushan at 10 p.m., November 21st.

The Japanese forces which had been pursuing the retreating Chinese troops north of Lake Tai were forced to march along roads turned into quagmires after the long spell of heavy rain, but kept up their westward drive. They suffered a shortage of provisions, but Japanese military aeroplanes dropped provisions and ammunition for them more than twenty times on November 22nd.

The Japanese military and naval air forces made combined attacks on the enemy bases of operations recently established at Kwangteh north-west of Hangchow and also at Liyang north of Kwangteh.

The Fujii and Isa detachments which had been advancing along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway on Soochow where a large body of Chinese troops were concentrated, succeeded in breaking through the strongly established enemy position at Chenyichen on November 18th and maintained pursuit along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway. The Fujii detachment successfully crossed Lake Yangcheng and landed at Kiuchiapin in face of the enemy, thus facilitating the attack on Soochow. At 6:30 o'clock November 19th, the Fujii detachment surprised the Chinese troops at Soochow, which it entered at 9 o'clock the same morning. The advance of the Japanese troops was so quick and so unexpected that many retreating

Chinese soldiers mistook them for their own troops and freely mingled with them. The result was that large numbers of Chinese troops were disarmed by the Japanese. After establishing order in Soochow, the Japanese troops resumed their offensive and started a drive on Wusih.

The Japanese forces which had been advancing westward along the southern shores of Lake Tai surrounded Kahsing on November 18th. The Kataoka, Nozoe, Kosakai and Fujiyama detachments attacked Kahsing from the north-west, while the Yazaki, Yamamoto and Yamada detachments battered the walled city from a due eastern direction in the heavy rain. On the morning of November 19th they occupied Kahsing completely. The Okamoto detachment also occupied Nanzin south of Lake Tai, about 30 kilometres north-west of Kahsing, and kept up its western drive.

Kahsing has been a strategically important town for a long time. In days gone by, many feudal battles were fought in and around it. Since the outbreak of the present incident, General Chiang Kai-shek has attached special importance to the line between Kahsing and Nanzin which he ordered strongly fortified in order to check the Japanese advance along that line.

The Katagiri, Ono, Noda and Sukegawa detachments which pushed westward following their occupation of Changshu pressed hard on Wusih on November 22nd by occupying Tungtingchen, about 6 kilometres east of Wusih ; while the Isa, Wakizaka and Shimoeda detachments which advanced north-west along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway after reducing Soochow also approached Wusih. The Hanaya, Adachi and Shimoeda units, representing the vanguard of the other detachments, reached a point about 6 kilometres south-east of Wusih on November 23rd. The same night the Shimoeda detachment stormed the south-eastern salient of Wusih which it succeeded in occupying. In close cooperation with an engineer detachment which blew up the gate of the city, the Japanese forces succeeded in entering Wusih on the night of November 24th. The following morning they completely occupied Wusih, culminating a steady four-day attack.

At 8 a.m., November 25th, the Japanese forces including the Hanaya, Katagiri and Sukegawa detachments led by the Adachi detachment made triumphant entry into Wusih. The Noda, Sukegawa and Ono detachments, taking comparatively little rest at Wusih, resumed their pursuit of the enemy and occupied Chenchiangshang at 10 o'clock, the same morning. The following evening they reached the line between Kuanchuang and Sishangchiang. On the evening of November 27th, they advanced on

Changchow along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway and occupied Huanglinchen.

Nanking is Neared

The Japanese forces continued their westward drive with Nanking as their objective. On the morning of November 28th, they launched an attack on Changchow. The Ono, Sukegawa, Noda, Katagiri, Mikuni and Imanaka detachments successfully entered the city. After street fighting lasting all night, the Japanese completely occupied the walled town at noon, November 29th. Part of the Japanese troops occupied Penniu, two stations west of Changchow at 4 p.m., November 30th.

At 11 a.m., December 1st, the Japanese forces reached Luchangchen, 18 kilometres south-east of Tanyang. The following morning they advanced to Pangchiachuang and launched an attack on Tanyang the same afternoon.

The Sato, Takahashi and Nagatsu units which pushed westward from a position north of Changshu, after breaking through the Chinese positions at Yushan, passed near Lake Pochang on November 26th and approached Yangchiangshang, 8 kilometres north of Wusih on the evening of November 27th.

The Japanese cavalry force which drove west after reducing Yangsheying occupied Hsiangshan on December 2nd.

The Tashiro, Morozumi and Kurabayashi detachments which successfully broke through the centre of the enemy positions along the line between Changshu and Fushan reached Changshouchen, about 20 kilometres north of Wusih and also Tsingichen south of Kiangyin on the evening of November 27th. They reached the line between Huchiatsun, about 3 kilometres south of Kiangyin and Ssumalou on November 30th, thus tightening the Japanese encircling line round the Kiangyin forts. On December 1st, the Japanese forces entered Kiangyin city, which they occupied completely at 11 o'clock, the following morning. They also occupied Huangshan Fort, one of the Kiangyin forts. Part of the Japanese troops cleared the area north-west of Hsiangshan of the remnants of Chinese troops. Japanese captures included 5 guns and 8 anti-aircraft guns.

The Japanese troops which advanced westward, south of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, reached Huangtangchen, 10 kilometres east of Kintancheng on the morning of December 2nd, and continued their pursuit of the retreating enemy. They took Kintancheng the same afternoon.

Part of the Isa and Fujii detachments, which remained at Soochow after its occupation by the Japanese, crossed Lake Taihu and made a

surprise landing near Shatangkow on the western shore of the lake during the morning of November 27th. Early in the following morning they occupied Hochiaochen and Wanshihchiao, about 25 kilometres north of Ihsing.

The Nagano, Yamada and Okamoto units which advanced westward from Nanzin both by the water route and over the highway occupied Hositsun, 16 kilometres east of Huchow, on November 21st. The following day they annihilated 2,000 Chinese troops at Palitien.

On November 23rd, these units together with newly arrived reinforcements kept up their westward drive. The Nagano and Yamada detachments reached Kinkaishan and the following day occupied Huchow, from which the enemy fled in the direction of Changhsing and westward. The Japanese captured supplies of rice sufficient to feed 50 divisions for several months.

The Nagano, Yamada and Okamoto detachments which advanced on Changhsing from Huchow took Wushan Hill in front of Changhsing on November 25th. Covered by artillery, they started a general attack on Changhsing and reduced it early on the morning of November 26th. With the capture of Changhsing, the northern, southern and eastern shores of Lake Tai were completely occupied by the Japanese. The enemy had made a full retreat from the western shores of Lake Tai.

The Japanese forces which followed up their victory and continued their westward drive on Ihsing after reducing Changhsing occupied Tolin at noon, November 27th. Part of them started an attack on Ihsing and part advanced along the defile in the valley south of Mt. Tungkuan. A general attack on Ihsing was launched on November 28th. After fighting across the creek all day, the Japanese forces succeeded in entering the city at 11 o'clock that night. After eliminating remnants of the Chinese troops from the city, the Japanese troops started a drive on Liyang in pursuit of the retreating enemy at noon, the following day.

These troops continued their westward push and reached Hsuchechen on December 2nd. Another Japanese detachment which advanced north-west along the mountain pass west of Changhsing reached Tsaipuchen, 14 kilometres south of Liyang at 3 p.m., December 1st, via Changchuchen and reached a point 8 kilometres west of Liyang on December 2nd.

The Nagano and Yamada detachments which advanced westward to Ssuanchen from Changhsing resumed their westward drive on November 27th and crossed the border between Chekiang and Anhui provinces. They occupied Chiashihtang in Anhui province

shortly after noon, the same day.

On the afternoon of November 29th, they started a general attack on Kwangteh, covered by the Fujimura artillery detachment and in cooperation with the Fujita detachment. After fierce fighting which continued into the night they reduced Kwangteh. The following morning, they resumed their westward advance and reached Honantien, 20 kilometres west of Kwangteh on December 2nd. Part of the Japanese troops also pursued the enemy in a north-western direction.

The Katagiri and Ono detachments, which had been attacking Tanyang since the morning of December 2nd, completely occupied the city at 11 o'clock that night, after reducing the remnants of the Chinese troops. They continued their drive on Nanking. At 9 a.m., December 3rd, they occupied Paituchen and on the evening of December 4th entered Taipingchuang, 7 kilometres east of Kuyung. An attack on Kuyung was immediately started. After fierce night fighting, they succeeded in occupying the airfield by entering the city from its north-western extremity. At dawn, the following day, they occupied Kuyung.

On the morning of December 6th, these units launched an attack on enemy positions near Tangshuichen. The following day, they established a position encircling Tangshuichen from the north-east and east. Part of the Japanese troops advanced to Kaoen, south-west of Tangshuichen threatening to cut off the retreat of the enemy.

The Japanese forces which took Kintancheng on the afternoon of December 2nd pursued the retreating enemy to the west. On the evening of December 3rd, they occupied Mt. Mopanshan, Erhchengchiao, south of Kuyung, on the evening of December 4th and Shangtsochu on the highway from Kuyung to Nanking at 3 p.m., December 5th. They pressed hard on Chunhuachen, 14 kilometres east of Nanking.

On the afternoon of December 7th, the Japanese forces surrounded Chunhuachen from the north-east and south. Heavy gun and rifle fire resounded in the clear sky ; the morale of the Japanese troops ran high, now that Nanking was nearly within striking distance.

The Japanese detachments which reduced Liyang on December 2nd followed up their victory and captured Nantuchen on December 3rd, when they swung north-west, negotiated Mt. Mopanshan and swooped down on Lishui, which they occupied on the afternoon of December 4th. They continued their drive on Nanking and took Wushanchen on the evening of December 4th and Lukowchen on December 6th.

Those Japanese forces which pursued the enemy in a north-western direction after reducing Kwangteh captured Langchih on the evening of December 3rd. They continued their westward advance and occupied Shuiyangchen, west of Lake Kucheng.

The Kosakai and Fujiyama detachments which had been attacking Honantien fiercely since December 2nd succeeded in reducing it on the afternoon of December 4th. Pursuing the retreating enemy, they took Shiherhpu at noon, December 5th. They soon captured Chutangchen, pressing hard on the Kiangnan Railway between Nanking and Yushan which provided the only retreat for the enemy near Nanking.

The enemy offered desperate resistance from the heights of Mt. Lungtao in order to check further western advance of the Japanese forces. After fierce mountain warfare, the Japanese troops captured Lungtao at dawn, December 6th. They followed up their victory, by taking Wangchiashan and Chuangchihchen. They soon crossed the Kiangnan Railway and occupied Hsuancheng on December 7th. Part of the Japanese troops took Sishanmiao, 16 kilometres north-west of Hsuancheng at 10 : 30 o'clock, the same morning.

By thus breaking through the Chinese positions along the line between Kuyung, Lishui and Shuiyangchen and establishing a basic position for the strategic encircling of Nanking, the Japanese forces started an attack on the final defence line of the capital.

The Soeda and Kurabayashi detachments which occupied the Kiangyin forts crossed the Yangtze River near Kiangyin, reaching the northern bank at dawn, December 8th. Covered by army and navy air forces and also by warships, they stormed Tsingkiang at 1 o'clock, the same afternoon. Part of them succeeded in occupying the fort near Tienshengchiang. Thus the Japanese forces secured free passage on the estuary of the Yangtze.

The Japanese forces which were massed near Tanyang turned north and reached Kuantangchiao, 4 kilometres south of Chinkiang on December 7th and opened an attack on Chinkiang. Some of the units which reduced the Kiangyin forts also started a drive on Chinkiang, pushing west along the southern bank of the Yangtze River.

The North China Front

(From November 11th to December 2nd)

The Japanese forces operating in Shansi province successfully entered Taiyüan, capital of Shansi province, on November 9th. The complete occupation of Taiyüan further strengthened the Japanese position in North China.

However, remnants of the Chinese troops were still rampant in the region between the Peking-Hankow and the Tientsin-Pukow Railways. Consequently a campaign against them was started by the Japanese troops.

On November 11th, the Japanese troops overcame about 2,000 Chinese troops at Kaocheng, Chinhsien and Hsinchi east of Shihchiachuang on the Peking-Hankow Railway. The Japanese detachment which drove on Nanho broke through the enemy position at Hokuochen and on November 13th succeeded in clearing Nanho and Jenhsien districts of Chinese troops.

The Japanese troops which advanced on Taming, an important town in southern Hopei province, easily captured Taming on the evening of November 11th. Another Japanese detachment occupied Kwanyping north-west of Taming on November 13th. The unit then swung east and reduced Kiuhsien, an important town at the western extremity of Shantung province where the Chinese 38th division had been concentrating. The clean-up campaign was completed on November 16th when the Japanese forces took Weihsien, a large border town in south-western Hopei province where the Chinese 37th, 115th, 132nd and 143rd divisions had taken up positions to conduct guerilla warfare against the Japanese troops.

General Han Fu-chu, Governor of Shantung province, who had not declared his position since the outbreak of the present Sino-Japanese conflict, gradually defined his attitude against Japan and ordered his troops to attack the Japanese forces. The Japanese Army, therefore, decided to launch a punitive expedition against him. Consequently a general attack was started on the Chinese forces under General Han Fu-chu by the Japanese troops which had been pushing south along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway line.

Those Japanese forces which had been driving south along the eastern zone of the railway occupied Kingyun on November 10th and Wuting on November 12th. They then drove further south and reached the northern bank of the Yellow River on the morning of November 13th. The detachments took various important points along the northern bank, including Sumeitien and Tsiyang. Other Japanese forces acted in full concert with these detachments.

One Japanese detachment took Linghsien and drove further south to reduce Linyi. Another occupied Enhsien and Kaotang in an effort to reduce Yucheng, an important town on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway. On November 15th it took Ancheng and the following day occupied Yucheng, after surrounding it. Still another detachment which pushed south from Tsiyang captured Sishan near the

Iron Bridge of the Yellow River on November 15th, thus dominating Tsinan, capital of Shantung province.

The Japanese forces have now taken up positions on the northern bank of the Yellow River, by holding the region north of that great river.

Winter has arrived on the northern front, but peace and order are steadily being restored in North China where the Chinese people are enjoying orderly life.

The autonomous governments of south Chahar, north Shansi and Suiyuan provinces organized a federated commission with headquarters at Kalgan on November 22nd. The birth of this new organization has brightened the atmosphere of North China, whose people appear very eager for autonomy.

The general tendency prevailing in North China is reflected in the surrender on December 2nd of a large body of Chinese troops which had established their base of operations between Lungping and Kulu in south-western Hopei province.

II

FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

The Shanghai Area

(From November 11th to December 5th)

THE threatened complete encircling of Greater Shanghai by the Japanese forces alarmed the Chinese troops which had taken up positions in the Pootung district opposite Shanghai across the Whampoo River. They menaced the inhabitants of the International Settlement with their reckless gun and rifle fire. Taking advantage of the psychological moment, the Japanese Marine Force at dawn, November 11th, landed at Pootung and started a campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops. At 10 o'clock, the same morning, the Japanese marines reached Pailienchen, a strategically important point in the Pootung district.

The Chinese troops in Nantao, the southern Chinese quarter in Shanghai, were trapped completely by the Japanese forces. Prompted by the humanitarian consideration of avoiding needless bloodshed, and also to spare innocent Chinese non-combatants the horrors of war, the Japanese forces advised them to surrender peacefully, but the Chinese troops failed to follow this advice and persisted in their resistance. Consequently, the marines in cooperation with the Japanese troops launched a campaign against the Chinese troops in Nantao on November 10th.

The Japanese Marine Force landed at Nantao on November 10th and steadily cleared that section of Chinese troops, with the result that the campaign was completed on November 13th, thus restoring peace and order to Greater Shanghai.

In this connection, it must be mentioned that the Japanese forces inflicted no losses to Chinese non-combatants in their attack on Nantao, while General Matsui, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army in the Shanghai area and Vice-Admiral Hasegawa, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Third Fleet made contributions to the relief fund for Chinese refugees in Nantao.

On November 13th, the Japanese Naval Force escorted a large body of Japanese troops up the Yangtze estuary and enabled the latter to land successfully near Paimao in face of fierce enemy gun and rifle fire, after overcoming geographical difficulties which included many shoals near Paimao. The landing of Japanese troop

near Paimao paved the way for the Japanese occupation of Kunshan.

On November 20th, the Japanese Marine Force landed at Fushan on the Yangtze, thus occupying the terminus of the important enemy line between Soochow and Fushan.

The activity of naval units in the Shanghai area was varied and extensive. On December 4th, the Japanese Naval Force captured the Chinese warship Ninghai which was stranded off Pahanchiang on the northern bank of the Yangtze opposite Kiangyin some time ago, when it was bombed by Japanese naval aeroplanes.

On the other hand, the naval force succeeded in removing blockades and sweeping the minefields laid by the Chinese in the Whampoo and the Yangtze Rivers, thus securing free passage on those important waterways.

The Japanese Naval Force began removal of the booms and sweeping of the minefields on the Whampoo on the evening of November 12th. After careful study and with daring action, the naval force succeeded in refloating the Chinese steamer Chungho which the Chinese had scuttled in order to block the waterway. The Japanese crowned their success with the subsequent sweeping of the minefield which had been spotted though careful study.

At noon, November 13th, several Japanese warships sailed from Shanghai up the Whampoo River and supplied the Japanese troops at Sungkiang and Kinshan with provisions and ammunition.

Work on the removal of blockades on Soochow Creek was initiated by the Japanese Naval Force on November 23rd. During the same day, the Japanese repair-ship succeeded in sailing up to Kunshan, 40 kilometres west of Shanghai, by blowing up sunken stone bridges and ships and marking the shoals and obstacles to be avoided on the way. On November 24th, the repair-ship reached Soochow, 80 kilometres west of Shanghai, thus re-opening Soochow Creek to navigation.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

After securing command of the air in China closely following the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese conflict, the Japanese Naval Air Force has since been cooperating with the Japanese troops in dealing a crushing blow to the Chinese armies. At the same time, the air force has extended its activities over China in an effort to eradicate Chinese air units which may be reorganized in order to gain the opportunity of attacking the Japanese forces. Naval air squadrons also visited various important towns in the interior of China and bombed Chinese military establishments there.

In North China, Japanese air units visited Yenchow, Hsuchow, Taian, Tsining and other towns along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, and Haichow, Hwaiyin and others on the Lunghai Railway and effectively bombarded the Chinese lines of communication and military establishments, including arsenals and barracks.

On November 21st and 22nd, Japanese naval aeroplanes raided Chouchiakow in Honan province for the first time and bombed the airfield and other military points there. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders brought down several Chinese planes in addition to destroying over a dozen Chinese planes on the ground.

On November 24th and 25th, several Japanese naval planes visited Loyang, capital of Honan province, and bombed the hangars, aeroplanes on the ground and military barracks there.

In south China, the Japanese Naval Air Force effectively bombed the forts at Amoy and the airfield at Changchow in Fukien province. Canton, the new Chinese base of military operations since the loss of the Shanghai area, has been visited almost daily, while military establishments and railway tracks along the Canton-Hankow Railway have similarly been bombed. Japanese naval planes repeatedly visited Bocca Tigris, Tienho, Siuchow and Pokwan in and around Canton and bombed the airfields there. They also bombarded the military arsenal and barracks in Canton and the military establishments at Hengshih, Paknai, Pakonghow, Yingtak, Lienkong and other important points along the Canton-Hankow Railway.

In the Shanghai and Nanking areas, the Japanese Naval Air Force, in cooperation with the Japanese troops which have been driving on Nanking after capturing Shanghai, has been increasing its activities by attacking the Chinese positions from the air in order to facilitate the advance of the Japanese troops and the pursuit of retreating Chinese forces, and in order to sever lines of communication in the rear of the Chinese positions.

Japanese naval planes visited practically all important towns between Nanking and Shanghai and bombed Chinese troop concentrations and military establishments, including those at Nantao, Pootung, Kunshan, Changshu, Tatsang, Soochow, Wusih, Kashan, Kahsing, Chapu, Changchow, Tanyang, Ihsing, Kiangyin, Kintan, Chinkiang, Kwangteh, Ningkuo and Lishui. Japanese naval planes raided Nanking on November 10th and 11th and again on November 22nd and 24th, when six Chinese planes challenged the Japanese raiders of which three were shot down in the ensuing air duel. On November 25th, the Naval Air Force again visited Nanking, but no Chinese plane challenged them. The Japanese raiders effectively bombed the airfield at Tachiaochang, suburb of Nanking, and destroyed

several Chinese planes on the ground.

On November 24th, naval air units raided Changsha, capital of Hunan province, and bombed the military depots and railway station there.

By the beginning of December, the Japanese forces were pressing hard on Nanking. In concert with the troops, the Naval Air Force started a general attack on Chinese positions and forts in and around Nanking. Naval squadrons directed their attention mainly to Kiangyin, Tienshengchiang, Tingyuhan and other forts on the Yangtze River, Hsiaoshan Fort at Hangchow, and also Chinese positions at Ningkuo, Kiangyin, Hsuancheng, Pukow and Wuhu.

On December 2nd, when the Japanese Naval Air Force visited Nanking, it spotted a large number of planes on the ground, apparently imported from abroad, of which the Japanese raiders bombed and destroyed 30 fighting planes and six heavy bombers. In the ensuing air encounter, the Japanese brought down 10 Chinese fighting planes and three heavy bombers.

On December 4th, naval fliers visited Lanchow, capital of Kansu province, and bombed and destroyed four large-sized planes and 10 small-sized ones, all of Soviet manufacture. The Japanese raiders shot down two Chinese challengers in the ensuing air combat. This raid conducted so far in the interior of China struck the Chinese military authorities with terror. The same day several Japanese planes raided Chuhsien in Anhui province and effectively bombed 13 Chinese planes. On December 5th, the Japanese Naval Air Force again visited Kunghsien in central Honan province and successfully bombarded the military arsenal there, which is now the only one available for China.

Naval squadrons have also been active at Kufow, Lincheng and other places in North China and along the Canton-Hankow Railway and over Canton itself in South China, in order to deal a crushing blow to the Chinese troops and to cripple China's military activities.

The Situation in China

I. Advance of the Imperial Army

Press Section, War Department

Fall of Nanking

AUTHORITATIVE information received by the Japanese military command in Central China reported that General Chiang Kai-shek fled from his capital by aeroplane on the morning of December 7, 1937, for Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi province. The last day of Nanking was near.

General Tang Sheng-chih was making desperate efforts to defend the city, but the Japanese forces established positions dominating Nanking by breaking through the main defence line of the Chinese in the vicinity. All that remained before complete Japanese occupation could be effected was to drive the remnants of Chinese troops from in and around the walled city.

Prior to a general attack on Nanking, General Matsui, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army on the Central China front, sent a letter to General Tang Sheng-chih, Commander of the Chinese troops defending Nanking, at noon of December 9th, advising him to surrender peacefully by noon of the following day. The letter which General Matsui sent through chivalrous and humanitarian motives was dropped at General Tang's headquarters by a Japanese military plane.

The message urging peaceful capitulation read, in substance :

" The fall of Nanking is inevitable under present circumstances. Further resistance in a city which has been the capital of China for a long time and which has been the seat of Chinese culture for centuries with a large number of historic sites and monuments promises nothing but destruction of the valued Chinese culture. This, Japan is unwilling to witness. You are hereby requested to hand over Nanking peacefully to the Japanese troops, taking a long view of the situation. Your reply is expected by noon, December 10th."

General Tang Sheng-chih, however, failed to reply to General

Matsui's letter, and his troops maintained stubborn resistance against the Japanese forces. The Japanese military authorities, therefore, decided to launch a general attack on Nanking at 1 o'clock on the afternoon of December 10th. The full strength of the Japanese artillery was brought to bear upon Nanking. Simultaneously all Japanese forces started an onslaught on the walled town, while the Japanese air force took an active part in the general attack.

The Japanese military and naval air forces attacked not only the Chinese troops in Nanking but those retreating along the Yangtze River from Nanking. They also visited the Chinese air bases and bombed new Chinese aeroplanes which were purchased from abroad for the purpose of reorganizing the Chinese air force.

In the eastern sector of Nanking The converging Japanese forces steadily tightened their encircling line around the city, dislodging the Chinese troops in their way. After breaking through the Chinese positions along the line between Tangshuichen and Tangshan, the main body of the Japanese force driving on the eastern sector of Nanking reached Huangnishu toward evening, December 9th. The Ono and Noda detachments which formed the vanguard pressed hard on Chilinmen 8 kilometres east of Purple Mountain at noon, December 8th. At dawn, the following day, the two detachments launched a furious attack on the Chinese troops at Chilinmen.

The following evening, the detachments advanced to the line joining the eastern side of Chilinmen to Tsangpochen. Breaking through frontal enemy positions, the detachments made further advances during the afternoon of December 10th. The right wing reached Yaopeimen, 9 kilometres north-east of Nanking, while the main body advanced to the southern and eastern base of Purple Mountain.

On December 11th, the Japanese right wing broke through the enemy position near Yaopeimen and advanced to its western district. The main body was attacking the enemy position between the summit of Purple Mountain and Hsiaowei, but toward evening, December 11th, succeeded in reaching the line connecting the northern extremity of Lake Yuanwu to the eastern side of Chungshanmen via the western base of Purple Mountain.

The Japanese forces steadily kept up their drive on Nanking. By the evening of December 12th, the right wing neared Hopingmen, while the main body occupied the summit of Purple Mountain at 5 : 30 p. m., December 12th.

Part of the Ono detachment stormed the Chungshanmen of Nanking at 3 : 20 a. m., December 13th, which it succeeded in occupying. The sun-flag was hoisted on the gate amidst lusty shouts of " banzai."

Part of the Katagiri detachment early in the same morning occupied Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum.

Following the capture of Chungshanmen the Japanese troops dashed into the walled town and occupied the Chinese military establishments near the gate. The Sukegawa detachment which drove north of the walled town reached Hsiakwan and cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops from Nanking to the north and also to the west along the Yangtze River.

The Chinese troops left about 5,000 dead in the northern section of Nanking up to December 13th. Additionally, the Japanese troops captured 3 locomotives, 6 passenger carriages and 38 freight waggons at Hsiakwan on December 13th.

In the south-eastern sector of Nanking The Japanese forces which had been attacking Chunhuachen since December 6th succeeded in breaking through the enemy position at Chunhuachen and reached Kaomiao the same evening in pursuit of the retreating enemy. On the morning of December 9th, they pressed hard on Nanking. The next afternoon they reached the line along the creek below the walls of Nanking connecting the eastern side of the Chungshanmen and the south-eastern salient of Nanking.

The Wakizaka detachment which had been pushing on Nanking along the old highway reached the Kwanghuamen of the city on December 9th when fighting at close range developed between them and the Chinese troops which made desperate efforts to defend the position. At 5 p. m., December 10th, the Wakizaka unit succeeded in blowing up part of the gate and storming the gate itself. The following day, fresh Japanese troops arrived near the gate. The detachment with those reinforcements then penetrated into the walled city.

The right wing of the Japanese force which had been attacking the south-eastern salient of Nanking broke through the enemy position at a height east of the Chungshanmen and on December 10th approached within 100 metres of that gate. Under cover of artillery, the Japanese force launched hand-to-hand fighting against the enemy. At dawn, the following day, the Japanese troops dashed into the walled town through an opening blasted near the Chungshanmen and drove north, after dislodging the enemy which offered stiff resistance.

Another Japanese unit which advanced on Nanking via Changchow and Kintan reached the Shangfangmen on December 12th by way of Tienwangsze and Hushu. The Takamori detachment which led this unit participated in the engagement at the south-eastern salient

of Nanking. After occupying the salient, the detachment on December 13th pressed hard on the Wutingmen.

In the southern sector of Nanking The Japanese forces which had been advancing on Nanking from Lishui occupied Molingkwan on December 7th and continued their pursuit of the retreating enemy. The Okamoto and Takeshita detachments, after reaching the southern area of Lishui drove north-west side by side with the Japanese forces which advanced from Lishui, and reached the line connecting the area north of Shuiko and the area east of Kulitsun on the evening of December 8th. The following day they advanced to the line connecting the area north of Shuiko and the area east of Kulitsun. On December 9th they advanced to the line connecting the height south of Yuhuatai and Sishanchiao, thus pressing back the enemy into Nanking.

The Chiba, Yamada, Yazaki and Yamamoto detachments maintained their fierce onslaught on the enemy position along the line between Heungchuan and Antehmen on the southern side of Nanking on the night of December 10th. The situation began to develop in favour of the Japanese, especially the Japanese right wing. The Yamamoto detachment approached within 700 metres of Yuhuatai by the evening of December 11th.

The Okamoto and Hasegawa detachments on December 11th continued their attack on the enemy position along the line between Antehmen and Mokwantao on the southern side of Nanking. The Takeshita detachment advanced west of Nanking and stormed the Shuisimen on the morning of December 13th. This unit drove into the city and occupied a height in the north-western section of Nanking in the late afternoon.

At about 4 p. m., December 11th, the Chinese troops in Nanking started to retreat upstream in over a dozen boats, on which a part of the Japanese artillery and infantry forces fired from the southern bank of the Yangtze River.

The Japanese forces which had been attacking Nanking from the south reached the northern base of the Yuhuatai height on the morning of December 12th, when they started an attack on the southern walls of Nanking, At noon, December 12th, the Hasegawa and Chiba detachments succeeded in storming the Chunghuamen, the most strongly guarded of all the gates of Nanking. Two Okamoto detachments were also active in the final onslaught on the city. One of these occupied the walls west of the Chunghuamen at 4 : 20 p. m., on December 12th. The other occupied the south-western salient at 4 : 40 o'clock the same afternoon. All Japanese forces pressed the Chinese troops back to the northern section of Nanking.

The Japanese troops which entered Nanking from the south, west and east gates of Nanking succeeded in cleaning up the remnants of Chinese troops in the city by the evening of December 13th.

The Japanese forces made a triumphant entry into Nanking on December 17th when General Matsui, Commander-in-Chief, reviewed the Japanese forces. All were filled with deep emotion.

Drive on Hangchow

The capture of Nanking marked a definite stage in the military operations in the Shanghai and Nanking area. Meanwhile, however,a drive on Hangchow, capital of Chekiang province, had been started.

The Japanese detachment which reduced Wuhu on the Yangtze swung south-east and at 2 : 40 p. m., December 21st, occupied Tipuchen, about 8 kilometres south of Anchi. Part of the detachment advanced north of Hsiaofeng and another unit occupied Tungpu during the same evening. The following day, the detachment, after defeating about 500 Chinese troops near Hsiaofeng, drove south and about 3 p. m., reached the line connecting Shuanki, 20 kilometres north-west of Yuhang and Panpanchiao. The detachment steadily continued its drive on Hangchow.

Another Japanese detachment which was standing by in Shanghai, also came into action.

On December 21st it reached Chiaerhtsun, about 20 kilometres south of Huchow. At 2 p. m., the following day, this unit passed through Sanchiaopu (4 kilometres north of Wukong), Shuishihchen (12 kilometres east of Mokanshai) and Nanmulin (20 kilometres north-east of Tehching), thus establishing a position enabling the Japanese forces to encircle Hangchow.

Part of the Japanese force which occupied Yuhang on the evening of December 23rd left Yuhang at 7 o'clock on the same evening, to continue its drive on Hangchow. The following night, the detachment reached Fuyang and was making a forced crossing of the Fuchun River at noon, December 25th, when it was learned that about 4,000 Chinese troops were retreating toward Fuyang from Hangchow by the Hangchow-Fuyang highway. The detachment immediately abandoned its attempted crossing of the river and pressed the retreating enemy toward the Chientang River. The situation was developing in favour of the Japanese forces when the Japanese left column succeeded in outflanking the enemy and advanced on the rear of the Chinese troops from Liuhsiachen, thus trapping the enemy. The Japanese troops overcame the Chinese force at about 5 o'clock in the same afternoon. It transpired that this force

really formed the main body of the Chinese 107th division. The loss sustained by the Japanese in the engagement was negligible.

Another Japanese detachment which was driving on Hangchow from the north reached Pingyaochen on the night of December 23rd and immediately continued the offensive. Part of the Japanese force occupied the Wulin gate, the north-western salient of Hangchow, at 7 : 50 o'clock, December 24th, while the main body succeeded in cleaning up the remnants of Chinese troops in the walled city shortly after noon on the same day and also occupied the air field.

Hangchow, the capital of Chekiang province, thus fell into Japanese hands on December 24th. The following day, the Japanese forces made a triumphant entry into the city.

One Japanese detachment which was also pushing on Hangchow met the Chinese 63rd division along the line between Tsungteh and Changan and defeated it. This unit entered Hangchow at 2 p. m., December 25th.

The Japanese captured 8 mountain guns, 5 field guns and four other guns in taking Hangchow.

At this point the movement of Japanese forces which crossed over the Yangtze River to the northern bank shortly before or after the fall of Nanking must be mentioned.

The Hanaya detachment occupied Yangchow at the entrance of the Grand Canal opposite to Chinkiang shortly before the fall of Nanking. The vanguard of other Japanese forces which followed the Hanaya detachment to the northern bank of the Yangtze occupied Icheng and Hsupuchiao 4 kilometres north-west of it on the evening of December 16th. The main body then reached the area south-west of Yangchow. After driving away the enemy located in the north-western direction, the Japanese forces occupied Tienchang, 50 kilometres north-west of Yangchow on December 22nd.

Another Japanese unit left Chinkiang on the night of December 15th by motor launch and succeeded in landing at Luho at 8 : 30 o'clock, the following morning. The same evening, this detachment advanced to a district west of Luho. The Chinese troops which defended Luho and the surrounding district apparently belonged to the Shantung army.

The Japanese detachment which advanced to Icheng continued its northern drive on December 17th and occupied Shuikowchen, 14 kilometres east of Chuhsien. Shortly after noon, December 18th, the detachment advanced east of Chuhsien, on which it launched an attack the following day.

One detachment took Shohochi, 12 kilometres north of Chuhsien at 4 : 30 p.m., December 19th, thereby cutting off the Tientsin-Pukow

Railway. The main body of Japanese forces reduced Chuhsien at 10 a.m., December 20th, and continued its northern drive. On December 22nd, these troops occupied Lishantao, 12 kilometres north of Chuhsien and Chulungchiao.

A Japanese cavalry force took Changpaling, 22 kilometres north of Chuhsien, where it inflicted heavy damage on three troop trains and captured over a dozen passenger carriages and freight waggons.

The Adachi and Nagatsu detachments which had also crossed the Yangtze River to the northern bank reached Yangchow at the entrance to the Grand Canal on December 18th. Part of these detachments occupied Hsiennuchen, Icheng and Shiherhwei. On December 21st, they advanced further north and reduced Shaopochen.

The Kurabayashi detachment which was making a vigorous northern drive in the region north of the Yangtze River successfully took Shihshihtze, 50 kilometres north of Anlai. On January 2nd, the detachment occupied Chuyi, about 80 kilometres north of Chuhsien.

About 300 Chinese soldiers staged a counter-attack on part of the Tashiro detachment which was holding Mopanshan, about 30 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien on January 4th, but were repulsed with heavy losses.

II. Forces of the Imperial Navy in Action

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Activities of the Naval Air Force

(From December 7th to January 3rd)

THE Japanese Naval Air Force has become increasingly active over all parts of China. Its admirable record is continually being bettered. An outline of its recent activities is given below :—

In Central China : December 7th While participating in the attack on Nanking, the Naval Air Force visited Wuhu, where the airfield was bombed ; Anking (capital of Anhui province), where the airfield was likewise bombed, and Tienshengchiang (opposite Kiangyin), where bombs were dropped on the fort and other military establishments.

December 8th In addition to a raid on Nanking covering the advance of Japanese troops, the Naval Air Force bombed enemy positions at Tsingkiang, opposite Kiangyin, and the military arsenal at Kunghsien in Honan province.

December 9th Enemy positions in and around Nanking were bombed in cooperation with the attacking Japanese troops. Additionally, Chinese troop concentrations at Pukow, enemy positions at Sanyingkiang, and the airfield at Nanchang were bombed. In the raid on Nanchang, the Japanese fliers destroyed over a dozen Chinese planes on the ground. In the ensuing air duel, the raiders shot down 12 out of more than 30 Chinese challenging planes. One Japanese plane became missing.

December 10th In cooperation with the Army attack on Nanking the Naval Air Force bombed the Chungshanmen and Kwanghuamen, the Kukung airfield and the Military College there.

Naval planes also visited and bombed the Chienkuai Fort at Chinkiang, military establishments at Sanyinkow, and the airfield at Chuchow on the Hangchow-Nanchang Railway.

December 11th Covering the advance of Japanese troops, the Fukueishan Fort and the Kwanhuamen of Nanking were bombed. Several naval air units also attacked enemy positions at Pukow. Additionally, forts near Chinkiang were bombed and the airfield at Loyang, capital of Honan province, was visited, where a hangar and other buildings were destroyed.

December 12th While attacking the Chungshanmen, enemy positions inside the gate, and Chinese troops retreating upstream from Nanking, the Naval Air Force also visited and bombed the Tutienchen and Wulungshan Forts near Chinkiang and the airfield at Nanchang.

In the raid on Nanchang, the naval planes bombed and destroyed 8 aeroplanes including a large-sized one and an aeroplane factory. On the way back the Japanese raiders met 3 enemy Northrops over Huangshan, 130 kilometres south-west of Kwangteh and brought down one of them.

December 14th The Naval Air Force again visited Nanchang where it bombed and destroyed 28 planes on the ground. In a combat with 10 Chinese planes which had been standing by, the Japanese raiders shot down 7 of them and returned safely to their base. Naval planes also raided Anking, capital of Anhui province, where the aerodrome and two godowns nearby were destroyed.

December 15th The activity of the Naval Air Force was extended to the following points which were bombed : military lines of communication at Chuki (50 kilometres south of Hangchow) ; the airfield at Luchow (Anhui province) ; the airfield at Pengpu where 2 planes were destroyed on the ground ; and machine-gun emplacements at a height north of Pukow.

December 16th Chuki and Hangchow were again visited and Chinese lines of communication attacked.

December 17th The Naval Air Force visited Szeking and bombed the remnants of the defeated Chinese troops there.

December 20th Kiukiang was raided and its airfield was effectively bombed.

December 22nd The Naval squadron visited Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi province and shot down 17 out of over 20 Chinese planes which challenged it. The Japanese raiders bombed and destroyed 13 planes on the ground.

December 25th Several naval planes, after reconnoitring Hangchow and Chuki, bombed freight trains and tracks between Chuki and Pitao.

The Naval Air Force reached Jangyang, 270 kilometres north-west of Hankow, bombed the airfield there and destroyed 4 out of 7 planes which were on the ground.

December 27th The Naval Air Force reconnoitred Anking, Hofei and Pengpu but encountered no enemy planes. The Japanese raiders bombed and destroyed airfields, hangars and godowns at those points.

January 2nd The Naval Air Force again visited Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi province and bombed a hangar, an aeroplane factory and a large-sized plane on the ground. In the ensuing air duel, the

Japanese airmen brought down one Chinese plane. The Naval Air Force also visited Anking, capital of Anhui province and effectively bombed the airfield there.

In North China : December 7th The Naval Air Force visited and bombed the following places : military lines of communication at Tungkwan (east of Sian, capital of Shensi province) ; military lines of communication and troop concentrations at Hsuchow and districts south of it ; Chingkowchen and Suhsien.

December 8th Hsuchow, the junction point of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and the Lunghai Railway was visited. The station building and troop trains were effectively bombed.

December 12th The Naval Air Force raided Sian, capital of Shensi province, where a hangar and other buildings together with 2 small-sized planes at the airfield were bombed and destroyed.

December 14th Naval planes visited Lini in eastern Shantung province and attacked the military arsenal there.

December 15th Military barracks at Huaiyin (Kiangsu province) and military lines of communication at Yenchow (Shantung province) were attacked.

December 19th The Naval Air Force visited Chufu, Luhsien and other places in Shantung province where military establishments and lines of communication were subjected to bombing.

December 21st Naval planes visited Lanchow, capital of Kansu province, bombing and destroying one hangar, 6 large-sized and 2 small-sized planes on the ground. In an aerial combat with 10 enemy planes, the Japanese raiders shot down 6 of the former.

December 22nd The Naval Air Force raided Chouchiakow in Honan province and effectively bombed the airfield there.

December 25th Naval airplanes reconnoitred various important towns in Shantung province. Military barracks, freight trains and godowns at Haichow, eastern terminus of the Lunghai Railway, were bombed, while the military barracks at Lini and Lienyunchiang were also attacked.

December 26th The Naval Air Force again visited Yenchow and Hsuchow and bombed military establishments there.

December 27th The Naval Air Force reconnoitred Laoshen near Tsingtao and also visited and bombed military points at Yenchow, Hsuchow, Lini, Ichow and Luhsien.

December 28th Japanese Naval planes attacked enemy concentrations between Tangtao and Chucheng and also an enemy armoured train between Ichow and Hsiachuanchi. The railway station at Yenchow was also bombed.

December 29th While reconnoitring various important towns in

Shantung province, the Naval Air Force visited the following places and attacked enemy concentrations, rollingstock and military barracks in cooperation with the Japanese troops driving southward : Tapingchi, Hsuchow, Yencheng, Kwantunpu, Chucheng, Luhsien, Kulipo, Hanyu, Ichow, Lincheng, Tatien, Wangchiachuan and Haichow.

Several other Japanese naval planes raided Sian, capital of Shensi province and bombed the airfield there, destroying a hangar, an aeroplane factory and an aeroplane on the ground.

December 30th The Naval Air Force raided Hsuchow, Ichow, Haichow, Yenchow, Paichi, Chuangchiachen and Kaitaochi and attacked troop concentrations, troop trains and motorcars, inflicting heavy damage on Chinese troops retreating from Shantung.

Several other naval planes visited Loyang, capital of Honan province, and bombed the airfield there, destroying 4 planes on the ground and several adjacent buildings.

December 31st The Naval Air Force devoted its attention to the Chinese troops retreating southward from Shantung province by train and motor trucks.

January 1st The Naval Air Force visited Taolochen in eastern Shantung province and attacked troop concentrations there.

January 2nd While reconnoitring Tsingtao and other important points in Shantung province, the Naval Air Force visited Hsinanchen and Pingtu, attacking enemy concentrations and troop trains.

In South China, December 8th Naval planes visited various towns in South China and bombed lines of communication.

December 10th The Naval Air Force raided Shiuchow and Canton, bombing the airfields there.

December 12th Shiuchow was raided again. The airfield and an aeroplane factory were bombed.

December 14th Naval planes flew over various important towns in South China, attacking enemy lines of communication.

December 17th and 18th While attacking lines of communication near Canton, the Naval Air Force visited Tienho and Pokwan near Canton and bombed the airfields there, destroying hangars and other buildings.

December 19th The Naval Air Force attacked several important points along lines of communication in South China. In addition, it visited Wuchow and bombed the airfield there, destroying a hangar.

December 20th and 21st Naval fliers bombed the Canton-Hankow, Canton-Kowloon and Canton-Samshui Railways.

December 24th The Canton-Kowloon Railway was bombed near Lintsun.

December 25th The Naval Air Force again bombed the Canton-

Hankow Railway near Yintak, the Canton-Kowloon Railway near Tutang and the Sunning Railway near Taishan.

December 26th Various important points along the Canton-Hankow, Canton-Kowloon, and Sunning Railways were attacked.

December 27th The Naval Air Force bombed the Canton-Hankow Railway near Yuantan and Paknai, the Canton-Kowloon Railway near Changmok and the Sunning Railway near Kungyifow.

December 28th Japanese planes bombed the Canton-Hankow Railway near Hotaoyu, the Sunning Railway near Wanfuktze and the Canton-Kowloon Railway near Changmok.

December 29th The Naval Air Force attacked points along the Canton-Hankow Railway near Changmok, Laitung, Yinchanyao and Pakonghow and the Canton-Kowloon Railway near Lungtow and Tutang.

December 30th Naval planes bombed the motor road between Canton and Hongkong including several bridges. They also bombed the Canton-Hankow Railway near Chuntien, the Sunning Railway near Takianghu and Kungyifow and the Canton-Kowloon Railway near Changhui, Sheklung and Pitsun. A gunpowder magazine at Tsengpu was also bombed.

December 31st The Naval Air Force attacked various important points along the motor road between Canton and Kowloon as well as along the Canton-Kowloon Railway.

January 1st Naval planes flew in formation over Pitsun on the Canton-Kowloon Railway and bombed the military establishments there. They bombed the bridge at Shatsun, about 70 kilometres east of Canton. Several other naval planes visited Canton and bombed the Pokwan airfield and the Canton-Hankow Railway.

January 2nd The Naval Air Force bombed the motor road between Canton and Kowloon as well as the Canton-Kowloon Railway. It also bombed several important points on the Canton-Hankow Railway, including Tsungfa, 60 kilometres north-east of Canton.

The Japanese Fleet on the Yangtze

A brilliant page was added to the annals of the Japanese Navy when, on December 13th, 1937, an Imperial squadron arrived at the Hsiakwan wharf in Nanking. China's capital fell on that memorable day before the combined attacks of the Japanese Army and Navy and their aerial units.

At dawn of the same day, the Japanese squadron had attacked and reduced Wulungshan Fort and Laoyenyu Fort, 15 miles below Nanking and the main defence line of the capital on the Yangtze River.

At 2 o'clock that afternoon, the squadron began the dash on Nanking.

The cruise upstream was a difficult one because the squadron had to silence the enemy on the northern bank of the river who fired incessantly on the Japanese ships. The squadron was able, however, to inflict considerable damage to Chinese troops attempting to flee to the northern bank from the Nanking area. Within four hours after reducing the Wulungshan and Laoyenyu Forts, the Japanese Navy succeeded in cutting off Nanking.

The ten days prior to its success in breaking through the Chinese blockade at Kiangyin was an anxious and difficult time for the Japanese squadron which had to sail upstream by removing booms and sweeping mines on the way, and at the same time fight Chinese troops on either bank of the Yangtze which constantly harassed the warships. After overcoming all sorts of difficulties, however, the Japanese squadron succeeded in securing command of the Yangtze River and participated in the general attack on Nanking, by approaching Hsiakwan wharf four months after the outbreak of the China Affair. The squadron effectively cut off the retreat of Chinese troops from Nanking along the Yangtze.

Since the capture of Nanking, the squadron has been engaged in re-opening the Yangtze to navigation by removing booms and sweeping mines amidst difficulties. The squadron has already succeeded in securing free navigation from Nanking to Wuhu, a stretch of about 400 kilometres.

The Situation in China

I. Advance of the Imperial Army

Press Section, War Department

The Shantung Front

(From January 7th to February 4th)

THE Numada detachment which entered Yenchow, an important junction of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway started preparations for an attack on Tsining on January 7th. In cooperation with the Kuwada cavalry unit, this detachment launched a general attack on Tsining at 2 p.m., January 11th. Tsining, the terminus of the branch line which starts from Yenchow, was first guarded by a regiment of the Chinese 29th division which was, however, reinforced later with additional infantry and a battalion of artillery. At 2:10 p.m., January 11th, the Japanese troops occupied the walls of Tsining and entered the town at 3 o'clock. One hour later, the Japanese troops were pressing closely on the Chinese forces which fled from the walled town. The enemy fled to Kiasiang to the west and south. The Japanese kept up their pursuit, and on January 13th reached the stream on the western side of Tangchiakow.

Meanwhile, the Japanese force that was making a southern drive along the eastern side of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway occupied Mengyin at noon, January 4th. The following morning it took Lishan, 36 kilometres south-west of Mengyin. A Japanese military air force visited Hsuchow, the junction of the Lunghai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways at about 4 p.m., January 10th, and effectively bombed the station building, troop trains and military establishments there.

The Japanese Navy landed a marine force near Tsingtao early in the morning of January 10th without meeting any resistance. Toward evening, this force completely cleared Tsingtao of all remnants of Chinese troops, thus firmly securing control of the port town and habour of Tsingtao.

Following the landing of the marine force, Japanese troops also landed at Tsingtao at 9 a.m., January 12th, and immediately took positions. Peace and order in Tsingtao are thus being maintained by the Japanese forces.

The Nagano detachment which was making an eastward drive along the Shantung Railway left Tungantai, 20 kilometres south-east of Weihsien and entered Kiauchow on January 15th. Early the next morning the detachment started from Kiauchow braving a blizzard, and reached Liuting, a suburb of Tsingtao on the night of January 18th. The following morning the detachment left Liuting and entered Tsingtao at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, enthusiastically welcomed by Japanese and Chinese

residents. The Nagano detachment thus established connection between Tsinan and Tsingtao which are over 390 kilometres apart. Prior to the entry of this detachment, a peace maintenance commission was organized by leading Chinese citizens of Tsingtao on January 17th.

The Katayama and Oki detachments left Tsingtao on January 31st and February 1st respectively for north-eastern Shantung province to eliminate remnants of the Chinese troops.

During the afternoon of February 1st, the Oki detachment reached and occupied Laiyang. The unit kept up its northern drive. At noon, February 2nd, the detachment took Tsisiahsien and at 5 o'clock on the same afternoon entered Fushan, an important walled town, 12 kilometres south-west of Chefoo, where it disarmed the Chinese militia and captured a large quantity of arms and ammunition left by the enemy.

The Oki detachment left Fushan early in the morning of February 3rd for Chefoo. Its vanguard reached Chefoo at 1:50 a.m., February 3rd, and occupied the port town without meeting any resistance. At 4 o'clock the same morning, the main body of the Oki detachment made a triumphant entry into Chefoo. The detachment stormed the police headquarters and the Public Safety Bureau building where it disarmed about 800 of the Chinese militia. The detachment occupied all Chinese governmental machinery, including the custom-house.

Chefoo stands on the northern coast of Shantung peninsula, occupying the key position on Pechihli Bay and facing Dairen and Ryojun (Port Arthur). It has a population of about 200,000. Consulates are maintained there by Japan, Great Britain, the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium and other foreign countries. Chefoo which is sometimes called Yentai is, next to Tsingtao, the most flourishing trading port in Shantung province. It is also important from the military viewpoint.

Taking advantage of the concentration of the Chinese air force at Loyang in Honan province, the Japanese military air force raided that city on January 30th. Over a dozen Chinese combat planes challenged the Japanese raiders, who, however, succeeded in bringing down 10 which were all of Soviet manufacture of the E-15 type. The Japanese raiders also inflicted heavy damage on hangars and 8 Chinese planes on the ground. The Japanese lost one plane in the engagement.

The Central China Front

Chinese troops were still active in the region south of the Yellow River and north of the Yangtze during the month of January.

Of the Imperial forces, the Iwanaka detachment together with a tank unit left Chuantsiao south of Chuhsien at 10 a.m., January 17th, for Hohsien on the Yangtze above Pukow, which the detachment occupied at 3:45 o'clock the same afternoon. Part of the detachment encountered some 200 Chinese troops armed with about 10 light machine-guns near Tushancho, 33 kilometres north of Hohsien, in the afternoon of January 18th and caused them to retreat toward the west after three hours of fighting.

The Yotsumomiya detachment engaged about 300 Chinese troops in the area north-west of Hungshanchu and Tsientungchu and defeated them. The enemy left about 50 dead.

The Kurabayashi detachment met about 300 Chinese troops armed with light machine-guns at Tzeleichiao, 58 kilometres north-east of Chuhsien on January 16th and put them to rout after a four-hour fight.

On January 14th, some 150 Chinese bandits attacked the Soyeda detachment at a point 4 kilometres south of Tzeleichiao, but were repulsed by the Japanese detachment, leaving 10 dead.

The Japanese officer patrols which went to reconnoitre the situation at Hohsien were attacked by about 500 "Big Sword" bandits led by Tsien Chentung at a point east of Wukiangchen at 11 a.m., January 14th. On receipt of this information, Japanese reinforcements dashed to the scene and repulsed the bandits who left about 100 dead. Casualties on the Japanese side were negligible.

At 7:30 a.m., January 20th, about 200 Chinese troops made a counter-attack on the Soyeda detachment at Taishanling, 20 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien, but were repulsed with heavy losses.

From December 20th, 1937, to January 22nd, 1938, remnants of Chinese troops in the region north of the Yangtze were so active that no less than 22 engagements took place between them and the Japanese forces, including the punitive engagements started by the Japanese. The Chinese troops which took part in those engagements exceeded an aggregated total of 10,000. The enemy left 1,368 dead while the Japanese casualties totalled 60. Arms captured by the Japanese included 1 heavy machine-gun, 6 light machine-guns, 2 trench-mortars and 69 rifles.

At about 5:30 a.m., January 26th, some 400 Chinese troops armed with trench-mortars made a counter attack on the Japanese force at Chulungchiao, 15 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien, but were repulsed, leaving 80 dead.

At 8 a.m., the same day, about 800 Chinese troops counter-attacked the Japanese force at Taliuchen, 25 kilometres north-west of Chuhsien, but were repelled by the Japanese within two hours. The enemy left about 150 dead. The Japanese casualties in both engagements were 3 killed and 10 wounded. These Chinese troops belonged to the 138th division although they wore plain-clothes.

The Soyeda detachment which was pushing north along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway from Pukow occupied Mingkuang. On the afternoon of January 20th, the detachment attacked about 200 Chinese on the left bank of the Chi River, opposite Mingkuang. On January 25th, the detachment crossed the river in face of the enemy. At 2:30 o'clock the same afternoon, the detachment occupied Liangchiakang and resumed its northern drive.

The left wing of the Japanese force in this region on January 29th launched an attack on 3,000 Chinese soldiers who had taken up positions from Tahanchuang to Wangshan, and toward evening reached a point south of Tahanchuang and Jantengszu. In the engagement, the enemy lost about 1,000 men.

The centre of the Japanese force defeated about 2,000 Chinese troops which had established positions near Chiho station, and at 5:30 o'clock the same afternoon reached Wutien, 2 kilometres north-west of Chiho station, where it engaged fresh Chinese troops. The enemy left

about 800 dead, while the Japanese captured 16 machine-guns, 36 rifles and 300 hand-grenades.

The right wing of the Japanese force kept up its offensive on January 30th and defeated the Chinese troops near Jantengszu about noon, the same day. Toward evening, it advanced to Siweichuang, 2 kilometres north-west of Jantengszu and extended operations in a north-western direction. The Chinese troops confronting the Japanese in this sector totalled about 4,000. Dislodging the Chinese troops from their positions, the Japanese then reached a line connecting the Hsiaosui River (15 kilometres north-west of Mingkuang) and Siweichuang. The Chinese 172nd division confronted the Japanese in this sector.

The centre of the Japanese force was now extended from Panwutien to the highway to Fengyang via Chiho station. Part of the Japanese troops in this sector pushed west from Sanhochu (13 kilometres west of Chiho station) and occupied the line connecting Tsungchiapu (11 kilometres north-west of Chiho station), Sihungshan (4 kilometres north of Tsungchiapu) and an elevation west of Huanglienpa, after liquidating about 3,000 Chinese troops. The Japanese also routed some 700 enemy soldiers which had been advancing east in an area west of Chiho station. In the engagements the Chinese left about 700 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled about 40.

The Japanese troops which had been operating on the left sector passed through Yuankuochu (7 kilometres east of Changkuchu) at noon, January 29th, and kept up their northern drive. At 1 p.m., January 30th, they engaged at least 1,000 Chinese soldiers which had been marching southward in an area north of Tafanchia (5 kilometres north-west of Yunghsingchu) and drove them away. Toward evening, the Japanese troops occupied the line between Sanchihlipu (13 kilometres south-east of Tingyuan) and Laojenchang. About 500 Chinese troops guarded Laojenchang, but were routed, leaving about 30 dead.

The Soyeda detachment which had been pushing north along the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway occupied Lihwaikwan, a key position on the railway at 10 a.m., February 1st.

The Tashiro and Kurabayashi detachments which had been pursuing the enemy from Chiho station inflicted heavy losses on the retreating Chinese in cooperation with the Japanese air force. At 4 p.m., the same day, these detachments advanced near Kuokiangshan (6 kilometres south-east of Kuokiangchan), thus establishing a position favourable for an attack on Fengyang. Meanwhile the extreme left wing of the Japanese troops attacked Tingyuan.

In cooperation with the ground forces which gave fierce chase to the retreating Chinese troops, Japanese military air units were active from early in the morning of February 1st, inflicting heavy punishment on the enemy by showering them with bombs and machine-gun fire. The combined attacks from both the ground and air utterly demoralized the Chinese troops.

On February 2nd, part of the Tashiro and Kurabayashi detachments together with the Inakawa tank unit started an onslaught on Fengyang from Nanerhpu. At 11 a.m., the same day the detachments succeeded in

reducing Fengyang and at 12:30 o'clock occupied Pengpu on the Hwai River, halfway between Hsuchow, the junction of the Lunghai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways and Pukow, southern terminus of the latter line.

The Japanese military air force, in cooperation with the ground forces which had been battering Fengyang and Pengpu, attacked the Chinese positions on February 2nd, bombing and showering machine-gun fire on the retreating enemy. All planes returned to their base safely.

The Morosumi detachment which formed the left wing of the Japanese force and which had been attacking Tingyuan succeeded in reducing it at 9 a.m., February 2nd. The detachment followed up its victory by pursuing the enemy northward.

The Japanese troops successfully cleared the region south of the Hwai River of all Chinese troops by taking Sunchiaying on the right bank of the Hwai River (about 10 kilometres west of Pengpu) and Shangyao (about 40 kilometres south-west of Pengpu) on February 3rd.

Another Japanese detachment which occupied Yangchow, the entrance of the Grand Canal last December, started operations to eliminate Chinese troops from the regions north and north-west of Yangchow as well as near Yicheng.

II. Forces of the Imperial Navy in Action

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

(From January 3rd to February 6th)

THE Japanese fleet in China waters is maintaining a vigilant watch on all enemy actions. When Chinese troops perpetrated acts of vandalism against Japanese interests in Shantung and when Chinese planned to use Hainan Island as a base of operation, the Japanese fleet took prompt action.

Occupation of Tsingtao

The Imperial Navy has hitherto maintained a sympathetic attitude toward the Chinese in Shantung, which, however, has not been reciprocated by the Chinese troops. The latter not only strengthened their defence works in Shantung province, but carried out systematic vandalism against Japanese interests in the province, looting and destroying Japanese establishments at Tsingtao, Tsinan and other places. Unrest naturally prevailed among the citizens of Tsingtao who left the port town daily in increasingly large numbers. The Japanese fleet landed a marine force at Tsingtao early in the morning of January 10th in face of the enemy.

Meanwhile, several Japanese naval planes in cooperation with the marine force flew over Tsingtao and dropped hand bills, advising the Chinese authorities and troops to surrender peacefully. In pursuance of this advice, the enemy hoisted the white flag at the top of "Signal Hill" in Tsingtao. Thus the Japanese marine force occupied Tsingtao without meeting stiff opposition or sustaining any damage.

On January 11th, the Japanese marine force occupied the source of the water supply of Tsingtao at Litsun and the airfield at Tsangkow. The Japanese fleet immediately started operations for sweeping mines and removing booms in the outer and inner harbours of Tsingtao. Part of the waterway through the Great Harbour was already reopened by removing parts of the three Chinese gunboats Chuyu, Tungan, and Tinghai, each 300 tons, and six Chinese merchant-vessels of 3,000 tons each which were scuttled and sunk by the Chinese authorities to block the entrance to the Great Harbour of Tsingtao.

Peace and order are returning to Tsingtao, while Chinese citizens who fled are returning to the port town. Popular confidence is being restored with the firm control over the situation which is being maintained by the Imperial forces.

Occupation of Chefoo

Several Japanese warships entered Chefoo early in the morning of

February 3rd, and at 9:30 o'clock the same morning a marine force was landed without meeting any resistance. No Chinese soldier was to be seen in Chefoo and the surrounding district. Without firing a single shot and without losing a single sailor, the marine force occupied the city. At noon, the same day, the marine force occupied the forts on West Hill and East Hill which dominate Chefoo.

In cooperation with the Japanese military force which had reached Chefoo previously, the marine force undertook maintenance of peace and order in the trading port, occupying all Chinese governmental machinery, including the custom-house, the headquarters of the Chinese garrison and the Chinese police force.

Destruction of Enemy Positions at Yulin

The Japanese naval unit patrolling South China waters gave attention for some time to Yulin Port in the southern part of Hainan Island, which the unit suspected was being used by Chinese junks as base of smuggling operations. At 8:30 o'clock in the morning of January 19th, a Japanese warship entered Yulin Port where, as the result of aerial reconnaissance, it was learned that a large number of Chinese junks were at anchor. The warship sent an inspection party to the shore in a vedette-boat and a cutter. While the two boats were proceeding toward the shore, they were fired on by Chinese troops hidden in bushes with machine-guns and rifles, whereupon they returned the fire. The Japanese warship also shelled the Chinese machine-gun emplacements, destroying the Chinese positions and putting the Chinese troops to rout. In the engagement, three members of the inspection party were slightly injured. As the result of the visit to the Port, the Japanese warship ascertained that forts were under construction round Yulin Port.

The Japanese Naval Air Force in China

During the period from January 3rd to February 7th, the Japanese Naval Air Force in China devoted particular attention to the Canton-Hankow Railway, over which the Chinese authorities had been making frantic efforts to transport to the interior the arms and ammunition imported through Hongkong. Chinese lines of communication throughout Kwantung province were successfully bombed.

Additionally, in North China Japanese naval planes participated in the reduction of Tsingtao and visited and bombed points along the Lunghai, Tientsin-Pukow and Shantung Railways including Haichow and Hsuchow. In central China naval air units visited Hankow and Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi province, in particular, where they bombed and destroyed enemy planes and air fields and took part successfully in several aerial engagements.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY

PRESS SECTION, WAR DEPARTMENT

ON the Shantung front, the Japanese forces succeeded in crossing the Yellow River and controlling the whole province of Shangtung except a small portion lying to the south. On the Honan and Shansi fronts, however, the Japanese troops had been awaiting an opportunity for some time to resume their drive, refraining from vigorous military operations. On February 11th, Empire Day, the Japanese forces launched a general offensive along the Peking-Hankow, the Tatung-Puchow and the Peking-Suiyuan Railways. Their fierce onslaughts resulted in driving more than 40 enemy divisions to the right bank of the Yellow River.

The Peking-Hankow Railway Front

The Japanese troops along the Peking-Hankow Railway had been taking a deserved rest for some time, but early in February they resumed operations in the area east of the railway. The Sakanishi detachment started from its base on the morning of February 7th. After defeating some 130 Chinese troops which had taken up positions in the suburbs of Nanlo at the southern extremity of Hopei Province, this unit stormed the walled city and occupied it at 5:10 o'clock that afternoon, after routing about 500 Chinese soldiers.

At 8 a.m., February 8th, the detachment drove further south and occupied Tsingfeng, after defeating 700 Chinese. The detachment continued its southern push and took Puyang on February 9th, after dispersing about 1,000 Chinese soldiers. At noon, February 11th, the detachment reached Liangmen. It succeeded in taking Changyuan at 11 a.m., February 13th.

The same detachment left Changyuan on the morning of February 15th and entered Fengkiu without meeting any resistance. The Chinese troops fled from Fengkiu toward evening. Hotly pursuing the enemy, the Sakanishi detachment took Yangwu, west of Fengkiu, the following evening. The unit then started a drive on Sinsiang to outflank the enemy.

[Map: Map showing the Japanese military campaigns in Suiyüan, Shansi, Hopei, Shensi and Honan Provinces after February 11, 1938]

The main body of the Japanese forces along the Peking-Hankow Railway, which had been standing by at Changteh in northern Honan Province started operations on February 10th and occupied Fengchiachiao, 12 kilometres southwest of Changteh, and Niangniangmiao, 4 kilometres southwest of Changteh, where they were deployed on the anniversary of the founding of the Japanese nation.

At dawn, February 11th, they started a general offensive on the enemy at Tangyin. Both Japanese artillery and air forces took part in the attack. The Japanese military air force flew in formation over the enemy positions and showered bombs while heavy artillery fire was concentrated on the enemy positions.

The Morita, Ishiguro and Toyama detachments led by tanks then started an advance on the enemy positions. Toward evening, the Japanese force on the right flank advanced from Fengchiachiao and reached Polo, about 10 kilometres south of Tangyin, while the right wing reached Erhshihlipu after reducing Weichiaying, 6 kilometres south of Changteh and the left wing reached the line connecting Kwanchuan (about 6 kilometres southeast of Tangyin), Szetaisze and Szetai.

The Toriya unit of the Japanese military air force on February 10th succeeded in blowing up part of the iron bridge on the Yellow River. On February 11th, the unit again penetrated far into the enemy positions and, defying enemy fire, blew up the iron bridge.

On February 12th, the Japanese forces kept up attacks on Tangyin. The troops on the right flank dislodged the enemy from a height south of Loyin (about 8 kilometres southwest of Ikowchen) and continued their southern drive. The right wing at 10 a.m. succeeded in reducing Tangyin and pursued the enemy toward Ikowchen, while the left wing at midnight, February 11th, cut off the southern retreat of the enemy at Lichu (8 kilometres south of Tangyin) and inflicted heavy losses on the Chinese. The left wing of the Japanese force continued its southward drive and reached the line connecting Hsiachuan (8 kilometres southwest of Ikowchen) with Sinchuan toward the evening of February 12th. The enemy apparently consisted of the 130th and 116th infantry divisions and the 9th cavalry division of the Chinese army under General Wan Fu-lin. The enemy left about 1,000 dead in the engagement on February 11th.

On February 13th, the Japanese forces gave close chase to the retreating Chinese troops. The Imada tank unit reached Chihsien at 11 a.m. and entered the walled town from the north gate, followed by infantry units. Toward evening, these detachments reached the line connecting Huangshantsun (about 16 kilometres southwest of

Chihsien), Hsiaochuang (about 8 kilometres south of Chihsien) and Sisan (about 8 kilometres southeast of Chihsien). The Toyama detachment which had been pursuing the enemy in the western mountainous region overtook about 6,000 Chinese soldiers near Tahutung (about 12 kilometres northwest of Chihsien) and dealt them a crushing blow.

The vanguard of the main body of the Japanese forces subsequently reached the line connecting Yinmahutung (16 kilometres north of Weihwei), Kanchuang and Takwanchuang. The Japanese launched a general onslaught on the enemy positions from Weihwei to Sinsiang on the morning of February 15th.

Toward evening, the following day, the main body of the Japanese forces occupied Weihsien, while the centre and left wings reached Howlikuo and Tungchangmen respectively. During the day the enemy suffered several thousands of casualties.

The Chinese troops were in full retreat. Several enemy columns were retreating west and southwest in the Shiuwu, Wuchih and Howkia areas, while in the Sinsiang district no Chinese soldier was to be seen. On February 16th, the Japanese forces started pursuit of the fleeing enemy along the entire front.

On February 17th, the Japanese left wing occupied Sinsiang without meeting stiff resistance. The Sakanishi detachment reached Hsiaokichen on the Peking-Hankow Railway at about noon.

The Japanese forces also started a drive on Hwaiking in two columns from Hweihsien on the afternoon of February 17th. The right column advanced on Hwaiking by way of Hweihsien, Shiuwu and Tsiaotsochen, while the left column also left Hweihsien for Hwaiking via Howkia and Shiuwu.

The pursuit was continued on February 18th. Toward evening on that day, the right column reached Wutsun (about 12 kilometres northeast of Shiuwu), while the left column started an attack on some 500 Chinese artillerymen which had taken up positions east of Shiuwu. The following day, both columns broke through the enemy positions. At about 4 p.m., the right column dislodged the enemy from Machieh (north of Taiwangchen), while the left column took Ningkuo. On February 20th, the right column occupied Poai, and the left column took a district east of Hwaiking.

On February 21st, the right column reached Shihpuli (8 kilometres west of Hwaiking), while the left column reduced Hwaiking and advanced further south. With the spectacular advance of the Japanese forces in northern Honan Province, peace maintenance commissions have been voluntarily formed by leading citizens at important towns, including Changyuan, Weihwei and Sinsiang.

The right column of the Japanese troops kept up its southern drive, by defeating the opposing enemy forces, and at 4 p.m., February 22nd, occupied Tsiyuan, while the left column at 11 o'clock the same morning reduced Menghsien. Later, the Japanese forces prepared for an attack on southern Shansi Province.

The Ishiguro detachment, on the evening of February 24th, successfully stormed the Chinese position near Takowtsun (about 24 kilometres north of Hwaiking). The Morita and Toyama detachments left Tsiyuan on February 25th for Wangwuchen (about 30 kilometres west of Tsiyuan).

On February 26th, the Ishiguro detachment entered Tsehchow, after defeating the enemy at Taping (3 kilometres north of Takowtsun) and Tientsingkwan. The following day, the detachment resumed its drive and entered Choutsun. On February 28th, this unit dislodged Chinese troops from the right bank of the Tsin River. On March 1st, the detachment advanced further and drove away the enemy from the area northwest of Yangcheng.

The Morita and Toyama detachments which pursued the enemy toward the west liquidated about 2,000 Chinese soldiers west of Wangwuchen on February 26th. Two days later, they reduced Hangku, and on March 1st reached Chiaosiehtsun (about 8 kilometres northwest of Yuanku).

The Japanese forces which had been standing by near Hantan on the Peking-Hankow Railway started operations on February 11th to purge the mountainous region west of the railway. The Japanese right wing left Hantan on February 11th for Wuan. The following day, at 3 p.m., this detachment drove west, passing through Tsungyi (about 8 kilometres west of Wuan).

The Kudo detachment met about 8,000 Chinese at Wuan at about 11 a.m., February 11th, and dealt them a crushing blow.

On February 14th, the right column reached Howchai and subsequently advanced on a district north of Shehsien. After defeating the enemy east of Shehsien, the detachment reached Honantien (2 kilometres southwest of Shehsien).

On February 15th, the Kudo detachment encountered and defeated the Chinese 130th infantry division and the 4th cavalry division east of Shehsien. Toward evening the detachment reached a district west of Shehsien. The Japanese right wing also reached a point north of Shehsien, after dealing successfully with the enemy on the way. On February 16th, the Japanese started a drive on Tungyangkwan on the southwestern border of Shansi Province. On February 17th, the vanguard and right wing of the Japanese troops dislodged the enemy from Tungyangkwan by surrounding them.

Pursuing the retreating Chinese, they penetrated southern Shansi Province and took Licheng toward evening, the same day. The enemy then fled toward Luan.

The Chinese left about 100 dead in the engagement at Tungyangkwan, while the Japanese losses totalled only 5 killed and 88 wounded. The Japanese captured about 1,000 hand grenades, several thousand rounds of ammunition and a large number of trench-mortar shells, and also took over 50 Chinese soldiers prisoner. On February 18th, the Japanese started a drive on Lucheng, after dislodging the Chinese troops from the right bank of the Chang River.

On February 19th, they drove away the enemy from Lucheng and kept up their westward drive. About midnight, the same day, they successfully stormed Luan from which the enemy fled, leaving about 500 dead.

The Japanese vanguard, on the morning of February 20th, succeeded in clearing Luan of the remnants of the Chinese troops and immediately prepared for a continued southern drive.

On February 21st, the right column took Tunliu (30 kilometres northwest of Luan). On February 24th, it advanced northeast and reduced Siānyuan.

The Shansi Front

The Japanese forces which had been standing by south of Taiyuan, capital of Shansi Province, resumed their southern push on February 11th, Empire Day, in cooperation with the troops along the Peking-Hankow Railway which also became active about that time. The Japanese vanguard on February 13th reduced Pingyao, from which the enemy fled, leaving about 1,500 dead. On the afternoon of February 16th, this force entered Chiehhsiu.

The right column of the Japanese troops together with a cavalry force advanced on a district northeast of Siaoyi on the morning of February 16th and took it. In the engagement at Siaoyi, the Japanese routed about 1,500 soldiers of the Chinese 71st infantry division and about 300 of the Chinese cavalry. The Japanese casualty list included only 1 killed and 3 wounded, while the enemy left about 550 dead. The Japanese capture included about 100 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.

On the morning of February 17th, the column resumed its advance and at 1 o'clock that afternoon took Paipikwan (about 8 kilometres northwest of Siaoyi). Toward evening, the column encountered about 600 Chinese soldiers at a point 16 kilometres north

of Siaoyi and dealt them a crushing blow. The southern drive was maintained the following day. And on February 19th, the Japanese right column made a drive on Shihkowchen and Chuangchihchen.

The Imperial vanguard which reached Chiehhsiu sent a detachment to Tsingshengchen on February 18th. This detachment, after dispersing some 500 Chinese soldiers there, reconnoitred enemy positions at Lingshih preparatory to attacking them.

Part of the Japanese right column encountered about 1,300 Chinese soldiers on February 20th and defeated them. Toward evening, the Japanese faced the enemy positions northeast of Shikowchen where about 3,000 of the enemy were entrenched.

The main body of the right column, after defeating the enemy near Chuangchichen, reached a district east of Shihkowchen toward evening, February 20th. The following day, it dislodged about 4,000 Chinese from their positions east of Chuankowchen and entered Shihkowchen at 8 p.m., by defeating about 2,000 Chinese troops which had been retreating. On the Japanese side 15 were killed and 46 wounded, while the enemy left about 1,000 dead.

On February 23rd, the main body of the Japanese forces launched an attack on the enemy positions near Lingshih, while the Japanese left wing reached the northern side of Hwoshihtsun (12 kilometres southeast of Lingshih), by breaking through the enemy line of skirmish. The centre of the column advanced to Suitaochen (about 1 kilometre north of Lingshih), while the right wing was preparing to attack the enemy position at a point 16 kilometres southeast of Chuangchichen which formed the left wing of the enemy forces.

The Japanese right column on the morning of February 23rd pushed southwest from Shikowchen and attacked the enemy near Hsialitsun in the afternoon. The Chinese troops, strongly reinforced, attempted a counter-attack, but were repulsed with heavy losses by the Japanese forces.

On February 24th, the Japanese forces battered the enemy position north of Sihsien, which they reduced two days later.

The right wing of the main Japanese forces, at about noon, February 24th, reached Wangyu (some 12 kilometres northwest of Fensi); the centre advanced to Suitaochen and its eastern district and the left wing reached a district north of Hwokowtsun. The enemy offered stiff resistance. At dawn on February 24th, one enemy division counter-attacked the right flank of the Japanese right wing. Taking advantage of this manœuvre, the Japanese right wing greeted the enemy with a fierce counter-offensive and repelled them with heavy losses. The situation before the Japanese main body steadily developed in favour of the Imperial forces who outflanked

the enemy left wing by cutting off their retreat on February 25th. The Japanese entered Jenyichen on the afternoon of February 25th. The enemy facing the Japanese main body apparently was composed of the Chinese 11th division.

On February 26th, the Japanese main body made a drive on Hwohsien, after defeating the enemy who had been offering stubborn resistance in the district south of Jenyichen. The Japanese forces along the whole front gave hot chase to the retreating enemy on February 27th. The following day, the right column took Wucheng, while the right wing together with a cavalry force advanced to a district southwest of Linfen.

Japanese troops which had been purging the Tahsing mountain range now turned their attention to Linfen. On February 22nd, one unit started an advance on Linfen along the highway from Luan to Linfen via Fucheng, which stands 60 kilometres west of Luan. The same afternoon, the detachment reached Paotien (8 kilometres southwest of Tunliu) and on the following day, advanced to Pienchai (about 30 kilometres west of Paotien). After routing the enemy near Poti (some 8 kilometres west of Fucheng), the detachment reduced Tsingpoyen (25 kilometres west of Fucheng) on February 26th. The following afternoon, this unit succeeded in occupying Linfen on the Tatung-Puchow Railway, about 200 kilometres southwest of Taiyuan.

Meanwhile the vanguard of the Japanese forces which had been pushing southwest from Taiyuan took Wenshui on the evening of February 15th. The following evening, it advanced to a district northeast of Fenyang. The enemy left about 500 dead in the engagement near Wenshui.

The Sasaki detachment at 5 p.m., February 16th occupied Tungshechen, a mountainous district north of Wenshui, after defeating some 700 Chinese soldiers. The enemy left about 100 dead.

The Japanese vanguard started an attack on Fenyang early on the morning of February 17th and reduced it at noon.

On February 23rd, the Sasaki detachment started a drive on Shangmachai (12 kilometres north of Wuchengchen); the Nagasawa detachment advanced on Wuchengchen and Japanese cavalry and other units advanced on Chungyang. They started concerted attacks on Lishih and Chungyang on February 24th and reduced them the same evening. On February 27th, they pushed further west and succeeded in taking Tsikowchen and Chuntu, two important border towns, thus driving the Chinese troops into Shensi Province across the Yellow River which forms the border between Shansi and Shensi Provinces.

The Senda and Iwada detachments which started a clean-up campaign against the remnants of the Chinese troops in northwestern Shansi Province left Shohhsien on February 23rd for Shenchih and Ningwu, defeating Chinese troops on the way. The Kunomura detachment left Tsingpingchen (25 kilometres northwest of Shohhsien) on February 24th for Laoyingpu.

The Senda detachment occupied Shenshih on the evening of February 24th, while the Iwata detachment took Tienerhshang (about 30 kilometres west of Ningwu) and the Kunomura detachment reduced Naihopu. Another Japanese detachment took Tsingshuiho on the evening of February 23rd.

On February 26th, the Kunomura detachment occupied Laoyingpu, while the Senda and Iwata detachments took Sanchapu. On February 28th, the latter reduced Pienkwan and Paoteh on the Yellow River. The Senda detachment overcame about 1,000 Chinese soldiers which attempted to flee into Shensi Province, by crossing the Yellow River at dawn on March 2nd.

The Peking-Suiyuan Railway Front

Some 2,000 Chinese troops which had taken up positions in the neighbourhood of Anpei, northwest of Paotow, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway on February 9th attacked the Mongol troops at Shachikow, northwest of Paotow, but were repelled by the Mongols with heavy losses.

About 1,000 of the Chinese troops under General Ma Chan-shan which had established positions on the southern bank of the Yellow River in an attempt to recover Suiyuan Province crossed that river on February 9th and attacked Salatsi, half-way between Paotow and Suiyuan, but were repulsed by the combined forces of the Japanese garrison and Mongol troops.

The Chinese Communist troops which had been infesting the Hunyuan district southeast of Tatung staged attacks repeatedly on Hunyuan and Lingkiu in cooperation with the Chinese force near Lingkiu on February 10th, but were repelled by the Japanese troops. Their numerical strength is fast dwindling as a result of the successful Japanese expedition.

The Tientsin-Pukow Railway Front

Repair work on the Shantung Railway which had been in progress since last December has been completed. The section between Tsochan and Chuliutien which was severely molested by the Chinese troops was successfully repaired by the Kimura engineering detachment

on February 10th. Service on the Shantung Railway, 393 kilometres in length, between Tsinan and Tsingtao was re-opened on February 11th.

At 8 a.m., February 11th, a 16-car train left Tsinan for Tsingtao, while another train left Tsingtao for Tsinan about the same time. The management of the Shantung Railway is entrusted to the South Manchuria Railway Company, as a temporary measure. Three services daily are now maintained on this line.

Meanwhile, construction of a temporary bridge on the Yellow River was completed by the Kimura engineering detachment on February 9th. With befitting ceremonies the bridge was dedicated on February 11th. At 11:14 o'clock, the same morning, a train left the northern bank of the Yellow River and arrived at Tsinan at noon, after crossing the temporary bridge.

A temporary bridge over the Tawen River on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway was also completed on February 9th. The bridge was dedicated on February 11th, when a train which left Tsinan at 8:40 a.m. duly arrived at Tsining.

Thus both the Tientsin-Pukow and Shantung Railways which were seriously damaged by the Chinese troops were repaired and re-opened to traffic, reviving this important artery of communication to normal functioning.

Part of the Yamada detachment which left Tsingtao by several large motor-boats at 5:30 a.m., February 12th, for Hwangtao (Yellow Island) west of Tsingtao landed on the island and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition concealed in Yentanchuang and other villages.

On the afternoon of February 15th, about 300 of the enemy launched a counter-attack on Szechui northeast of Kufu, the birth place of the great Chinese Saint Confucius, but were easily repelled by the Japanese garrison.

A Chinese regiment belonging to the 125th division of the Szechuan Army counter-attacked the Japanese position at Yuhsiatien south of Tsohsien on the afternoon of February 14th, but was repulsed. The enemy fled southward.

A large Chinese force, some three divisions strong, surrounded Tsining on February 14th, but was driven back by the Japanese garrison after severe fighting.

At 4:30 o'clock, February 13th, another large Chinese force attacked the Japanese position at Wenshang, 40 kilometres north of Tsining, but was repulsed by the Numada and Fukuei detachments with heavy punishment. The fighting lasted till the next dawn.

On the same day "Red Spear" bandits attacked Changtsing, but were driven back by the Akashiba detachment.

The Nagano detachment, after successfully purging the districts northwest of Tsining, started an attack on the enemy on the eastern bank of the Grand Canal near Tachangkow on the morning of February 18th. This unit inflicted a crushing blow to the 22nd division of the Shantung Army by February 18th. The main body of the detachment then entered Tsining.

A powerful Chinese force approached the southeastern salient of Tsining at midnight, February 17th, when severe fighting ensued. The Numada detachment, after driving back the enemy, began pursuit of the retreating enemy in a southwestern direction at 11 a.m., February 19th. Toward evening, the detachment occupied Anchuchen, after defeating about 300 Chinese soldiers armed with trench-mortars. The left column of the Japanese force took Sichengchiao, by defeating about 500 Chinese troops likewise armed with trench-mortars. The following day, pursuit was continued and the Japanese dislodged the enemy from Hsiaoliu west of Anchuchen on February 22nd.

Part of the Nakaye detachment which had been standing by near Tsohsien occupied Hsiakanpi, by dispersing about 2,000 Chinese soldiers south of Sihsiatien during the afternoon and night of February 17th.

The Chinese troops belonged to the 125th division. Another part of the Japanese detachment, on February 19th, cleared Shichiang, South-west of Tsohsien, of the remnants of Chinese troops.

The Kuwada detachment also succeeded in dislodging some 2,000 Chinese soldiers which belonged to the 39th division from Hsiaoliu east of Szechui.

The Japanese forces which had succeeded in purging the Shantung Railway of the remnants of the Chinese army then started a drive southward.

The Okamoto detachment started a southward drive from Chiangku, while the Katano detachment occupied Chuhsien, a key town in southeastern Shantung Province on February 22nd. Together they launched a converging movement on Ichow.

The Japanese forces operating in Anhwei Province were standing by after occupying Pengpu and Hwaiyuan, important towns in the southern sector of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway. They resumed operations on February 11th and crossed the Hwai River. All key points on the northern bank of the river are now in Japanese hands. Japanese forces now control that river which forms an important waterway between the Yellow River and the Yangtze.

Simultaneously, the Japanese troops which were pushing south along the northern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway succeeded in reducing Kiasiang, a strategically important town west of Tsining.

Activities of the Japanese Military Air Force

In cooperation with the swift Japanese military operations which have taken place along the Peking-Hankow Railway since the resumption of the offensive by the Japanese forces in Shansi, Honan and Shantung Provinces, the Japanese Military Air Force has been active, attacking the Chinese military establishments and troop concentrations in Shansi Province and also along the Yellow River.

At 3 p.m., February 18th, Chinese troops were routed from the line between Sinsiang and Howkia in Honan Province. They were overtaken by the Sonoda unit of the Japanese Military Air Force on the highway from Siuwu to Hwaiking via Wuchih and subjected to a severe attack. The enemy suffered heavy losses. Several hundred Chinese troops which attempted to cross the Yellow River to Szeshui on the southern bank were also bombed and subjected to machine-gun fire from Japanese military planes.

The Akita unit of the Japanese Military Air Force at 10:40 a.m., February 18th, met 8 Chinese heavy bombers flying northward over Sinsiang and gave chase to them, which, however, succeeded in escaping, over Tzehsien. The Akita unit consisted of three planes. The same day a military air unit dropped bombs on the railway bridge on the Yellow River, of which 4 took effect.

The Toriya, Shimada and Sonoda air units during February 19th attacked Chinese troop concentrations fleeing into the mountainous region of Shansi Province from the Peking-Hankow Railway zone before the fierce onslaught of the Japanese ground forces.

That morning, the Toriya and Shimada units visited Yushe (40 kilometres southeast of Pingyao), Liaohsien (32 kilometres east of Yushe), Shenhsien (about 40 kilometres southwest of Yushe), Shenyuan (28 kilometres southwest of Shenhsien) and Changtze (about 24 kilometres west of Luan) and bombed the Chinese military establishments and troop concentrations there. In the afternon, they bombed a large Chinese troop concentration at Tunliu.

On the afternoon of February 19th, several planes of the Sonoda unit attacked about 600 Chinese troops which attempted to escape to Szeshui on the southern bank of the Yellow River.

Several planes of the Shimada unit resumed their attacks on Shenyusu and Yushe at 11:30 a.m., February 20th. Two divisions of Chinese troops which were concentrated at Yushe on that day

were almost wiped out. The Chinese Communist troops had been establishing bases of operations at Shenyuan and Yushe.

At 9:40 a.m., February 20th, when a Japanese Military Air Force was attacking the mountainous region in Shansi Province, a machine piloted by Lieutenant Kiyoshi Komine had its propeller pierced by an enemy bullet. The machine with the lieutenant and his two men crashed into the enemy position. All were killed.

On February 20th, the Toriya unit attacked a large Chinese troop concentration at Kaoping in Shansi Province inflicting heavy losses.

On the afternoon of February 21st, the Sonoda air unit visited Szeshui and Kunghsien on the Lunghai Railway and bombed railway stations and military establishments. About 120 cars loaded with munitions were destroyed. The Shimaya unit visited Yangcheng in southern Shansi Province and Tuantzechen (north of Yangcheng) and attacked a large concentration of Chinese troops, inflicting heavy damage. On the same day, the Yamase unit visited Yushe and bombed the enemy positions there, while another Japanese military air unit raided Sihsien.

At 1:40 p.m., February 23rd, a military air unit visited Chungyang and Lishih in western Shansi Province and attacked the enemy positions there successfully.

Activities of the Japanese Military Air Force have not been spectacular, but its cooperation with the ground forces has been of decisive merit.

II. FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

The Naval Air Force in China

CONTINUED operation of the Canton-Hankow Railway now remains as the only hope for the Chiang Kai-shek administration which is obsessed with the idea of long-term hostilities against Japan. Under these circumstances, it is only natural that the Japanese Naval Air Force should pay particular attention to the Canton-Hankow Railway which it is attacking almost daily. The following is an outline of the activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force from February 8th to February 27th.

The South China Front

The Japanese Naval Air Force concentrated its activities on the key points along the Canton-Hankow Railway with Canton in the centre.

Niuwan, Kungyifow, Taishan and other important points on the Sunning Railway were attacked by Japanese naval air units, which also bombed Wangkianghu, Samshui, Sinenchen and other important points on the Canton-Samshui Railway.

Tungkun, Kumha, Fuyung, Changping, Tangmei, Pitsun, Sintang, Sheklung, Wangsha, Shekku, Tangtao, Shahu, Lungtao, Yangniu, Changmutao, Paishi, Tutang, Lintsun, Tsitsun and Tientangwei on the Canton-Kowloon Railway also received the attention of the Japanese naval planes which bombed them from time to time.

The Japanese Naval Air Force almost daily visited Sanhuatien, Yingtak, Wushek, Sinkai, Yinchanyao, Shakow, Litung, Yangtsunhu, Kongtsun, Siuchow, Chuntien, Hotow, Lienkonghow, Lungtan, Pakonghow, Shektsing and other important points on the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked Chinese military establishments, including railway bridges and military barracks. It also repeatedly bombed the airfields at Tienho and Pakwan near Canton as well as the Bocca Tigris and Chuanpi Forts.

The airfields at Amoy, Changchow and Nanyang in Fukien Province were attacked by Japanese air units on February 24th. The Japanese raiders destroyed 4 hangars and 4 aeroplanes on the ground

at Nanyung in addition to 8 Chinese planes which they succeeded in bringing down in an air duel.

On February 25th, several Japanese naval planes visited Kienow in Fukien Province and Wuchow in Kwangsi Province and effectively bombed the airfields there.

On February 26th, the Japanese Naval Air Force visited Lungyen in Fukien Province and bombed the airfield, destroying three hangars. On February 26th and 27th, it raided Nancheng in Kiangsi Province and bombed the local airfield, destroying three hangars and one aeroplane on the ground.

The Central China Front

The Japanese Naval Air Force devoted its attention to those towns in Central China where governmental offices of the Chiang Kai-shek Administration are now established.

Ichang, an important town in Hupei Province was raided by Japanese naval planes on February 8th, 17th and 21st. Two hangars, several depots and military barracks were destroyed in addition to 14 aeroplanes which were bombed and burned.

Hankow was also raided on February 8th and 18th. Two blocks of buildings were destroyed at the Hanyang Arsenal, while 6 aeroplanes were destroyed at the airfield which was severely damaged by Japanese bombs. In ensuing air duels, the Japanese raiders shot down 19 Chinese planes.

On February 9th, the Japanese Naval Air Force visited Siangyang in Hupei Province and brought down 5 Chinese planes besides another 2 which were destroyed on the ground.

The same day, Changsha was raided for the first time with the result that a hangar and 2 planes on the ground were destroyed. On February 17th, the Japanese Naval Air Force revisited Changsha and destroyed 2 more planes on the ground.

On February 18th, the Japanese Naval Air Force visited Chungking in Szechuan Province and effectively bombed the airfield and military barracks there.

Prompted by the desire to reorganize its shattered air force, the Hankow Government has been constructing new airfields at various points; a new airfield was established at Nanchang.

On February 25th, the Japanese Air Force raided Nanchang and shot down no less than 39 Chinese planes which challenged the Japanese raiders. Additionally, 5 hangars, 1 factory and 2 military barracks were destroyed.

On February 9th, several Japanese naval planes visited Siangyang

in Hupei Province and brought down 5 Chinese planes in addition to 2 which were destroyed on the ground.

The Japanese Naval Air Force visited Lishui in Chekiang Province on February 8th, 24th, and 25th and bombed the airfield there, destroying hangars and military barracks in addition to one aeroplane on the ground.

Kian in Kiangsi Province was also raided on February 21st and 23rd, with the result that 8 planes on the ground were destroyed, while Chuchow in Chekiang Province was raided on February 24th, 25th and 26th severely damaging its airfield. One plane on the ground was bombed and destroyed.

The Japanese Naval Air Force also visited Nanyang in Kwangsi Province, Changshuchen, Yushan and Wenchow in Kiangsi Province during February and successfully bombed the airfields there.

Likewise during the month of January did the Japanese Naval Air Force conduct numerous expeditionary flights in South and Central China. The following gives details concerning these flights during the period between January 3rd and February 6th.

January 3rd The North China front: Japanese naval planes reconnoitred Hsuchow, the junction of the Lunghai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways and bombed the Chinese military establishments at Hsuchow and several points on the Lunghai Railway.

The South China front: Japanese naval planes attacked the Bocca Tigris Fort and the highway leading to the fort.

January 4th The North China front: Japanese naval planes reconnoitred and attacked the Hsuchow district.

The Central China front: A large Japanese air force flying in formation visited Hankow and shot down 4 Chinese planes in aerial combat. The Japanese raiders bombed and destroyed 14 planes on the ground and damaged three more.

The South China front: Japanese naval planes visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the tracks near Laitung.

January 5th The North China front: In addition to reconnoitring over Laoshan Bay, Japanese naval planes visited Chucheng and Chuhsien and bombed Chinese troop concentrations and military establishments there.

The South China front: A Japanese naval unit visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the tracks and a locomotive near Laitung.

January 6th The Central China front: A large Japanese naval force again visited Hankow and Wuchang and attacked the airfields there. The Japanese raiders bombed and destroyed 14 Chinese planes on the ground and two hangars in addition to damaging several more planes. They sighted one Chinese plane between Hankow and Wuchang and gave chase to it. However, taking advantage of the poor visibility then prevailing, it managed to escape.

The South China Front: A Japanese air unit visited Laitung on the Canton-Hankow Railway.

January 7th The Central China front: Japanese planes flying in formation visited Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province and brought down 5 out of about 10 Chinese planes in the air. On the way back two Japanese naval planes met over a dozen Chinese combat planes, and in the ensuing air duel shot down 3 of them, but one of the two Japanese planes was lost. The Japanese unit bombed and destroyed 10 out of more than 20 Chinese planes on the ground and damaged several more. One hangar was burned.

January 8th The South China front: The Japanese Naval Air Force twice visited Nanning in southwestern Kwangsi Province. In the morning raid, the Japanese effectively bombed the cadet school building and several buildings adjacent to the airfield, of which four were burned and two more destroyed. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders brought down 2 Chinese challengers. In the afternoon raid, the Japanese burned two buildings, destroyed two others and shot down 4 Chinese planes.

A Japanese naval air unit also visited Laitung on the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the tracks and a troop train there.

January 9th The Central China front: Several Japanese naval planes raided Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, shooting down one Chinese plane and bombing 3 on the ground. The Japanese raiders also attacked and damaged three hangars and the aeronautical school building.

The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Nanning in southwestern Kwangsi Province in the afternoon, bombed 3 Chinese planes on the ground and destroyed one hangar in addition to damaging several other buildings as well as the airfield.

A Japanese naval air unit visited Laitung on the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked a freight train near there.

Another naval air unit visited Bocca Tigris and attacked Chinese lines of communication.

January 10th The North China front: The naval air force participated in the reduction of Tsingtao and attacked the remnants of the Chinese troops at Chucheng and Liangchengchu as well as along the Shantung Railway and in the suburbs of Tsingtao, including Litsunliuting and Tsimo.

The Central China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Yushan, Chuchow, and Nancheng and attacked the Chinese airfields there.

The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit raided Chuntien and Lienkonghow and attacked the Chinese line of communication there.

January 11th The North China front: Japanese naval air units visited Haichow, eastern terminus of the Lunghai Railway, and bombed an engine-shed and an army depot there. They also attacked Chinese troop concentrations between Kiaochow and Chucheng as well as between Chucheng and Kaomi.

The Central China front: A Japanese air force visited Hankow and bombed 6 Chinese planes on the ground. The raiders also damaged 5 other planes on the ground and destroyed a hangar. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese fliers. On the way back, the raiders sighted 3 Chinese planes near Wuhu and shot down one of them after a hard chase.

The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed military establishments along the line.

Janiary [sic] 12th The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Shantung Province and attacked Chinese troop concentrations between Jihchao and Chuhsien as well as between Linyi and Hankow.

The Central China front: A Japanese naval air force visited Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, in formation and bombed and destroyed four main buildings of the aeronautical school there together with five hangars and three annexes. The Japanese raiders, not challenged by any Chinese planes, bombed several machines on the ground.

The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Yintak in Kwangtung Province and attacked the Chinese line of communication south of it. The also bombed the railway tracks near Chuntien.

January 13th The South China front: Japanese naval air units visited Chuntien, Shakow and Yintak and attacked freight trains and locomotives and destroyed railway tracks between Shakow and Yintak.

January 14th The South China front: The Japanese Naval Air Force resumed activities over Kwangtung Province, devoting particular attention to the Canton-Hankow Railway. The Japanese raiders bombed freight cars and locomotives between Chuntien and Kongtsun, cars between Yinchanyao and Sinkai and railway bridges and tracks between Shiuchow and Shakow.

January 15th The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit reconnoitered the area between Tsimo and Kaomi, but failed to sight Chinese soldiers.

The Central China front: The Japanese Naval Air Force again visited Nanchang and bombed the airfield there, which together with its aeronautical school was completely wrecked by the repeated Japanese air attacks. The Japanese raiders also visited Siaokan and bombed the railway station north of it.

The South China front: Several Japanese air units visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed freight trains between Chuntien and Kongtsun, one at Wongsha and freight trains between Kongtsun and Pakonghow.

January 16th The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Yuantan and Yinchanyao on the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed Chinese military establishments.

January 17th The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Kowtan on the Canton-Hankow Railway, bombing the Chinese military lines of communication near there.

January 18th The South China front: Braving foul weather, the Japanese Naval Air Force visited various important points along the Canton-Hankow Railway including Kowtan, Sinkai and Sanhuatien and bombed locomotives and freight cars.

January 19th The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Haichow and bombed the Chinese military barracks there as well as the railway bridge west of Haichow.

The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes raided various important points along the Canton-Hankow Railway including Sinkai, Chuntien, Kowtan and Kumha, bombing troops trains and freight cars. A highway and bridges near Kumha were likewise bombed.

January 20th The North China front: Japanese naval planes visited Hsuchow, the junction of the Lunghai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways, and bombed a troop train west of that city.

The South China front: The Japanese naval air force again visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed Chinese military establishments at Chuntien, Kumha, Yangtsun, Yuantan and Yinchanyao along the railway.

January 21st The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Hsuchow and bombed the North Station. The unit also flew over Fangshanchen and bombed a military goods train and several locomotives there.

The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Kongtsun, Chuntong, Yangtsun and Lintsun in Kwangtung Province and bombed Chinese military establishments.

January 22nd The North China front: Japanese naval air units again visited Hsuchow and bombed two blocks of the Chinese military barracks there. They also bombed locomotives between Chuangchiachen and Chengtaochen as well as well as between Haichow and Lienyunchiang. Chinese troop concentrations between Sinanchen and Lichiachu were attacked.

The Central China front: A Japanese naval air unit raided Chuchow in Chekiang Province and bombed the airfield. It also attacked and destroyed Chinese machine-gun emplacements near the airfield which fired on the Japanese raiders.

The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit raided Nongshek and Yingka on the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed a north-bound freight train and military establishments.

January 23rd The North China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Hsuchow, Huangkow, Tangshan and Chuangchiachen and bombed engine-sheds, military barracks, freight cars, troop trains, troop concentrations and military motor-lorries.

The South China front: The Japanese Naval Air Force visited Wongshek, Sheklung, Kowtang, Tsomaying, Sinkai, Sanhuatien, Yuantan and Shakow and bombed military establishments.

January 24th The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Haichow.

The Central China front: Japanese planes visited Chuchow in Chekiang Province and Ningpo, bombing the airfields.

A Japanese air force flying in formation raided Ichang and bombed 16 out of about 30 Chinese planes on the ground which were burned, a hangar, a fuel depot and military barracks. One Chinese plane took the air but did not challenge the Japanese raiders.

The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Sinkai, Huangshih, Kowtang and Towshan and bombed military establishments. The Pokwan airfield near Canton was also bombed.

January 25th The South China front: Japanese naval air units visited various places, including Amoy where they bombed the airfield, hangars and the telegraph office; Haiteng, where they bombed 4 ships displaying Chinese naval ensigns, sinking 2 of them and wrecking one; Kongtsun where they bombed freight cars; Tienho where they bombed a large munitions factory; Whampoa where they bombed a depot for torpedo-boats; and Pakonghow where they bombed the military arsenal.

January 26th The Central China front: A squadron of 12 Chinese heavy bombers raided Nanking at about 10:15 o'clock in the morning. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese naval unit shot down one of them, but the others escaped, pursued by several Japanese planes, which succeeded in bringing down two more enemy planes. All three Chinese planes which were shot down were almost totally destroyed but it is established that they were of Soviet manufacture, while their pilots were Soviet citizens, as proved by their personal effects.

A Japanese naval air unit visited Chuchow in Chekiang Province and bombed the airfield there.

The South China front: The Japanese Naval Air Force visited various points along the Canton-Hankow Railway, including Laitung where it bombed the entrance to a railway tunnel; Wongshek, where it bombed a goods train and Shektsing where it bombed the military arsenal.

January 27th The Central China front: A large Japanese air force flying in formation visited Hankow and bombed over a dozen Chinese planes on the ground, destroying one large and 3 small planes together with a nearby hangar. No Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders, which, however, sighted a Chinese heavy bomber fleeing toward the west and brought it down, after chasing it for some time.

The Japanese Naval Air Force also raided Nanchang and engaged over a dozen Chinese combat planes which had taken the air. After a fierce aerial duel, the Japanese raiders shot down 7 Chinese planes. They also bombed and destroyed two hangars and three more Chinese planes on the ground.

A Japanese air unit visited Chuchow and attacked the airfield there.

The South China front: Japanese naval planes visited Laitung, Lienkonghow, Takengkow and Hsiaotungshang on the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed military establishments.

January 28th The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Yinchanyao, Kowtang, Laitung, Paknai and Pitsun on the Canton-Hankow Railway, bombing military establishments.

January 29th The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Haichow and bombed the airfield and military barracks there.

January 30th The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Canton and Whampoa and bombed various military establishments, including a topedo depot, and a mine depot.

January 31st The South China front: Japanese planes visited Samshui, Kumha and Pitsun and attacked military establishments.

February 1st Weather conditions were bad all over China, but several Japanese naval planes visited Yushan in Central China and bombed the airfield there. They also raided Ningpo, bombing the railway station.

February 2nd The South China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Amoy and attacked Hulisheh Fort and the Chinese position at Hungtsifeng. It also raided Changpin and bombed enemy lines of communication at that point.

February 3rd The South China front: Several Japanese naval air units raided various points in South China, including Kongtsun where they bombed a highway; Amoy where they bombed military establishments, including Hulisheh Fort and the Chinese position; Sanhuatien on the Canton-Hankow Railway where they bombed a railway bridge; Tsengshing where they bombed a highway and a bridge; Tungkun where they bombed a road and a bridge connecting with Sintang; Yuantan where they bombed a troop train; Wongshek where they bombed a troop train; Shekku and Lilang where they bombed lines of communication.

February 4th The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Bocca Tigris, Lunghua, Ahu, Tsengshing, Samshui and Tehching and bombed lines of communication including bridges. They also raided Swatow, Chaochow, Tsaitan and Chaoshan and bombed railway tracks and bridges. Military establishments at Pitsun, Shentsun, Tasuchen and Tailik were also attacked, as well as the track north of Chuntien on the Canton-Hankow Railway.

February 5th The North China front: A Japanese naval air unit visited Shihkiuso in Shantung Province.

The South China front: Several Japanese naval planes visited Canton, Bocca Tigris and Waichow and bombed highways and bridges. They also raided the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the military establishments at Kowtan, Pakkai, Tientang and Sheklung.

February 6th The Central China front: A Japanese naval air unit raided Lishui in Chekiang Province, 120 kilometres southeast of Chuchow, and effectively bombed the airfield there.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY

PRESS SECTION, WAR DEPARTMENT

AFTER dominating Shansi Province, Japanese military forces drove south to the northern bank of the Yellow River, where they have taken up positions for bombarding the Chinese military establishments along the Lung-Hai Railway, the last Chinese defence line.

A separate Japanese force, pushing south along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway with a view to effecting junction between the Japanese Armies in North and Central China, had, by March 19th, reached a point 40 kilometres north of Hsuchow, thus exposing it to direct menace from Japanese onslaughts.

The Tatung-Puchow Railway Front

The Japanese troops which had been driving south along the Tatung-Puchow Railway made preparations for a further southern push on March 1st. A Japanese cavalry force attacked Kuchengchen on that day, while the Japanese right column advanced on Siang-linghsien. The following day, the Japanese centre drove toward Chaokuchen with the vanguard attacking Mengchengchen while the main body of the Japanese forces was massed near Linfen. At 4 p.m., the same day, the Kanaoka detachment reduced Kuwo.

The Ishiguro detachment which reached Tsinshui, after advancing northwest from the northern bank of the Yellow River started operations in concert with the Japanese forces which drove south along the Tatung-Puchow Railway. This detachment advanced on Yicheng on March 4th and the following day reached Kuwo, which had been taken by the Kanaoka detachment on March 2nd.

The Morimoto unit swung to the western side of the Tatung-Puchow Railway and reached Howmachen on March 4th. The following day this detachment took Wensi. The vanguard of the unit immediately started a drive on Puchow.

The main body of the Japanese forces reached Niutuchen, 8 kilometres south of Itze on March 6th. The vanguard succeeded

in reducing Puchow, the southern terminus of the Tatung-Puchow Railway, by overcoming numerous obstacles in its long drive along the highway. The vanguard did not take a long rest at Puchow, but instead continued a southern push to the ferry-point on the northern bank of the Yellow River, opposite Tungkwan.

Thus the Kanaoka detachment, after repairing over one hundred points on the highway which had been destroyed by the retreating Chinese troops and overcoming various obstacles, succeeded in occupying Puchow, the key point in the southwestern extremity of Shansi Province. The following day this detachment took the ferry-point opposite Tungkwan. Japanese acquisitions at Puchow and at the latter point comprised about 100 locomotives and 400 goods waggons.

Taking up positions on the northern bank of the Yellow River, the Japanese artillery force made a three-day bombardment on Tungkwan, March 7th to March 9th, and destroyed the railway station, the engine-shed, rolling-stock and military establishments. Service on the Lung-Hai Railway was thus completely interrupted at Tungkwan.

The Toyama detachment, which had reached an area east of Wensi by advancing along the northern bank of the Yellow River and outflanking the Tatung-Puchow Railway with a view to cutting off the retreat of the enemy, sighted a large Chinese force retreating southward on March 3rd, on which it opened fire immediately. After routing the enemy, this detachment advanced on Wensi which it took on March 4th. The following day, the unit reached Anyi. On March 6th, it made a further advance and reduced Chiehhsien, from which it swung south and occupied Juicheng and Pinglu on March 8th. This detachment also bombarded the Chinese military establishments on the southern bank of the Yellow River. It destroyed a troop train and an armoured train at Hsiahsien Station on the Lung-Hai Railway on March 10th.

Meanwhile the Yasuda detachment had taken Wenhsien, southeast of Huaiching, to the west of the Peking-Hankow Railway. On March 9th, this detachment attacked Pingkao, about 10 kilometres east of Wenhsien, and wiped out about 1,000 Chinese soldiers. On March 3rd, the detachment bombarded Kunghsien on the southern bank of the Yellow River and destroyed the railway station and military establishments there in addition to about 150 small craft. On March 5th, the detachment shelled the railway station and troop concentrations near Fanshui, inflicting heavy losses on them.

On March 11th about 800 Chinese soldiers attacked Siuwu on the Taokow-Chinghua (Poai) Railway, but the Japanese guards repulsed

the attackers who fled, leaving about 400 dead.

About 7 o'clock on the morning of March 13th, some 600 Chinese soldiers attempted to cross to the northern bank of the Yellow River from Tungkwan, but were repulsed by the Japanese patrols on the northern bank.

The Shantung Front

The Japanese forces which had been standing by along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway started a southern drive on Chinese troops in the border region between Shantung and Kiangsu Provinces, in concert with the Japanese troops which had resumed activities in Shansi Province and also along the Peking-Hankow Railway.

The Fukuei detachment at about 7 a.m., March 14th, launched an attack on some 600 Chinese soldiers at a height west of Siachangpu and drove them away by noon. Part of this detachment made a drive on the Chieh River which had been guarded by the Chinese first line forces, consisting of the 127th and 122nd divisions. In cooperation with the Akashiba detachment, this detachment succeeded in reducing Chiehho Station at 5:30 p.m., the same day. The two Japanese detachments massed near the Chiehho Railway Station at dawn, March 15th, and advanced on an area east of Tenghsien. Part of the Akashiba unit occupied Tenghsien on March 17th, while its main body advanced further south round Tenghsien and reduced Lincheng, 32 kilometres south of Tenghsien at 5 p.m., March 17th.

On the afternoon of March 19th, the Japanese forces started a general attack on Hanchuang, and important town at the southern extremity of Shantung Province and reduced it without much difficulty. The distance from Hanchuang to Hsuchow, the junction of the Tientsin-Pukow and the Lung-Hai Railways, is only 40 kilometres. The enemy massed a large force along the Grand Canal and streams south of it, while fresh Chinese troops were continuously sent to this sector from Hsuchow.

The Japanese detachment which had been pursuing the enemy eastward along the Lincheng-Tsaochuang Railway succeeded in reducing Yihsien at 6:30 p.m., March 19th.

With the successive losses of Lincheng and Hanchuang, the Chinese forces at Hsuchow became seriously endangered. The enemy which had established positions at Peihsien on the opposite shore of Lake Weishan west of Lincheng started a flanking movement on March 22nd and approached Hsiachen, by crossing the lake in an attempt to recapture Lincheng. This did not escape the attention of the Japanese forces. The Nakadaira air unit attacked the enemy on

March 22nd and 23rd, inflicting heavy losses, while the Japanese ground forces forestalled the enemy and occupied Hsiachen on the afternoon of March 23rd. The bulk of the enemy was wiped out in its attempt to land on the shore of the lake, though a small part managed to flee northwestward.

At midnight, March 25th, the Chinese 110th division counter-attacked Hanchuang, but was repulsed.

The Fukuei detachment which took Yihsien left for the south along the Tsaochuang-Taierhchuang Railway at 9 a.m., March 23rd. After crushing some 500 Chinese soldiers near Nikow, this detachment launched an attack on Taierhchuang at about noon, March 24th. The numerical strength of the enemy at Taierhchuang at first was about 6,000, but it was steadily reinforced by fresh troops sent from the south.

The enemy at Taierhchuang, the important border town, offered stubborn resistance. The Japanese forces, however, in cooperation with the Nakadaira air unit, cleared the area round Taierhchuang of Chinese troops and on March 27th occupied the northwestern salient of the town. On March 29th, the Japanese occupied one-half of the town. By the evening of March 31st, the Japanese reduced three-quarters of the town. After sustained, fierce fighting in cooperation with the air force, Japanese troops occupied the south gate of the border town on April 3rd. The Chinese 31st division under General Sun Lien-chung suffered about 3,000 casualties.

The Akashiba detachment started from Yihsien at 5 a.m., March 30th, for Taierhchuang. After dispersing the enemy northwest of Taierhchuang by 9:30 o'clock the same morning, this detachment, in conjunction with the Fukuei unit, reduced Taierhchuang. It pursued the retreating enemy along the Grand Canal. On March 31st, part of the detachment maintained pursuit of the enemy, but its main body swung northeast of Taierhchuang. On April 1st, the unit reached an area southeast of Nikow and occupied Kwanchuang, 10 kilometres north of Taierhchuang, at 8 a.m., the same day. The following day, the detachment drove south along the area east of Taierhchuang.

A Japanese detachment which had been sent by the Japanese forces operating along the Lincheng-Tsaochuang Railway to participate in the general attack on Ichow (Linyi) reached Kuolichu, about 8 kilometres north of Yihsien, at 6:30 p.m., March 24th. This detachment occupied Tuchuang, 8 kilometres northeast of Kuolichu at 9:30 a.m., March 28th, after routing the Chinese troops which had taken up positions near Kuolichu.

Now Ichow had been guarded by General Chang Tze-chung with a large force, but its fate was sealed with the fall of Taierhchuang. Before the Japanese forces launched a general attack on Taierhchuang, they had taken every measure for securing the reduction of Ichow. A survey of the operations against Ichow may be of general interest.

The Katano detachment which had been pushing south in eastern Shantung Province routed about 8,000 Chinese soldiers belonging to the 38th and 180th divisions under General Chang Tze-chung, after four days of fighting from March 14th to March 17th in an area south and southwest of Tangtaochen. The enemy left about 3,000 dead in the engagement. From the evening of March 21st, this detachment pursued the enemy in an area southeast of Ichow on the left bank of the I River.

On March 21st, the detachment crossed the I River in the face of the enemy. On March 23rd, it took Tushutao. The following day, it reduced Taoyuan. This force kept up its southern drive and took Sankwanmiao, 4 kilometres northeast of Ichow at 11:30 a.m., March 25th.

Stubborn resistance was put forth against the Japanese attack by a powerful Chinese force at Ichow under Generals Pang Ping-hsun and Chang Tze-chung. The Japanese besieging force, after reducing the enemy positions on the northern side of Ichow, refrained from engaging the enemy in a frontal clash keeping but part of its strength to deal with them, while the other part of the Japanese force made a sudden appearance at a point halfway between Ichow and Yihsien. This Japanese force attacked Siangcheng, a key point between Ichow and Taierhchuang and reduced it at dawn, March 31st. It pursued the retreating enemy in a southwestern direction and reached the southern side of Lanlingchen, 25 kilometres northeast of Taierhchuang, on the evening of March 31st. Following a fierce onslaught launched the next morning, the Japanese reduced Lanlingchen at 2:30 p.m., April 1st. Several thousand Chinese soldiers fled in disorder toward the southeast.

Clean-up Campaigns in Districts Southwest of Taiyüan, Shansi Province

The Japanese garrison force at Puhsien, 48 kilometres northwest of Linfen, defeated some 6,000 Chinese soldiers moving northward in an area south of Puhsien on March 9th. The enemy left about 600 dead, while the Japanese capture comprised 16 machine-guns, 600 rifles and about 15,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Koito, Kobayashi and Suzuki detachments converged in the mountainous region in southwestern Shansi Province from the north, south and east. The Kobayashi detachment occupied Siangning, one of the bases of operations for the remnants of the Chinese troops at noon, March 19th, while the Koito detachment took Hoshangtang, 20 kilometres north of Chihsien at 10 o'clock the same morning and immediately started a drive on Chihsien.

At 4:30 a.m., March 20th, the Koito detachment reduced Chihsien, into which the Kobayashi detachment also entered at 2 o'clock the same afternoon.

The Koito detachment dealt a crushing blow to about 700 Chinese soldiers belonging to the 85th division at a point west of Puhsien on the afternoon of March 23rd.

The Suzuki detachment defeated about 1,000 communist troops near Wuchengchen on March 25th. This detachment followed up its victory by routing about 1,500 Chinese soldiers north of Taning. On March 30th, the detachment again defeated the Chinese 69th division which had established positions near Kuhsien, northwest of Puhsien.

The Japanese unit then advanced on Sihsien and on March 31st routed about 6,000 Chinese north of Sihsien. On April 1st, it kept up its northern drive in pursuit of the enemy.

The Japanese garrison force at Puhsien encountered, near Tsingkowchen west of Puhsien, about 2,000 Chinese soldiers which had been moving southward from Sihsien and dispersed them.

The Japanese force which had been standing by at Linfen left the place on March 3rd on an expedition against the Chinese troops which had taken up positions in mountainous regions. On the way to Luan on March 4th, this force encountered a large Chinese force near Chafang, 30 kilometres west of Fucheng, and dispersed it. The enemy left about 500 dead.

On March 6th, near Fuchengchen, this force again encountered about two divisions of Chinese troops which had been moving southward from the north and routed them after completely encircling them. The enemy left no less than 2,000 dead.

The Kawazu detachment which also started a southwestern drive from Linfen reached Fencheng on March 4th and Paishan on March 5th. The cavalry force of the detachment reached Hotsin on March 5th, after routing enemy forces on the way. This force further advanced and occupied Yumen at 8 p.m., March 5th, by defeating about 1,600 Chinese soldiers. The enemy which had taken up positions on the left bank of the Fen River retreated into the northern mountainous region.

Part of the Japanese force advanced north from Hotsin and repulsed the Chinese troops which staged a counter-attack north of Kuchen, 10 kilometres north of Hotsin. The enemy left about 500 dead.

The Kijima detachment which had been purging the region south of Paishan defeated about 1,000 Chinese south of Siajenchen at 1 a.m., March 11th. Again at 11:30 a.m., March 11th, this detachment defeated about 500 Chinese soldiers near Tungputsun and another 1,000 at a height north of Kuchan at 2 o'clock the same afternoon. The detachment then occupied the important town of Wanchuan. The enemy left about 800 dead in the three engagements, while the Japanese suffered few casualties.

In Northwestern Shansi Province

The Ozeki detachment, in cooperation with the main body of the Mongolian 5th cavalry division, occupied Pienkwan on the evening of March 2nd. The following morning they started a converging movement on Hoku, an important town at the northwestern extremity of Shansi Province, reducing it on March 6th. The enemy fled into Shensi Province, crossing the upper reaches of the Yellow River which forms the border between the two provinces. The enemy rallied at Machikow in Shensi Province 20 kilometres from Hoku, where it established a new base of operations. Early on the morning of March 10th, the Ishimaru and Ozeki detachments crossed the Yellow River into Shensi Province and secured the line between Siaochantsun and Tachantsun. In cooperation with the Kobayashi air unit, these two detachments continued their drive into Shensi Province and occupied the mountainous region between Hsuchia, Liangshu and Erchuan.

The Kunomura detachment which had pushed south from Santaoyen successfully stormed Chulutai on the afternoon of March 10th, while another Japanese detachment which took Pamienping on the afternoon of March 10th succeeded in reducing Machikow, the main enemy position, without meeting much resistance. The enemy made a full retreat in a southwestern direction toward Shenmu along the Great Wall.

Meanwhile, the Ichinomiya detachment which had been driving north from Kolan after defeating the main body of the enemy in northwestern Shansi Province encountered about 1,000 Chinese soldiers, comprising infantry and cavalry and communist units, at Santsingchen, about 20 kilometres southwest of Wuchai, on the evening of March 10th and defeated them after severe fighting. At

dawn the next morning, this detachment again engaged about 1,500 Chinese in a thick forest near by and repulsed them. The enemy left about 100 dead in the first engagement and another 100 dead in the second, while the Japanese sustained about 50 casualties.

The Senda detachment, which had reduced Paoteh in its campaign against the Chinese troops in northern Shansi Province, dealt a crushing blow to 1,000 Chinese soldiers which were retreating across the Yellow River west of Paoteh at dawn, March 2nd.

Part of this detachment also attacked Fuku in Shensi Province, while the main body drove 200 kilometres through a mountainous region to launch an onslaught against some 2,000 communist troops which had been infesting the Tungchai and Tachai districts southwest of Ningwu which is about 40 kilometres south of Shohsien. On the morning of March 12th, this detachment marched on Tungchai and inflicted a heavy blow on about 1,000 Communists armed with artillery. The enemy fled southward.

In Central Shansi Province

The Sasaki detachment which had been operating in central Shansi Province defeated about 4,000 Chinese soldiers south of Taiku on March 7th and 8th.

On March 19th, this detachment dealt heavy losses to some 2,000 Chinese soldiers in a mountainous region south of Taiku. Again on March 23rd, it defeated about 2,000 Chinese fighters consisting of Chinese regulars and Communists at a point 20 kilometres east of Taiku. On March 25th, the detachment again routed about 1,000 Chinese soldiers at a point about 15 kilometres east of Taiku. Another Japanese detachment dispersed, on March 9th, about 1,000 Chinese soldiers from an area southwest of Old Taiyüan.

The Japanese garrison force at Chungyang, 20 kilometres south of Lishih, had been surrounded by a large Chinese force since March 3rd, but succeeded in driving it away on March 7th.

The Matsui detachment, on March 21st, surprised about 2,000 Chinese soldiers belonging to the 19th Army which had been besieging Chungyang since March 16th and routed them.

In the Region Along the Northern Bank of the Yellow River

The Japanese garrison force at Wangyuchen, about 20 kilometres west of Tsiyüan, was counter-attacked by about 1,000 Chinese soldiers on March 21st, but succeeded in repulsing them the following

day. The enemy fighters belonged to the 132nd division and the 88th division.

The Japanese garrison force at Tsiyüan encountered Chinese troops near Miaowa, about 16 kilometres west of Tsiyüan on the afternoon of March 23rd and drove them away in the direction of the Yellow River.

The Japanese garrison force at Menghsien on March 22nd started operations against the 3,000 Chinese soldiers who had invaded an area west of Menghsien and defeated the enemy main body on the following day. The enemy comprised a mixture of Chinese regulars belonging to the 166th division and "Red Spear" bandits. The enemy left no less than 200 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled about 20.

The Japanese garrison force at Wenhsien early in the morning of March 23rd succeeded in defeating about 1,000 Chinese which had approached Wenhsien. The enemy fled eastward.

The Ishiguro detachment on March 28th dispersed some 500 Chinese soldiers belonging to the 95th division, south of Tsiaotso. The enemy left about 100 dead.

The same day, about 400 Chinese soldiers launched a counter-attack on Tsiaotso, but were repulsed by the Japanese garrison. The enemy left about 50 dead while the Japanese suffered no casualties.

The Yano detachment at dawn, March 22nd, surprised the enemy west of Fengkiu and dispersed them. The enemy left about 100 dead while the Japanese capture included 45 rifles, 3 light machine-guns and large quantities of ammunition and provisions.

On March 28th, the Ono detachment attacked Taokowchen reducing it at 1:20 o'clock the same afternoon. The enemy which belonged to the 89th division left about 300 dead.

Another Japanese detachment attacked Sunhsien on March 28th and dealt a crushing blow to the Chinese troops there.

The Yano detachment on March 25th attacked Changyuan and almost completely wiped out the Chinese troops there.

The Kasai detachment defeated Chinese troops at a point about 28 kilometres south of Puyang on March 23rd. The Japanese suffered no casualties, but the enemy left about 120 dead and 300 wounded.

The Japanese force which had been conducting an expedition against the Chinese troops under General Liu Ju-ming which crossed to the northern bank of the Yellow River and were infesting the region east of the Peking-Hankow Railway succeeded in reducing Puyang on April 1st and gave chase to the retreating enemy. The

enemy left about 800 dead. This Japanese force destroyed some 100 river boats at a ferry-point on the northern bank of the Yellow River southeast of Puyang.

On the Northern Bank of the Yangtze

The Satoh detachment, in cooperation with a naval force, landed near Fushan on the northern bank of the Yangtze River on March 17th. This detachment was so successful in effecting a surprise landing that the enemy had no chance to offer stiff resistance. The Chinese fled in a northern and eastern direction. The Japanese operations progressed so smoothly and favourably that Tungchow (Nantung), an important town on the northern bank of the Yangtze River was completely occupied at 7:20 o'clock the same morning. The enemy left about 40 dead, while the Japanese captured trench-mortars, machine-guns, rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.

This detachment resumed the chase and occupied Pingchaochen the same afternoon. At about 9 o'clock the next morning, the unit took Paipuchen. It then succeeded in dislodging the Chinese troops which had entrenched themselves in positions extending over 6 kilometres at Tingyenchen. The next morning it started a drive on Jukao, which it captured at 1 p.m.

Part of the Satoh detachment occupied Kutangchen at 10 p.m., March 20th, and took Kiangyenchen on the morning of March 21st. The other part of the detachment advanced north by waterway and occupied Fuan at 1 p.m., March 21st, by routing some 400 Chinese soldiers armed with 4 heavy machine-guns. On the evening of March 25th, the detachment occupied Tungtai, about 35 kilometres northwest of Haianchen.

The Tanigawa detachment, in cooperation with a naval force, started landing on Tsungming Island off the mouth of the Yangtze River at 5:30 a.m., March 18th, and occupied Tsungming, capital of the island, without meeting any resistance at 10 o'clock the same morning. This island was soon completely occupied by the Japanese force. With the occupation of Tsungming Island and Tungchow (Nantung), the Japanese have succeeded in safeguarding navigation on the estuary of the Yangtze.

Clean-up Campaign in Central China

The Chinese military authorities have been resorting to costly counter-attacks or promoting loose guerilla warfare, actuated by the desire to divide the Japanese forces which are now driving north

on Hsuchow along the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, or to distract their attention.

Recently the Chinese military authorities have resorted to another move, this time for disturbing the rear of the Japanese Army in Central China. Chinese troops, about two divisions strong, invaded the region between Wuhu and Hangchow, whereupon the Japanese forces from about March 15th started a converging movement against the invaders. The Japanese started an encircling movement on the Chinese from Huchow, Hangchow, Wuhu, Wushih and Kintan.

The Kawanami, Takamori, and Hoshi detachments on March 13th started to eliminate the Chinese invaders from the region west and east of Lake Changtang south of Kintan.

Simultaneously, the Ishii, Tagami and Takeda detachments began a clean-up campaign against the Chinese troops between Lakes Tai and Hur southwest of Wushih.

On March 12th, part of the Ishii detachment in cooperation with a naval force defeated the Chinese troops on Machishan Island, which was cleared of all Chinese troops the next day. On March 15th, the detachment gave chase to the enemy which had fled to Wufengshan and Situngtingshan.

The Ishii and Tagami detachments attacked the enemy near Hochiaochen, about 32 kilometres south of Changhow at noon, March 14th.

On the morning of March 16th, the Hasegawa detachment battered the enemy position at Sunchiapu in Anhwei Province about 12 kilometres south of Hsuancheng and reduced it at dawn, March 17th.

The Takahashi, Satoh and Nakajima detachments which advanced from the Hangchow district reached the line between Anchi and Hsiaofeng on March 19th. Pursuing the enemy, these detachments, on March 22nd, routed about 200 Chinese soldiers at Menkowtang and Yanghanchiao, some 15 kilometres northeast of Kwangteh.

The Shimogawa detachment which advanced from the southern district of Mokanshan reached Anchi on March 19th, by negotiating a difficult mountain pass. This unit then kept up its western drive.

The Kataoka, Kozaki and Asano detachments which advanced from Huchow pushed westward and reached Ssuan on March 19th. They crossed the border between Anhwei and Kiangsu Provinces in pursuit of the retreating enemy.

The Takamori and Kawanami detachments which had been operating in the region west of Lake Tai reached Liyang on March 19th, while the Tagami and Ishii detachments reached Ihsing the

same day. By March 23rd all these detachments reached the border of Kiangsu Province.

The Hasegawa and Takeshita detachments drove eastward from Ningkuo. On March 19th, their vanguard entered Kwangteh. These two detachments defeated about 1,000 Chinese soldiers in an area north of Shihtsiehtu, about 25 kilometres west of Kwangteh on March 21st, while part of the detachments crushed about 150 Chinese near Shuimingchiao.

The Ushijima detachment encountered some 7,000 Chinese soldiers near Kwangteh and practically annihilated them. The detachment captured about 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

On March 28th the Takahashi and Satoh detachments dispersed about 3,000 Chinese soldiers near Liutungchiao, about 20 kilometres northeast of Kwangteh.

Activities of the Japanese Military Air Forces

The Japanese Military Air Force in close cooperation with the ground forces not only contributed substantially to the Japanese successes along the Yellow River but secured command of the air in North China.

The Sonoda air unit at 2 p.m., February 28th, attacked and inflicted a heavy loss on Chinese troops retreating between Sinkiang and Paishan. At 11:30 o'clock the same morning, the unit dropped provisions for the Toyama detachment operating in a mountainous region.

On March 5th, the Torita air unit visited Chengchow, the junction of the Peking-Hankow and the Lung-Hai Railways, and Yuchow and bombed the airfields there. Early in the morning of March 8th, this unit raided Siangyang in northern Hunan Province and bombed the airfield there, destroying the hangar. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders engaged about 16 Chinese planes and shot down 4 of them. The Japanese planes all returned safely to their base.

On March 8th this unit raided Sian, capital of Shensi Province and bombed one large-sized and one small-sized plane on the ground. Ten Chinese planes took the air to challenge the Japanese raiders, who, however, succeeded in bringing down two of them. One Japanese machine-gunner was killed in the combat. The same day another Japanese unit visited Sian and shot down 4 Chinese challengers.

The Morimoto air unit visited Sian the same day and succeeded in shooting down 5 Chinese challengers and in destroying 5 planes on

the ground. This unit suffered no damages.

At 7:30 o'clock the same morning, this detachment visited Chengchow and effectively bombed the railway station there.

At noon, March 11th, the Yamase and Teranishi units raided Sian, bombing the airfield. In the air duel which ensued, the Japanese raiders brought down 5 Chinese planes. One medium-sized plane on the ground was bombed and burned, while another was damaged. The hangar and several buildings on the airfield were heavily damaged. All the Japanese raiders returned to their base in safety.

Another large-scale air raid was made on Sian by the Japanese Military Air Force at 12:30 p.m., March 14th, when the Nakakuni, Yamase, Teranishi and Suzuki units visited the capital of Sian Province and effectively bombed the airfield. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders, nor was there a single Chinese machine to be seen on the ground.

At noon, March 18th, the Nakadaira unit, in cooperation with the ground forces which were attacking Tangtaochen and Tenghsien, attacked the Chinese troops at these two places and inflicted heavy losses on them. This unit visited Hsuchow twice the same day and bombed the railway station and troop trains there. At noon, March 19th, the unit visited Kweiteh, a key point on the Lung-Hai Railway and bombed military establishments. In cooperation with the Japanese ground forces, the unit attacked enemy positions and troop concentrations. On March 18th, the unit engaged three Chinese pursuit planes; Captain Ouchi was killed when eight bullets lodged in his body.

The combined force of the Teranishi and Nakadaira air units hopped off from their base early in the morning of March 25th and reached Kweiteh at 8 o'clock. Over 20 Chinese planes, including planes of Soviet manufacture of the E 15 and 16 types, heavy bombers of the S. B. type and some planes of British make had taken the air to challenge the Japanese. After fierce aerial combat, the Japanese raiders succeeded in bringing down 18 Chinese planes and burning a heavy bomber of the S. B. type on the ground. The hangar was also badly damaged.

The Nakazono unit on March 26th raided Hsuchow and effectively bombed the railway station there.

At noon, the same day, the Nakadaira unit visited Siangcheng and Taierhchuang in southern Shantung Province, bombing Chinese military establishments and troop concentrations.

The Nakazono air unit at noon, March 28th, attacked the North Station at Hsuchow and destroyed several trains.

The Nakadaira unit cooperated with the ground forces operating

along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway. It also visited Hsuchow and bombed the military establishments there.

The Yamase unit visited Ichow (Linyi) in Shantung Province and attacked the southwestern extremity of the town.

Early in the morning of March 29th this unit raided Taierhchuang and effectively bombed Chinese military establishments. The bridge on the Grand Canal was also destroyed.

Japanese Air Units in Central China

Chinese aeroplanes from time to time are conducting raids over that part of Central China now under Japanese occupation, although they are easily driven back by the Japanese air force and anti-aircraft batteries.

At about 4 p.m., March 14th, Chinese heavy bombers of Soviet manufacture of the T. B. type raided Wuhu in formation, but were met by a Japanese air unit commanded by Lieutenant Yoshikawa. The Japanese challengers shot down one Chinese plane at a point 10 kilometres north of Wuhu. The enemy pilot escaped by parachute, but was taken prisoner by the Japanese ground force.

At 2:45 p.m., March 16th, six Chinese heavy bombers raided the airfield at Kienkiao, east of Hangchow. The Japanese air force pursued the Chinese raiders, of which two were brought down from a height of 3,500 metres over Tunglulanchi. Bombs dropped by the Chinese raiders hit Chinese villages and caused over a dozen casualties among the Chinese inhabitants.

II. FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

PEACE and order is being restored along the lower reaches and estuary of the Yangtze River by the Japanese naval forces which have removed the booms and swept the mines laid by Chinese troops. They are also patrolling the river course most effectively.

In view, however, of the fact that remnants of Chinese troops still infested Tungchow (Nantung) on the northern bank of the Yangtze and also Tsungming Island off the mouth of the river, the Japanese authorities decided to suppress them. Japanese naval forces in cooperation with the military forces have recently succeeded in clearing Tungchow and also Tsungming Island of the remnants of Chinese troops.

A Japanese naval force under command of Rear-Admiral Sonoda early in the morning of March 17th escorted a large force of Japanese troops to a point near Tungchow (Nantung) on the northern bank of the Yangtze and effectively covered their landing which was done so suddenly and successfully that the enemy had no chance to offer any stiff resistance. Prior to the landing near Tungchow, the Japanese naval commander communicated with the authorities of third Powers in Shanghai to prevent danger to their vessels.

Landing of a Japanese military force on Tsungming Island was scheduled for the early morning of March 18th. The Japanese naval force sent a marine unit to the island, in addition to covering the landing of the military force on the island. The military and marine forces made a joint drive on Tsungming, capital of the island, which they reduced after defeating the Chinese troops outside the walled town. The occupation of the capital was effected during the morning, thus paving the way for the pacification of the entire island.

The Naval Air Forces in Japan

Japanese naval air forces have been active in all parts of China, bombing and destroying the Chinese military establishments at various important points. An outline of their activities from February 28th to April 5th follows.

February 28th South China: Locomotives south of Yuantan on the Canton-Hankow Railway were bombed and destroyed.

The airfield at Tienho, near Canton, was attacked with the result that the hangars and buildings on the field were destroyed. The Japanese raiders shot down one Chinese plane in the ensuing aerial combat. The airfield at Tsingfa was also visited. One hangar, several military barracks and one gasoline depot were bombed and burned.

Central China: The airfield at Siangyang was visited. Engaging over a dozen Chinese planes which had been flying in the vicinity, the Japanese Naval Air Force bombed and burned two blocks of buildings, one depot and one plane on the ground. The Japanese air force flew over the airfield at Ichang and bombed two planes on the ground as well as two hangars.

March 1st South China: The railway bridge south of Wongshek on the Canton-Hankow Railway was bombed and destroyed. The airfields at Tienho, Pokwan and Bocca Tigris were bombed.

March 2nd Along the Canton-Hankow Railway: Yinchanyao, Pakonghow, Sanhwatien and Laitung were visited by the Japanese Naval Air Force, which bombed and destroyed arsenals and other military establishments there.

Along the Canton-Samshui Railway: Sinanchen was raided and junks carrying munitions were attacked.

Japanese naval planes also visited Chungtang and Bocca Tigris bombing military motor-lorries there.

March 3rd Yinchanyao, on the Canton-Hankow Railway, was again attacked.

March 8th South China: The Japanese Naval Air Force raided Changchow and bombed the airfield there.

March 9th South China: Japanese naval planes devoted attention to the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed military establishments north of Chuntien, south of Sanhwatien and at Yinchanyao.

March 10th South China: The highway near Kumha was attacked.

March 11th Changmutao and Changping on the Canton-Kowloon Railway were attacked.

March 13th South China: The highway near Lingsia, south of Kumha, was bombed.

North China: The new airfield at Nancheng in southwestern Shensi Province was attacked. Munition depots and other buildings were bombed by Japanese naval planes.

March 14th North China: Ichow (Linyi) in southern Shantung Province was raided by the Japanese Naval Air Force, which in cooperation with the ground forces attacked the military barracks there. Taierhchuang, a border town, was also raided and the

rolling-stock at the station there was bombed. Nancheng in southwestern Shensi Province was raided again. The new airfield was attacked and three gasoline depots were bombed and burned.

Central China: Nanchang was visited at nightfall. One hangar, one factory and three other buildings at the airport were bombed and burned. Hankow was raided at night and its airfield bombed with the result that fires broke out at four different spots on the field. Chuchow in western Chekiang Province was raided; the local airfield was attacked.

South China: Pitsun, Yangyao, Tangtao, Sintang and other places along the Canton-Kowloon Railway were visited and the military establishments attacked. The Japanese Naval Air Force also visited the North River and attacked Tatang, where it bombed and sank one Chinese transport.

March 15th North China: Ichow in southern Shantung Province was again raided. The Chinese troop concentrations, and military barracks near the west gate were attacked.

Central China: Nanchang was visited at night, when, defying Chinese anti-aircraft batteries and pursuit planes, the Japanese Naval Air Force made three raids on the local airfield. Several hangars in the first raid, hangars, factories and aeroplanes on the ground in the second, and factories in the third were bombed and burned. Chian also was visited, while the airfield at Lishui in Chekiang Province was bombed.

South China: Foochow was visited and the airfield there was bombed. Shakow and Yinchanyao on the Canton-Hankow Railway were raided and the military establishments including railway bridges were bombed. The Wongsha wireless station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was attacked. The military Cadets' School and anti-aircraft batteries north of the Tienho airfield were bombed. On the same day, Pokwan was visited; the military buildings southwest of the airfield there as well as the anti-aircraft batteries north of the Tienho airfield were bombed. Meihsien was also raided.

March 16th North China: Laishan, south of Chefoo, and Mowping were visited by Japanese naval planes and several hundred bandits were attacked. Bandits were attacked at Fushaw also, while Ichow was raided as a result of which the north and west gates of the town were bombed.

Central China: The Japanese Naval Air Force raided Hankow at night. Defying Chinese anti-aircraft batteries and pursuit planes, the Japanese raiders effectively bombed the local airfield there. Nanchang was also visited during the same night. In spite of the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries and pursuit planes, the Japanese planes

bombed the airfield and destroyed one hangar and three large-sized planes in addition to three more which were burned.

South China: Chuntien, Lienkonghow and Hotow on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited and railway bridges and rolling-stock were bombed. The wireless station near Wongsha was bombed. The airfield at Tsungfa was raided, where one gasoline depot and other buildings were bombed and burned. On the same day naval planes flew to Foochow where one hangar and five other buildings at the airfield were bombed. Shitow and other places were also raided and factories and bridges were bombed.

March 17th North China: Chuchen, about 10 kilometres southwest of Ichow, Tsangchow, about 14 kilometres west of Antungwei, and Fochu, about 9 kilometres west of Antungwei, were attacked and military establishments including ammunition depots were bombed and burned.

Central China: Nanchang was raided twice. The Japanese planes bombed and destroyed all buildings on the airfield except hangars in the first raid and bombed and burned two hangars and six planes on the ground in the second raid. One factory was also burned. Chian was visited and the airfield there was bombed with the result that three planes on the ground and three buildings were destroyed. Anching too was raided and two depots at the airfield were bombed.

South China: The Japanese Naval Air Force bombed and destroyed the aeroplane factory at Shiuchow. Hotow, a point on the Canton-Hankow Railway, was raided and the military establishments there were attacked. Changchow was also visited and its airfield attacked.

March 18th Central China: Chuchow was raided by Japanese naval planes which bombed the airfield there.

South China: Pakonghow, Yinchanyao, Wongshek, Laitung, Sinkai, Hotow, Shakow and Yingtak on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited and the military establishments there, including military arsenals and railway tracks, were bombed. Sheksha and Paishih on the Canton-Kowloon Railway were attacked. Tsungfa was raided and the bridges east of it bombed.

March 19th The Japanese Air Force cooperated in general attacks with the ground forces in North and Central China. In South China, Changmutao on the Canton-Kowloon Railway and Kaipien on the Canton-Samshui Railway were attacked. Several key points on the Canton-Hankow Railway were also visited.

March 27th Central China: Hankow and Wuchang were raided. The Japanese Naval Air Force bombed and destroyed three planes

at the Hankow airfield and two large-sized planes at the Wuchang airfield. Other military establishments were also bombed.

Anching was visited and the airfield there was attacked. One Chinese gunboat and one freighter were bombed and sunk.

South China: Various key points on the Canton-Hankow Railway were attacked.

March 28th Japanese naval planes bombed the airfield at Nanyung in South China as well as several points on the Canton-Hankow Railway.

March 29th Various important points along the Canton-Hankow Railway were attacked.

March 30th South China: Shakow, Laitung and other points on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited and military establishments including railway tracks were bombed. Bocca Tigris also was visited and the military barracks there were attacked. A naval aerial expedition was extended to Changchow where a large factory was bombed.

March 31st The Japanese Naval Air Force continued its attacks on Laitung, Wongshek, Shakow and other points on the Canton-Hankow Railway, bombing railway tracks and bridges. In addition, the Japanese planes attacked a military arsenal at Pakonghow and a large factory at Suntso.

April 1st North China: While cooperating with the ground forces operating in southern Shantung Province, the Japanese Naval Air Force visited Lungchuanchang and attacked a large bandit concentration.

Central China: Chian was visited and the airfield was attacked.

South China: Foochow was visited by naval planes which attacked the airfield there. Various important points on the Sunning, the Canton-Samshui, and the Canton-Hankow Railways were also bombed. The North River was likewise visited by the Japanese Naval Air Force which also attacked military goods trains north of Wongsha on the Canton-Hankow Railway.

April 3rd South China: The wireless station at Chungshan, the airfield at Shiuchow, the airfield at Foochow and military establishments at Bocca Tigris and Kucheng were bombed by the Japanese Naval Air Force.

April 4th North China: Japanese naval planes raided Tungnanying, Towang and Paikuo where military establishments and troop concentrations were bombed.

Central China: Kushih was raided and the local airfield was attacked with the result that three Chinese planes on the ground were bombed and destroyed while another was damaged. Chumatien

was also visited and the airfield attacked. Over a dozen aeroplanes on the ground were damaged.

South China: Laitung and Hwangmen on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited and railway tracks and rolling stock were attacked. Tangtow and Siahu on the Canton-Kowloon Railway were raided; the military establishments at those railway stations were bombed. Lishui was raided with the result that three hangars at the airfield were destroyed.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. —ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—

Press Section, War Department

The Drive on Hsuchow

(From April 19th to May 12th)

THE Japanese Northern Army operating in southern Shantung Province is now making a steady drive on Hsuchow, the junction of the Lung-Hai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways, where the enemy is making a final stand. Chinese troops have made counter-attacks on Japanese positions in various sectors to frustrate the Japanese southward advance, but these have failed.

Some 10 Chinese divisions under Generals Tang En-po, Sun Lien-chung and Chang Tze-chung started a daring move to outflank the Japanese troops in April, but their attempts were counteracted by the Akashiba, Fukuei and Katano detachments which swung to the south of Yihsien and Kuokitsi. These units pushed back the Chinese steadily. Especially successful was part of the Japanese forces which advanced on Lini (Ichow). A salient of the walled town was occupied at 10:15 o'clock on the morning of April 19th ; all walls were taken within an hour.

On April 21st, Japanese forces started an attack on Lichiachuang, about 20 kilometres south of Lini, which they reduced without difficulty. The Japanese then pushed further south and took Tancheng, an important town on the southern border of Shantung Province at dawn, April 24th.

Another Japanese detachment succeeded in breaking through the enemy line on April 18th. Following up its victory, this detachment reached the line between Tsishantao, Poshankow and Wangchahu on April 19th. On April 21st, it continued its pursuit of the enemy and reached the line connecting Yuchuang, Liuchuang and Changcheng. Toward evening it occupied Szehuchen in northern Kiangsu Province.

Part of the Japanese Northern Army reduced Szelichungfang, about 16 kilometres west of Tancheng on the southern border of

Shantung Province, on May 4th. The following day it took Wangtangtsi, about 5 kilometres southwest of Szelichungfang. Another detachment of this army occupied Siaokweichang, 14 kilometres southwest of Tancheng, on May 10th.

A vigorous attack was launched on the enemy position on the Siaoho River, about 12 kilometres south of Tsining, by part of the Japanese troops operating in the lake region in western Shantung Province. After breaking through the enemy position and routing several divisions of Chinese troops, this detachment reached the Kuerh River, about 20 kilometres south of Tsining. It resumed its southern drive on Tayitsi on May 10th.

The Japanese Military Air Force on May 10th visited the Lung-Hai Railway and attacked Chinese troop trains and over a dozen Chinese tanks.

On May 12th, troops of the Japanese Northern Army occupied Yungcheng.

With the Southern Forces

The Chinese, born propagandists, overlook no opportunity for furthering their purpose. When the Japanese Armies are taking a deserved rest following a victory, the Chinese represent the war situation as developing in their favour with special stress on the "significant" inactivity of the Japanese forces. Actually, however, when the Japanese assume the offensive again, they carry everything before them. The Japanese Southern Army is now driving successfully north on the Lung-Hai Railway, while the Northern Army is steadily pushing south on the same line. Thus the Chinese troops in southern Shantung Province are exposed to vigorous Japanese attacks from north and south.

The Nakano detachment in cooperation with the Imperial Navy succeeded in landing near Hohsien and occupied the town without meeting any stiff resistance on the afternoon of April 24th. This detachment continued its western drive and reduced Hanchan on April 26th.

All communication facilities in the neighbourhood were destroyed by the enemy before its retreat. Nothing daunted, however, the Japanese detachment drove further west and took Chaohsien on the eastern shore of Lake Chao on the morning of April 30th.

Part of the Nakano detachment then occupied Hsiako. Defying the muddy road which was a veritable quagmire and the hot weather which registered over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, this detachment on the afternoon of May 3rd reduced Chaokao. It is maintaining its

western drive on Hofei (Luchow) in central Anhwei Province.

Part of the Japanese Southern Army which was advancing north along the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway reached a line extending west and east of Wangchuangchen on the evening of May 5th, after breaking through the Chinese position on the banks of the Pei Fei River. Toward evening on May 7th, this unit reached the southern bank of the Kwo River.

Another Japanese detachment which drove northwest in concert with this unit dislodged Chinese troops from the northern bank of the Pei Fei River and occupied Shwangchiaotsi and its western district on May 9th, after defeating a separate body of Chinese troops which left no less than 1,600 dead. On May 12th, the Japanese reached Hantsuntsi.

The Japanese detachment which had pushed northwest along the Kwo river succeeded in breaking through the Chinese positions on the northern bank of the Kwo River. This detachment kept up its drive and cut off the highway from Mengcheng to Kuchen on the morning of May 8th. In cooperation with the main body of the Japanese force which had reached a point south of Mengcheng, it succeeded in capturing Mengcheng on May 9th.

Meanwhile a strong Chinese unit was advancing from Fengtai on Mengcheng, but it was met and annihilated by the Japanese troops between Luwangtsi and Lotuchen near the Tze River.

The Japanese troops continued their northern drive and reached the line between Sanyitsi and Tanchengtsi on May 12th. The Japanese vanguard subsequently invaded northeastern Honan Province and occupied Yungcheng.

Clean-up Campaign near Ningkuo and Hangchow

The Japanese garrisons at Ningkuo and Sunchiapu near Sanshanchen and Shihweichen, which is about 8 kilometres south of Wuhu, were each attacked by about 300 Chinese on May 1st, but succeeded in repulsing them with heavy losses.

On April 25th, the Japanese garrison at Hangchow started operations against the Chinese troops which had established a base of operations in the Chingshan plain east of Linan. On April 28th, the garrison succeeded in liquidating the main body of the Chinese 108th division as well as the 61st division.

The Suiyüan Front

(From April 13th to May 13th)

Chinese troops under General Ma Chan-shan which had been active

in the area southwest of Khoho (Suiyüan) crossed the Yellow River during a period from the end of March to the beginning of April and began to menace the Wuchuan district.

The Chinese troops under General Men Ping-yo which had set up a base of operations in the Wuli district acted in concert with the Ma Chan-shan forces and started an eastern drive by bringing strong pressure to bear on the Inner Mongolian troops there.

Meanwhile, the Chinese 86th division which had been severely attacked by the Japanese military air force succeeded in rallying and reorganizing itself, so that it was able to assume a vigorous offensive against the first line of the Inner Mongolians.

In view of the alarming situation, Japanese forces launched a punitive expedition against those Chinese troops on April 15th. The Japanese operations made favourable progress, so that the Ma Chan-shan troops in the Wuchuan district were dealt a crushing blow by a combined attack of the Japanese ground and air forces.

General Ma Chan-shan at the head of only 400 bodyguards fled westward near Yinhao about 20 kilometres east of Kuyang (north of Paotow), hotly pursued by the Ishimaru detachment which succeeded in dealing a further blow to the enemy at a point about 32 kilometres north of Kuyang on April 22nd. General Ma apparently made good his escape with a handful of his retinue, but the Chinese divisional commander Liu Kwei-wu was killed, according to reliable information.

The Haraguchi detachment kept up the chase and occupied Anpei on April 24th. In this engagement, the Chinese left about 330 dead, while about 300 were made prisoner. The Japanese capture included 165 rifles and 231 horses. It is no exaggeration to say that the main body of Ma Chan-shan's troops was annihilated.

Since April 17th when the Japanese forces started a punitive expedition against the Chinese troops near Wuchuan (northwest of Khoho) up to the occupation of Anpei on April 24th, on the Chinese side about 800 men and 450 horses were killed. The Japanese spoils of war included some 280 rifles, 30 light machine-guns and 300 horses, while about 320 Chinese were taken prisoner. The Japanese casualties were 19 killed and 80 wounded.

The remnants of the Chinese troops which attempted to invade the area south of Khoho in concert with those which invaded the area north of Khoho totalled about 9,000, commanded by the Chinese warlords, Fu Tso-yi, Ho Chu-kuo and Ma Chan-shan. They invaded Holinkoerh, about 52 kilometres south of Khoho.

The nearest Japanese garrison promptly launched a punitive expedition against them. On April 30th, the Japanese dislodged the

Chinese troops from their positions near Erhchienfang, about 16 kilometres northwest of Holinkoerh and drove them southward. The Chinese left about 600 dead, 2 mountain-guns and large quantities of other arms and ammunition.

The Japanese followed up their victory and on May 1st captured the Chinese positions in and around Holinkoerh. The enemy was routed in the direction of Tahungcheng.

On April 29th, a surprise attack was successfully made by the Senda detachment on the Chinese Communist troops in the Shanyin, Yinghsien and Hunyuan districts in southern Shansi Province. The enemy left about 110 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled only 1 killed and 3 wounded.

Activities of the Japanese Military Air Forces

The Japanese Military Air Force visited Sian, capital of Shensi Province, and Sankiaochen in Anhwei Province on May 4th and effectively attacked the airfields there. The Japanese planes all returned to their base in safety.

The Teranishi air unit attacked the Chinese airfield at Kweiteh in northern Honan Province on May 10th. On the way back, this unit of 15 aeroplanes met about 30 Chinese planes of the E 15 type, of which the Japanese succeeded in shooting down 24 in the ensuing air combat.

In the encounter, the Japanese Saito plane crashed into the Chinese leader's plane in mid-air. Both fell to the ground, enveloped in flames. The Shimogata plane made a forced landing on an old riverbed of the Yellow River, but its crew were saved by the Tanaka plane which landed in face of the enemy in order to pick them up. Lieutenant Fukuyama was seriously injured in the air combat, but returned to the Japanese base, where he is making favourable progress, after a series of blood transfusions.

Clean-up Campaign North of the Yellow River

Remnants of the Chinese troops in southern Shantung, northern Honan and southern Shansi Provinces have indulged in the so-called guerilla warfare, of which the Chinese are so proud, but nowhere have they been successful in the face of the systematic, prompt Japanese counter-attacks, as may be seen in the following detailed account.

(1) At dawn, April 15th, about 600 Chinese attacked the Japanese Army Service Corps east of Puhsien in southwestern Shantung Province. At 6:30 o'clock, the same evening, another group of 400

Chinese attacked the same corps. On both occasions the Chinese were repulsed, leaving a total of about 100 dead. The Japanese casualties amounted only to 1 killed and 1 wounded.

(2) On May 6th, about 1,000 Chinese invaded Chenchai near the Yellow River, but were routed after fighting for 7 hours. The Chinese left 760 dead, but the Japanese suffered only 3 killed and 9 wounded.

Another strong body of Chinese invaded Liulukiu, south of Puhsien, on May 9th, but was driven southward after some 500 of its men were killed. Japanese casualties totalled 28.

(3) The Suko detachment dispersed a Chinese guerilla corps which invaded the area southwest of Fengkiu in northern Honan Province on April 12th. This detachment was also successful in attacking the enemy position on an island in the Yellow River. On April 15th it defeated another guerilla corps southeast of Fengkiu.

(4) The Japanese garrison at Sinsiang in northern Honan Province routed some 3,000 Chinese in the district northeast of Sinsiang on April 19th. The enemy left about 200 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled only 5.

(5) The Inouye detachment defeated about 400 Chinese soldiers including some "Red Spear" bandits north of Hwaiking in northern Honan Province on April 25th. The Japanese casualties were 1 killed and 4 wounded, while the capture included 50 rifles, 1 light machine-gun, 150 spears and 50 Chinese swords.

(6) The Japanese garrison at Menghsien in northern Honan Province was attacked by about 1,500 Chinese on April 10th. The latter were routed after a 3-hour engagement. The enemy left about 300 dead ; on the Japanese side only 4 were wounded.

(7) During the same period, the Japanese garrison at Tsiyüan in northeastern Honan Province was attacked by some 3,000 Chinese who were routed after fighting for 8 hours. The enemy left about 500 dead and large quantities of arms and ammunition. The Japanese casualties numbered 10 killed and 49 injured.

(8) Early in April, the Japanese garrison at Pinglu in southwestern Shansi Province dispersed 3,000 Chinese who left 600 dead, 2 trench-mortars, 9 light machine-guns and 120 automatic rifles. On the Japanese side, 9 were wounded.

On April 12th and 13th, the same Japanese troops routed about 9,000 Chinese between Pinglu and Anyi. On the morning of April 18th, they defeated some 400 Chinese north of Pinglu. The enemy soldiers belonged to the 132nd division. 130 Chinese were killed, including a company commander. The Japanese captured 8 light machine-guns, 65 rifles, 1 trench-mortar and large quantities of arms

and ammunition.

Later in the day the Japanese garrison at Pinglu was again attacked by the enemy which was routed with heavy losses. The Chinese left about 250 dead, including the commanders of a battalion and a company. In the two engagements on April 18th, the Japanese lost 19 men ; 13 were wounded.

On April 19th, about 1,700 Chinese attacked this Japanese garrison, but were repulsed with heavy losses. The enemy left 482 dead, while the Japanese casualties included 1 killed and 4 wounded. The Japanese captured 14 light machine-guns and large quantities of arms and ammunition.

(9) On April 10th, the Japanese garrison at Juicheng in southwestern Shansi Province started operations against some 5,000 Chinese soldiers belonging to the 28th and 125th divisions and succeeded in dispersing them by the evening of April 12th.

(10) The Japanese garrison at Puchow, the southern terminus of the Tatung-Pukow Railway, engaged about 1,000 well-armed Chinese soldiers on April 14th. The following day, the garrison succeeded in routing them after fierce fighting. The enemy left about 150 dead while the Japanese casualties totalled 3 killed and 9 wounded.

On April 22nd, about 2,000 Chinese again attacked the Japanese garrison. The enemy left about 300 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled 14. The enemy belonged to the Chinese 61st division, which was attempting to recapture Puchow which had been a source of supply for their provisions.

Again on April 24th, the enemy staged another attack on the Japanese garrison at Puchow, but was repulsed. The Chinese were some 5,000 strong and offered stiff resistance, but fled before a fierce Japanese counter-attack, leaving about 200 dead. The Japanese casualties were 1 killed and 10 injured.

On May 2nd, several thousand Chinese again attacked the same Japanese garrison. The numerical strength of the enemy steadily increased with the arrival of reinforcements. Their present strength is estimated at 8,000. To meet them, the Kumagai detachment and other fresh troops have dashed to Puchow. With the fresh reinforcements, the Japanese garrison at Puchow is now vigorously counter-attacking the Chinese invaders.

(11) The Japanese garrison at Jungho in southwestern Shansi Province was attacked by about 2,000 Chinese on April 10th, but repulsed them with heavy losses. The enemy left about 200 dead, while on the Japanese side only one man was wounded.

Part of the Japanese force encountered and defeated about 1,000

Chinese in the area southeast of Jungho on the afternoon of April 17th, while moving from Yüncheng to Jungho. This detachment entered Jungho on April 18th.

The Japanese garrison at Jungho attacked and routed some 1,000 Chinese soldiers 12 kilometres south of Jungho on May 5th. The enemy left 148 corpses, including that of a company commander, 58 rifles, 2 light machine-guns and a large quantity of ammunition. The Japanese casualties included 6 killed and 12 wounded.

(12) The Japanese garrison at Hotsin in southwestern Shansi Province attacked and dispersed about 300 Chinese in a mountain-pass at Yumenkow, north of Hotsin, on April 11th. About 700 Chinese attacked Hotsin, but were repulsed with heavy losses. The enemy belonged to the Chinese 42nd, 176th and 64th divisions. In these engagements, the enemy left about 850 dead, 8 automatic rifles and 450 ordinary rifles. The Japanese casualties included 6 killed and 17 wounded.

On April 13th, the Japanese garrison attacked and dispersed about 2,000 Chinese north of Hotsin. The enemy which belonged to the Chinese 42nd and 54th divisions left about 30 dead, 130 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition. The Japanese suffered no casualties.

The Nakayama detachment started from Hotsin on May 4th to free the region south of the Fen River from remnants of Chinese troops. This unit routed about 200 Chinese at a point 16 kilometres southeast of Hotsin.

(13) About 4,000 Chinese attacked the Japanese garrison at Siangsiang in southwestern Shansi Province at midnight, April 10th, but were repulsed with heavy losses after hot fighting. The enemy left about 500 dead, 1 trench-mortar, 15 automatic rifles and 12 machine-guns. The Japanese casualties included 10 killed and 28 injured.

At dawn, April 13th, the Japanese garrison attacked and dispersed a large body of Chinese belonging to the 61st, 15th and 85th divisions. The enemy left about 300 dead, while the Japanese casualties were only 1 killed and 3 wounded.

(14) The Japanese garrison at Kuwo in southwestern Shansi Province completed its military operations in the Icheng district northeast of Kuwo on April 24th. The Japanese defeated about 1,500 Chinese troops in 6 major engagements.

(15) The Japanese garrison at Lishih in western Shansi Province was repeatedly attacked by some 2,000 Chinese on and after the evening of April 24th. On each occasion, the Chinese were repulsed with heavy losses. The enemy left about 300 dead.

Part of the garrison attacked and routed 2,000 Chinese at a point 8

kilometres east of Lishih on April 26th. The enemy which belonged to the 427th brigade of the 71st division offered stiff resistance, but were forced to flee both to the north and south, leaving 277 dead.

On April 28th, the Japanese garrison was attacked by Chinese troops again, who were repulsed on May 1st. The enemy, however, made another attack on the garrison and severe fighting was in progress at the time of writing.

(16) The Japanese garrison at Chungyang in western Shansi Province began engagements with a large body of Chinese troops belonging to the 19th Army under General Wang Ching-kuo on April 26th.

(17) The Japanese garrisons at Fenyang and Wenshui in southern Shansi Province dispersed the enemy at a height west of Wenshui. The enemy left about 60 dead, but the Japanese suffered no losses.

(18) Early on the morning of April 25th, the Mano detachment drove west from Hwohsien and occupied Fensi, after a fierce 6-hour fight with 6,000 Chinese near Fensi. The enemy belonged to the 84th and 74th divisions which frequently molested the railway near Hwohsien. The Chinese fled toward Sihsien, leaving about 300 dead.

(19) The Japanese garrison at Ichow on the Tatung-Puchow Railway encountered about 1,000 Chinese on May 4th, while advancing on Tingsiang. After severe fighting for 5 hours, the garrison defeated the Chinese which belonged to the newly-organized 2nd division.

(20) On May 2nd, the Japanese garrison at Tangyin on the Peking-Hankow Railway attacked some 2,000 Chinese which had taken up positions at a point 24 kilometres west of Tangyin, and routed them with heavy losses.

Clean-up Campaign Against Communist Forces

The mountainous region in southwestern Shansi Province including Yushe, Wusiang and Tsinhsien had been infested by Chinese Communist forces for some time. Taiku, south of Taiyüan, capital of Shansi Province, was attacked by them at one time.

A clean-up campaign started by the Japanese Army on April 7th against the Communist troops was successfully concluded by the middle of April. The Japanese encircled the Communist-ridden region and reduced important towns one after another.

From April 7th up to April 17th, the Chinese Communist troops which engaged the Japanese forces aggregated about 40,000 men, consisting for the most part of Communist regulars under Generals Chu Teh and Tseng Wan-chung. They were severely defeated

by the Japanese forces, and were dispersed after leaving about 4,000 dead. Remnants of the Chinese Communist troops have fled to outlying districts, where, however, it is impossible for them to rally. An outline of the clean-up campaign against the Communist troops is given below.

(1) The Suzuki detachment drove north from Sihsien and took Shilu at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on April 2nd. This detachment continued its northern push on Yungho, which it reduced at 9 p.m., April 4th, after dislodging about 4,000 Chinese which had entrenched themselves north of Yungho. The enemy belonged to the 70th division and the 8th Route Army. Most of them fled into Shensi Province by crossing the Yellow River at a point west of Yungho. The Japanese Military Air Force pursued them, dealing out heavy losses.

On April 5th, the Suzuki detachment attacked the Chinese position at a point about 20 kilometres southeast of Yungho, which it succeeded in reducing the following evening. The enemy left about 250 dead, 30 mountain-guns, 30 trench-mortars, 30 machine-guns, 200 rifles, 25 automatic rifles, 20 horses and large quantities of ammunition. The Japanese casualties numbered only 1 killed and 10 wounded.

The Suzuki detachment engaged Chinese troops in the Sihsien, Shilu and Yungho districts on five occasions from March 28th to April 6th. The Chinese forces whose numerical strength aggregated about 20,000 men left 1,600 dead. Japanese casualties were negligible.

Part of the Suzuki detachment, on April 5th, made a surprise attack on the Chinese Communist "death-band," about 1,000 strong, which had taken up positions at a height south of Howmachen. The detachment succeeded in routing the Communist band. Only 3 Japanese were wounded.

Another part of the detachment routed about 700 Chinese which had invaded Mengchengchen. The enemy, which belonged to the Chinese 83rd Division, left about 60 dead.

(2) The Matsui detachment, after reducing Chungyang on March 21st drove south toward Shilu. On the way, the detachment dispersed about 1,000 Chinese at Shemingku on April 1st. The following day it defeated about 150 Chinese soldiers at Hantsun. In the two engagements, the enemy left about 60 dead, including a regimental commander. The Japanese suffered 4 wounded, but captured 2 motor-lorries and several automatic rifles.

(3) The Yamazaki detachment entered Shilu on April 3rd. Prior to that, this detachment dispersed about 200 Chinese soldiers at Siatienchuang on April 1st and another 100 near Shilu on April

2nd.

On April 7th, this detachment encountered about 700 Chinese at Shwangchihchen and dispersed them, after a 4-hour fight. The enemy left about 200 dead, while the Japanese suffered only 1 killed.

(4) The Koito detachment began operations from Linfen on April 2nd and reduced Antze, after dispersing about 500 Chinese near that town on April 4th and 600 more north of it the same day. The enemy left no less than 150 dead.

Part of this detachment followed up its victory and dispersed about 2,000 Chinese at Kuyang on April 6th and 500 Chinese near Hangyi at 8 p.m., April 7th. Early in the morning on April 8th, it succeeded in reducing Tsinyüan, one of the important bases of the Communist troops. The enemy left about 900 dead, but the Japanese casualties were negligible.

On the way back from Tsinyüan on April 15th, the Koito detachment attacked the Chinese troops which had established positions near Hochuanchen, about 28 kilometres south of Tsinyüan, and succeeded in dislodging them the following day. Pursuing the Chinese to the west, this unit overtook them at a point 8 kilometres west of Tsinyüan, dealing them a crushing blow.

(5) The Kudo detachment, early on the morning of April 8th, dislodged some 600 Chinese from their strongly-built positions southwest of Siangyüan which is situated approximately 32 kilometres west of Licheng. Following up its victory, at 8 o'clock on the same evening this detachment reduced Siangyüan itself, after fighting for 4 hours against a strong body of Communist troops armed with trench-mortars and machine-guns. Siangyüan was one of the most important bases of guerilla warfare for the Chinese Communist forces in Shansi Province.

The enemy forces in the Siangyüan area were about 3,000 strong, belonging to the Chinese 12th and 178th divisions. They left about 300 dead, 50 rifles, 9,500 rounds of ammunition, 50 hand-grenades, and large quantities of clothing and provisions.

On April 10th, the Kudo detachment swung north and dispersed about 2,000 Chinese which had established positions at a point 8 kilometres north of Siangyüan. On April 12th, the detachment reached the area southwest of Liaohsien. On April 16th, it attacked some 2,000 Chinese which had taken up positions at a point about 8 kilometres northeast of Siyingchen, and drove them southward with heavy losses. The enemy which belonged to the 3rd Army under General Tseng Wan-chung left about 350 dead.

(6) Those Japanese forces which advanced from Luan and Tunliu occupied Tsinhsien, another important base for the Chinese Communist

regulars, on April 10th, after clearing Yuwachen and Hutungchen of the remnants of Chinese troops on the way.

On April 12th, they reached Wusiang. The following day, they reduced Yushe, a vital base for the Chinese Communist forces.

On the way back to Luan from Yushe, they were attacked by about 20,000 Chinese east of Wusiang. Severe fighting lasted for 7 hours. The Japanese succeeded in driving the enemy to the northeast, after dealing them a crushing blow, though a veritable mêlée prevailed for a time. The enemy which belonged to the Chinese 12th, 115th, 129th, 89th, 62nd and 94th divisions left about 2,000 dead. This was the largest and most effective battle successfully conducted by the Japanese forces against the Chinese Communist troops in the recent clean-up campaign.

(7) One Japanese detachment advanced north from Shehsien to eliminate remnants of Chinese troops as well as Communist regulars, while another detachment pushed west from Shunteh. On April 14th, they purged Chinkaochen and Hwangyu.

(8) The Japanese force which drove south from Pingting succeeded in occupying Liaohsien, a Communist base at 9 o'clock on the morning of April 12th. After cooperating with the Japanese troops which had been operating in Kuaierhchen, this force began campaigns in Hoshun and Hsiyang.

(9) The Ishida detachment which pushed south from Taiku routed about 1,200 Chinese at Siaohungchen on April 10th. This detachment then attacked a strong body of Chinese troops which had taken up positions south of Siaohungchen.

(10) Another Japanese detachment dealt a crushing blow to some 200 Chinese soldiers near Changtienchen (about 20 kilometres southwest of Luan) and to 800 Chinese soldiers at a height about 4 kilometres south of Changtienchen on April 26th. The enemy left approximately 100 dead, but the Japanese suffered no losses.

II. FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

The Naval Air Force in China

REPEATED attacks made by Japanese naval aeroplanes have disorganized the Chinese Air Force which is on the verge of collapse. It has been given no opportunity to rally and reorganize itself. Some planes are still being imported into China and foreign aviators are being engaged by the Chiang Kai-shek Government, but all this is not sufficient to reconstruct the Chinese Air Force on a solid basis. All propaganda concerning the so-called successful reorganization of Chinese aviation is but an assumption of false power.

The vigorous and accurate attacks from the air by Japanese aviators have resulted not only in the destruction of Chinese air bases one after another, but also in the loss of a large number of superior foreign planes, including those of Soviet manufacture and the Gloucester Gladiators of British make, which have been shot down by the Japanese in aerial combat.

First-hand information concerning the accuracy of Japanese air attacks has been given by foreign correspondents in China who have witnessed Japanese raids. These newspapermen report that Japanese air attacks are directed solely against military establishments and never against private houses, so that the general public pursues business as usual even during Japanese air raids.

Mr. Vincent Schmidt, an American aviator who was a member of the Foreign Air Legion of China, in a press interview at Singapore on his way home from that country via Europe paid tribute to Japanese aviation for the bravery of its pilots and the superior quality of its aeroplanes.

Mr. Schmidt stated that the aeroplanes of the Japanese Naval Air Force are not only somewhat better than the planes used by him but that the Japanese Naval Air Force is the strongest in the world, skilled in air combats and bombing and experienced in aerial warfare. Mr. Schmidt cited a Japanese raid on Hankow as an instance. He recalled that the Japanese raiders dropped bombs from a height of about 2,000 metres, all of which hit the hangars or aeroplanes in the Hankow airfield, destroying over 30 aeroplanes in a single raid. Mr. Schmidt testified that not a single Japanese bomb

hit outside the airfield, nor was a single civilian killed by a Japanese bomb.

An outline of the activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force in China, from April 7th to May 1st is given below.

April 7th Central China : Ichang and Sinyang were visited where the airfields were attacked. On the way back, the Japanese naval planes met several Chinese pursuit planes at a point about 30 kilometres east of the Peking-Hankow Railway and shot down three of them.

South China : The airfield at Meihsien was attacked with the result that two hangars and one large building were damaged. The airfields at Tienho, Tsunghua and Pokwan were attacked. The Japanese raiders also attacked goods trains near Sitsun on the Canton-Hankow Railway. Hulishe Fort on Amoy Island was also bombed.

April 8th North China : Several Japanese naval planes attacked the Chinese positions at Lini in southern Shantung Province, in cooperation with the Army.

South China : A Japanese naval air unit visited Wongshek on the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked goods trains near there. It also bombed the railway between Sitsun and Kongtsun. The airfield at Tienho was again raided where approximately 10 Chinese planes were bombed and burned. The explosives depot at the Tsunghua airfield was bombed and destroyed. Hulishe Fort was bombed again.

April 9th North China : A Japanese naval air unit visited Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway and attacked Chinese troop concentrations and goods trains.

South China : Wongshek on the Canton-Hankow Railway was raided ; several goods trains were bombed, while the airfields at Meihsien and Changchow were attacked.

April 10th North China : A naval air unit attacked the military establishments at Jungcheng at the eastern extremity of Shantung Peninsula which had been turned into a base of operations by bandits. It also bombed the Chinese positions at Lini in southern Shantung Province in cooperation with the Japanese Army.

Central China : Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, was raided and the Chinese military establishments there, including those for military administration, were bombed and burned.

South China : Laitung and Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway were visited. Railway bridges south of Wushek and Shakow were bombed. The airfield at Pokwan near Canton was attacked, while Hulishe Fort on Amoy Island was bombed again.

April 11th Central China : The airfield at Chuchow was attacked.

South China : The airfields at Tsunghua, Lungyen and Meihsien were attacked, while the railway track near Yinchangyao was bombed.

April 12th North China : A Japanese naval air unit visited Mowping and attacked Chinese troop concentrations at a point about 30 kilometres south of Mowping.

Central China : Another naval unit visited Lishui and Ningpo and bombed the local airfields. Several hangars and military barracks were bombed. Taking advantage of the moonlight, the airfields at Nanchang and Hankow were bombed in a night flight.

South China : The airfields at Foochow and Kien-ow were bombed as were the airfields at Changchow and Chaochow.

April 13th North China : A Japanese naval air unit visited Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway, and bombed the Chinese military establishments there.

South China : The airfields at Tienho and Pokwan near Canton were bombed. The Japanese raiders, in an ensuing aerial combat brought down 15 out of over 20 Chinese pursuit planes over Pokwan. The airfields at Chuchow, Wenchow, Foochow and Changchow were also bombed.

April 14th South China : A naval air detachment visited Kumha on the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the bridges and lines of communication there. The same unit also visited the Canton-Kowloon Railway and destroyed the railway bridge at Sheklung. The airfields at Tienho and Pokwan were bombed.

April 15th North China : Several Japanese naval planes visited Kusien, about 20 kilometres west of Chefoo, and attacked Chinese troop concentrations.

Central China : The airfield at Nanchang was raided and bombed by Japanese naval planes at night with the result that fires broke out at three places.

South China : The Canton-Hankow Railway lines between Laitung and Wongshek and tracks of the Canton-Kowloon Railway near Sheklung were bombed and destroyed.

April 16th South China : Japanese naval planes visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the bridges near Wushek, Shakow, Pakonghow and Hotow. The same planes also raided the Canton-Kowloon Railway and bombed the tracks between Changmutow and Tutang.

April 17th North China : Several Japanese naval planes visited Lini in southern Shantung Province and attacked Chinese troop concentrations in and round that city.

Central China : Three raids were made on Hankow before dawn ; the airfield was bombed.

South China : A Japanese naval air unit visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked Chinese military establishments around Wushek Station and goods trains near Sitsun Station. It also bombed munition depots and hangars north of Yintak, destroying railway tracks and bridges. Several Japanese naval planes raided Canton and bombed and blew up the military arsenal northeast of the city.

The airfield at Pokwan near Canton was attacked with the result that several buildings were destroyed.

April 18th North China : Naval planes again raided Lini in southern Shantung Province and attacked Chinese troop concentrations. A gunpowder dump was bombed and exploded.

Central China : Night raids were made on Hankow, Wuchang and Siaokan whose airfields were attacked. An attack was also made on the aerodrome at Changshuchen in Kiangsi Province where many buildings were destroyed.

South China : Several Japanese naval planes visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked and destroyed goods trains, railway bridges and tracks north of Yingtak. The Chinese military arsenal at Pakonghow was attacked and damaged by the Japanese raiders, who dropped scores of bombs on the building.

April 19th North China : A Japanese naval air unit visited Lini in southern Shantung and bombed the Chinese field artillery base. It also raided Likiachuang.

Central China : Wongsha Station on the Canton-Hankow Railway was bombed. The Canton-Kowloon railway was visited and the Chinese military establishments near Kumha were bombed.

April 21st Central China : Naval planes flew over Tatung, up the river from Wuhu, and bombed the Chinese military positions there, inflicting severe damage to them.

South China : The Canton-Kowloon Railway was visited and the railway track and bridge near Sheklung were bombed.

April 23rd South China : Despite adverse weather conditions, several Japanese naval planes reconnoitred the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed Chinese goods trains between Pakonghow and Chuntien and also the gunpowder dump at Whampoa, which was blown up. A large-sized junk loaded with munitions was bombed and sunk off Saikonghow.

April 24th North China : The Japanese Naval Air Force attacked Chinese troop concentrations near Wenteng and dealt them heavy losses.

South China : The Canton-Hankow Railway was attacked at Yinchanyao, where locomotives and goods trains were bombed.

April 25th Central China : Several Japanese naval planes visited Chuchow and bombed the airfield where several buildings were destroyed.

April 26th North China : In cooperation with the ground forces, a naval air unit attacked several Chinese positions in southern Shantung Province inflicting much damage.

Central China : Naval planes flew over Kweiteh on the Lung-Hai Railway and bombed several troop trains in the vicinity.

South China : The Canton-Kowloon Railway was raided between Changping and Tutang where tracks and bridges were bombed. The airfield at Foochow was attacked.

April 28th North China : Several Japanese naval planes attacked Chinese bandits near Chefoo and Weihaiwei and routed them.

Central China : Hsuchow, the junction of the Lung-Hai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways was reached by Japanese naval planes which bombed the Chinese military establishments and troop trains there.

South China : Several airfields were attacked by Japanese naval planes, including one at Meihsien where two buildings were destroyed, one at Lungyen, where three large-sized planes were destroyed and another at Tsunghua, where several hangars were destroyed. Nanningkuo in Kwangsi Province was attacked with the result that the Chinese troop concentrations there were seriously jeopardized.

April 29th Central China : On the occasion of the Emperor's Birthday, scores of Japanese naval planes flew over Hankow in formation. A severe air combat took place between the Japanese raiders and over 80 Chinese planes which had been standing by. Depending on their far superior numerical strength, the Chinese planes challenged the Japanese raiders, who, however, succeeded in bringing down 51 Chinese planes, the heaviest loss ever inflicted on Chinese aviation in a single air combat since the outbreak of the China Affair.

The Japanese raiders also bombed the Chinese military arsenal at Hanyang, where three buildings were burned.

South China : Several Japanese naval planes raided Pokwan near Canton and bombed the airfield. These planes also visited Tsunghua and bombed the local airfield where several hangars were destroyed.

April 30th Central China : The Japanese Naval Air Force flew over Chuchow, bombing the aerodrome. It also raided Kweiteh on the Lung-Hai Railway where Chinese military establishments and goods trains were bombed.

South China : Several Japanese naval planes raided Nanningkuo

and attacked the Chinese military base there, inflicting heavy losses on the Chinese troops. The airfield at Changting in Fukien Province was also attacked.

May 1st North China : In cooperation with ground forces, Japanese naval planes attacked and bombed Chinese lines of communication at several important points.

South China : A naval air unit visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed goods trains and railway tracks near Laitung as well as some locomotives near Lienkonghow. Chinese lines of communication were interrupted at such important points as Pitsun, Hohsu and Tsengcheng.

Chinese Losses in Aviation

Since the beginning of hostilities, the Japanese Naval Air Force has shot down in aerial combats and destroyed on the ground a total of 948 Chinese planes, excluding those destroyed together with hangars and those destroyed in night air raids up to May 1st. Japanese losses have totalled 82 planes.

Detailed figures concerning the Chinese losses follow :

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. —ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—

Press Section, War Department

Aftermath of the Battle of Hsuchow

The Hsuchow battle, described elsewhere in this issue of TOKYO GAZETTE on which the Chinese side apparently staked everything as announced by General Li Tsung-jen, the Chinese commander-in-chief, ended in the complete defeat of the Chinese forces.

With the steady tightening of the Japanese steel band around Hsuchow, the Chinese command has been utterly demoralized and disorganized. Remnants of the Chinese troops which have fled from Hsuchow are now facing the alternatives of either starving to death or surrendering. Most of them are scattered over various villages and fields where they are suffering from extreme fatigue and hunger.

The Morozumi, Tashiro, Kurabayashi and Soyeda detachments which reduced Hsuchow drove south in pursuit of the fleeing enemy without taking their deserved rest. These detachments reached the area east of Mintzetsi on May 21st. Tightening the encircling line, these detachments advanced to the line connecting Fulitsi and Yungchangtsi on May 23rd, routing the enemy on the way.

The Japanese units which advanced in the region south of Hsuchow via Watzekow and Hsiaohsien pushed west of the steel "dragnet," reached the area east of Hsiaohsien on May 21st and the area east of Suichikow on May 22nd, cleaning up the remnants of Chinese troops.

The detachment which took Suhsien drove north along the area west of the "net" and dispersed the remnants of Chinese troops near Tsailitsi and Suhsien.

The Northern Force in Southern Shantung

The Japanese northern force which drove south across the Grand Canal from the district west of Taierhchwang reached the area east of Liuchuan on May 19th and entered Hsuchow on May 21st, routing the enemy on the way. Since then this force has been engaged in clearing the Hsuchow area of the remnants of Chinese troops.

Another Japanese northern column which pushed south across the Grand Canal from the area east of Taierhchwang reached the district southwest of Tushanchen on May 19th. This column advanced to the line between Chulan and Kungshantsi on May 21st, dispersing the enemy on the way.

It is now conducting a campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops in the area east of the Japanese encircling line.

Another northern column which crossed Weishan Lake and participated in the reduction of Hsuchow pushed south along the area west of the Japanese steel "dragnet" and reached Yungcheng on May 22nd. It achieved splendid success in dealing with the remnants of Chinese troops. On May 23rd, it dealt a crushing blow to the Yunnanese and other Chinese troops, about seven divisions strong, which were fleeing westward. The enemy suffered heavy losses. The bodies found after the Japanese cavalry charge alone totalled about 400. Arms and ammunition captured by the Japanese reached large figures.

The Northern Force in Western Shantung

The enemy apparently was planning to hold Lanfeng and Kaifeng, falling back on the strong defence works along the line from Lanfeng to Kaoyangtsi via Kihsien, south of Lanfeng.

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek sent four or five divisions of fresh central troops to Lanfeng from Hankow as reinforcements, including mechanized units and heavy artillery battalions. About twenty divisions of Chinese troops were thus deployed along the Lanfeng sector in an attempt to check the further advance of the Japanese forces. General Cheng Chien, commander-in-chief of the Chinese first line, was taking personal command of the Chinese forces in this sector. On May 21st, all the Japanese forces started a general offensive on the Chinese troops.

The Japanese column which drove south from Tsining in western Shantung Province swung west on May 19th when it approached Hsuchow, after dislodging the Chinese troops from Chiulishan, northwest of Hsuchow.

On May 22nd, this column broke through the enemy position near Wangko, about 10 kilometres east of Tangshan on the Lung-Hai Railway. On May 23rd, it captured Tangshan. Part of this column took Yucheng at dawn, May 26th, routing the enemy composed of the 24th division and the Chinese troops which had fled from Tangshan.

The main body of the column, pressing back the enemy, reached Mamutsi on May 25th and launched an attack on Kweiteh on May 26th.

On the following day, it routed about 15,000 Chinese in the area southeast of Kweiteh after fighting until evening. On May 28th, it advanced to the area southwest of Kweiteh and pushed northwest by defeating a Chinese division which approached from the north. Toward evening, the Japanese column reached Kwanyintang, about 12 kilometres northwest of Kweiteh.

Part of this column attacked the enemy positions near the railway station at Kweiteh (Shangkiu) on the morning of May 28th. The following morning, it broke through the enemy positions and reached Wanglu, about 8 kilometres northwest of Kweiteh.

Another part of the Japanese column attacked Kweiteh from the east and successfully stormed the East Gate of the city at 5:30 a.m., May 29th. At noon, the Japanese occupied Kweiteh completely.

After clearing the town from the remnants of Chinese troops, the Japanese kept up their western drive in pursuit of the retreating enemy. On the evening of May 30th, they routed about 500 Chinese soldiers armed with trench-mortars south of Liuhotsi. On May 31st, they advanced to the area southeast of Kihsien, on which they launched an attack on June 1st.

After breaking through the Chinese positions south of Yangkutsi, the Japanese pressed hard on the area southwest of Lanfeng. On May 21st, the Japanese left column took Tsienlutsun and Chaotaoying (about 20 kilometres west of Lanfeng), thus cutting off the western retreat of the Chinese troops. This Japanese force dealt crushing blows to Chinese troops which tried to flee west from Lanfeng or to advance east toward Lanfeng, from the night of May 21st to May 23rd.

On May 23rd, part of the Japanese left column occupied Chenliukow, the ferry-point on the southern bank of the Yellow River northwest of Lanfeng. The following day, the Japanese occupied Lanfeng. A Japanese cavalry force entered Lanfeng from the west gate and the Yokoyama detachment entered by the north gate.

A strong body of Chinese troops offered stubborn resistance in the area east of Lanfeng even after the fall of Lanfeng, but it was routed by the Japanese after hand-to-hand fighting.

The extreme right column of the Japanese northern force which drove south from western Shantung Province encountered about 30 Chinese tanks or armoured cars in its southern drive from the Yellow River to Lanfeng. It destroyed 1 armoured car, 10 light tanks of Vickers manufacture and captured 1 baby tank and 2 light tanks of British make. The enemy left more than 20,000 dead and enormous quantities of rolling-stock, arms and ammunition. This column occupied Lanfeng on May 24th.

The Fall of Kaifeng

The Japanese forces then turned their attention to Kaifeng, where a large body of Chinese troops, about 20 divisions strong with central troops as the nucleus, were concentrated. At 10 a. m., June 2nd, the Japanese forces started a new offensive.

The Chinese force which confronted the Japanese right wing was about 2,000 strong, belonging to the 22nd, 46th and 101st divisions. It fled westward before the fierce Japanese attack, leaving a large number of dead on the field.

Pressing back the enemy, the Japanese forces steadily drove west. On the evening of June 4th, they reached the line between Tamenchai and Hsinglungtsi, about 12 kilometres east of Kaifeng. The following day, they pressed hard on Kaifeng, which they started to storm shortly after nightfall.

Heavy artillery fire was concentrated on the North and East Gates, and the northeastern salient of the wall at 6 o'clock that evening. The Kashima unit of the Toyama detachment occupied the salient at 8:25 o'clock.

The other Japanese units which were battering Kaifeng from the north and due east also entered the walled town. All remnants of Chinese troops in the town were eradicated during the morning of June 6th. The commander

of the Japanese forces made a triumphant entry into Kaifeng at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

The Chinese troops which attempted to defend Kaifeng were the 141st, 142nd and 34th divisions under General Shang Chen. They left a large number of dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled 47 killed and 125 injured.

Part of the Japanese forces then gave running fight to the enemy and at dawn, May 7th, occupied Chungmow, halfway between Kaifeng and Chengchow. The Chinese troops started retreating from Chengchow, the junction of the Lung-Hai and Peking-Hankow Railways, toward Loyang.

A Japanese detachment which approached Kihsien on June 1st encountered about 2,500 Chinese troops, which were routed in a westward direction, leaving about 300 dead.

Part of this detachment attacked Kihsien, while its main body kept up the western drive. On June 3rd, it occupied Tunghsu. The following evening it took Weitze practically without resistance. The Peking-Hankow Railway is now only 32 kilometres away. Kihsien also fell into Japanese hands on the evening of June 3rd.

Part of the Japanese forces attacked Chinese troops about one division strong south of Liuho Station on the Lung-Hai Railway on June 2nd and repulsed them the following day. They occupied Lihotsi that afternoon. The Chinese numbered about 6,000 men belonging to the 74th division, armed with over a dozen field guns and trench-mortars. The enemy left some 400 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled about 100.

Another Japanese unit dislodged the Chinese troops from their positions near Tienlingchai, northeast of Kihsien on June 2nd. It also encountered Chinese troops, about six battalions strong, moving from the north and routed them westward. The enemy left about 200 dead.

The Japanese on June 3rd, gave running fight to the retreating enemy and reached the area south of Chenliu via Shihyuan, north of Kihsien, toward evening. On June 5th, they entered Chuhsien, which is halfway between Kaifeng and Weihsien. On June 6th, the main body of this force reached the area southwest of Kaifeng and cooperated with the Japanese troops which reduced Kaifeng in dealing with the Chinese troops which were fleeing west from Kaifeng.

Hwainan Railway is Occupied

The Japanese detachment which drove west along the Hwainan Railway kept up its western drive after occupying Chaohsien. By dislodging the Chinese troops from the Hwangshan area, this detachment, on the evening of May 13th, reached the line between Tienpu and the right bank of the Fei River south of it. On May 14th it occupied Luchow (Hofei), an important town on the Hwainan Railway. In these engagements, the enemy left some 2,000 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled about 60.

In concert with this detachment, another Japanese force which guarded the western side of the Japanese encircling line round Hsuchow swung south and reached Peikiao on the southern bank of the Hwai River, halfway between Showhsien and Hwaiyuan on June 3rd. The following

evening, this force reached a point about 4 kilometres east of Showhsien, while part of it advanced south of Showhsien, by crossing Wafow Lake. Showhsien fell into the hands of this force on June 5th.

The enemy in this sector was composed of several divisions, including the 173rd, 174th, 31st and 130th.

Part of the Japanese forces which took part in the Hsuchow battle turned south and reached the area north of Fengtai and immediately advanced on the left bank of the Hwai River. At 5 o'clock p.m., June 4th, it crossed the Hwai River near Shwangkiaotsi (about 3 kilometres northeast of Chengyangkwan) and intercepted the highway between Showhsien and Chengyangkwan.

It immediately drove on Chengyangkwan and reached the eastern side of Chengyangkwan on the evening of June 5th. At 12:25 a.m., June 6th, it occupied the East Gate of Chengyangkwan and completely occupied the walled town before daylight, driving away the Kwangsiite troops, composed of the 131st and 135th divisions.

By occupying the Hwainan Railway and the strategical point of Chengyangkwan, the Japanese forces established a position menacing the flank of the Chinese defence line round Hankow.

Activities of the Military Air Force

The Japanese military air force in concert with the naval air force cooperated closely with the ground forces when the Japanese troops started an encircling movement round Hsuchow. It was remarkably active in conducting reconnaissance flights, establishing liaison, and supplying the ground forces with arms, ammunition and provisions.

In addition to conducting reconnaissance flights and establishing liaison, the military air force cooperated with the ground forces by bombing the Chinese military establishments and troop concentrations, thus facilitating the latter's swift movements.

The Shansi and Peking-Hankow Railway Fronts

The Japanese garrisons in Shansi Province are active in maintaining peace and order, by dealing drastically with remnants of Chinese troops. Presuming that the Japanese had withdrawn some troops from Shansi toward Hsuchow, the Chiang Kai-shek Administration sent a large force of well-equipped central troops to Shansi, but they were repulsed by the Japanese garrisons.

The Japanese garrison at Puhsien, the southern terminus of the Tatung-Puhsien Railway, was enveloped by a large body of Chinese troops on May 2nd, but succeeded in repulsing them with the arrival of reinforcements. The enemy fled toward Sihsien on May 7th. In this engagement which lasted for a week, the enemy whose numerical strength was estimated at 15,000 left 500 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled 19 killed and 160 wounded. The enemy belonged to the Chinese 61st, 65th, 71st and 72nd divisions.

On May 6th, about 10,000 Chinese soldiers crossed to the left bank of the Yellow River near Wuwangtu and invaded Shansi Province, but were repulsed by the Japanese garrisons. The enemy fled to the right bank of the Yellow River.

The Japanese garrison at Lishih in western Shansi Province was repeatedly attacked by Chinese troops, but repulsed them every time. The Japanese garrison on May 6th attacked about 2,000 Chinese belonging to the 61st division which had taken up positions north of Lishih and routed them after hand-to-hand fighting.

The Kanamori detachment attacked the Chinese troops which had entrenched themselves at a point about 5 kilometres east of Lishih and drove them northward on May 22nd after fighting for nine hours. The enemy left about 400 dead.

The Japanese garrison at Chungyang in western Shansi was repeatedly attacked by 4,000 Chinese under General Wang Ching-kuo after April 26th, but repulsed them on May 5th, in cooperation with Japanese reinforcements sent from Lishih.

On May 16th, the Japanese garrison stormed the Chinese independent 2nd brigade, about 5,000 strong, and dispersed it. The enemy left 87 dead, 2 mountain-guns, 4 machine-guns, 3 light machine-guns and a large quantity of ammunition.

The Japanese garrisons at Kuwo and Howmachen in southwestern Shansi started an attack on a large force of Chinese troops armed with 12 tanks on May 12th. The enemy was repulsed on May 14th, but fighting in the suburbs still continued. The Japanese reinforcements which dashed from Sinkiang and Linfen encountered superior forces of Chinese troops on the way, but the situation developed in favour of the Japanese on May 18th. The Japanese dispersed the enemy west of Howmachen and near Shihtsunchen on May 19th.

The Chinese losses are estimated to have reached enormous figures. In the engagement with the Nakamura detachment near Kuwo on May 18th, the enemy left 1,600 dead.

The enemy near Kuwo still held the height on the southern bank of the Tsang River where it offered stiff resistance, while the enemy near Howmachen received further reinforcements from the south. On May 22nd and 23rd, the Japanese garrisons started attacks on the enemy positions west and northwest of Howmachen respectively.

The railway was interrupted near Linfen in southwestern Shansi, but it was re-opened to traffic on May 21st.

Several hundred Chinese soldiers counter-attacked the Japanese at Sinkiang and Yungcheng on May 17th and 18th, but were immediately repulsed by the Japanese garrisons.

The Japanese garrison at Sinhsien in northern Shansi dispersed about 1,000 Chinese soldiers on May 4th and advanced on Tingsiang. On May 6th, this garrison routed some 1,700 Chinese soldiers, belonging to the newly-organized 2nd division. The enemy left 330 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled 1 killed and 5 injured.

The Japanese garrison at Tamengchen, about 24 kilometres southwest of Sinhsien, attacked about 300 Communist soldiers who had been engaged

in guerilla warfare and dispersed them. The enemy left about 50 dead.

The Japanese garrison at Hwaiking in northern Honan Province attacked about 6,000 Chinese which had taken up positions in the area southwest of Hwaiking and dealt them an overwhelming blow. The enemy fled toward the south and west, leaving about 800 dead, 4 trench-mortars, 4 heavy guns, 2 light machine-guns, 300 rifles, and large quantities of ammunition. The Japanese losses totalled 14 killed and 85 injured.

The garrison on May 19th engaged about 1,500 Chinese soldiers belonging to the 166th and the 8th route army near Hwaiking and in villages on the Tsin River and routed them. The enemy left about 200 dead.

The Japanese garrison at Wuan in northern Honan Province at dawn, May 9th, made a surprise attack on about 2,000 Communist regulars at a point about 20 kilometres south of Wuan and dispersed them. The enemy left about 250 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled only 2 killed and 15 injured.

At dawn, May 22nd, this garrison again stormed the stronghold of about 600 bandits nearby. The bandits fled, leaving 220 dead.

The Hashidate detachment on May 19th attacked about 1,000 Communist soldiers at Jenhsien in Hopei Province and dispersed them. The enemy left about 100 dead. The Japanese casualties totalled 6 killed and 15 injured.

The Japanese garrison at Weihsien, border-town between Hopei and Shantung Provinces, was counter-attacked by a strong body of Chinese troops on May 10th, but Lieutenant Miyoshi, commander of the garrison, at the head of his men succeeded in routing them. The enemy casualties are conservatively estimated to have reached 600, including 263 killed in a bayonet charge. The Japanese capture included 100 rifles, 6 light machine-guns and a large quantity of ammunition. The outcome of the engagement struck terror into the Chinese guerilla corps in the Weihsien district.

The Japanese garrison at Menghsien 80 kilometres northeast of Taiyuan, capital of Shansi Province, was attacked by about 250 Chinese soldiers on May 16th. The latter were immediately repulsed.

The Inner Mongolian Front

The Communist 8th route army invaded Northeastern Shansi Province during the month of April to engage in sinister activities, whereupon the Japanese forces in Shansi Province lost no time in dealing out heavy losses on every occasion.

On April 12th, some 400 Communist soldiers were defeated near Yangyuan. The enemy left about 150 dead and 60 rifles. On May 6th, about 250 Communist soldiers were routed near Kwangling, leaving about 100 dead. On May 24th, some 500 Communists were defeated. The enemy left about 40 dead.

From early in April to late in May, the Japanese forces engaged Communist troops aggregating about 6,000 men no less than 18 times. The enemy lost about 550 men, 180 rifles and 11 machine-guns, while the Japanese casualties totalled 5 killed and 16 injured.

Chinese troops under Generals Fu Tsoi, Hu Chu-kuo and Men Ping-yo which were defeated by the Japanese forces near Holinkoerh early in May were silent for a time, but succeeded in reorganizing and rallying themselves at Chinshuiho, Lamawan and Siachengwan. They resumed their anti-Japanese operations once more.

The Japanese forces immediately launched a counter-offensive to meet them, advancing from Tokto in the north and Pinglu in the east. On May 29th, the Japanese reached the line between Lamawan and Tahungcheng and also the area east of Chingshuiho.

By breaking through the enemy positions, all the Japanese units massed near Chingshuiho on May 31st and immediately gave chase to the retreating enemy. On June 3rd, the Japanese forces reached the line between Laoniuwan and Shuichuanying.

The Matsuyoshi detachment, which advanced from Chingpingchen to Pienkwan defeated about 800 Chinese soldiers near Chihopu on May 31st. On June 2nd, this detachment attacked about 1,000 Chinese which had taken up positions near Laoyingpu. After encountering and defeating troops under General Ho Chu-ko which had been moving south, the Japanese detachment succeeded in occupying Laoyingpu and its vicinity by noon on June 3rd.

II. —FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION—

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Cooperation with the Army in the Battle of Hsuchow

The Japanese Naval Air Force played an active part in the battle of Hsuchow, cooperating with the military forces which successfully carried out an encircling movement round that city. An outline of the activities of the Naval Air Force is given below.

May 2nd Naval air units reconnoitred the eastern section of the Lung-Hai Railway and effectively bombed troop trains near Fofeng and troop concentrations near Sunkiatien and Shihlimiao.

May 3rd Naval air units attacked Hsuchow and bombed godowns and tracks at the railway station there.

May 4th Several naval planes visited Chiehhsien, Hsuchow and Kweiteh on the Lung-Hai Railway and the intermediate stations between them and bombed military establishments, railway tracks and goods waggons.

May 5th Suhsien, Kuchen and Mengcheng were visited, where troop concentrations and munition depots were bombed. The Japanese also bombed the Chinese headquarters at Kuchen.

May 6th Troop concentrations at Tancheng in southern Shantung Province were attacked.

May 7th In cooperation with the Japanese military operations in southern Shantung Province, naval air units visited Yunho, an important station on the eastern section of the Lung-Hai Railway, and effectively bombed goods waggons, munition depots and troop concentrations there.

May 8th Suhsien, Fengtai and Fowning were raided ; railway stations, military goods waggons, troop concentrations, military positions and other military establishments were bombed.

Other air units flew over Yunho, a strategic point east of it and Kanyu, a town at the northeastern extremity of Kiangsu Province, and bombed the military establishments there.

May 9th Munition dumps, troop concentrations and troop trains at Suhsien, Sinanchen and Yunho were thoroughly bombed.

May 10th Hsuchow and surrounding districts were raided twice, where military establishments, military goods waggons and munition dumps were bombed.

May 11th Several naval air units visited Suhsien and Kuchen in the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and bombed military freight trains between them.

May 12th Naval planes, in cooperation with the ground forces along

the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, attacked the enemy. They made three raids on Hsuhsien and effectively bombed the railway station, tracks, munition dumps and troop concentrations there. Mengcheng was also visited and the troop concentrations south of it were repeatedly attacked, while other naval air units visited Chuhsien in southeastern Shantung Province and bombed the troop concentrations there.

May 13th Over 70 naval planes under command of Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi visited Hsuchow and showered bombs at the military establishments, including freight trains, munition dumps, railway tracks and the North Station. As the result of the Japanese bombing, fires broke out at several points in Hsuchow.

Another naval air unit commanded by Lieutenant Iwaki raided Yunho Station and bombed the station buildings and goods waggons there.

May 14th Naval air forces led by Lieutenant Shibata and Sub-Lieutenant Ikegami flew over Suhsien and bombed the military establishments and troop concentrations there, as the result of which fires were started at over a dozen places in the town.

Over a dozen naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Sonokawa with Lieutenants Kobayashi, Murata and Takahashi visited Kuchen and bombed enemy positions.

Another naval air unit visited the eastern section of the Lung-Hai Railway bombing military freight trains and locomotives.

May 15th A naval air detachment led by Lieutenant-Commander Suzuki raided Tangshan on the Lung-Hai Railway and attacked the troop concentrations in and around the town. This detachment bombed and destroyed the Tangshan airfield. It also attacked a large force of Chinese troops fleeing westward at a point east of Hsuchow. The Chinese positions between Suhsien and Kuchen were also attacked.

About 30 naval planes led by Lieutenant Takahashi visited Kuchen and bombed troop concentrations there.

May 16th A naval air unit led by Lieutenant Morinaga visited Hsuchow and attacked the enemy positions in a hilly district east of Hsuchow, inflicting severe damage. Another unit commanded by Lieutenant Shibata also visited Hsuchow and attacked the troop concentrations at Kangcheng, east of Hsuchow, causing heavy losses.

A naval air detachment commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Sonokawa attacked troop trains on the Lung-Hai Railway and troop concentrations along the railway zone, while naval air units led by Lieutenant Murata and Sub-Lieutenant Satoh attacked the enemy positions at Tamiao including a group of tanks near there. Naval air units led by Lieutenant Takahashi and Sub-Lieutenant Takaoka attacked troop concentrations in the area west of Mengcheng and the naval air unit commanded by Lieutenant Iwashiro attacked the enemy positions along the Grand Canal, dealing them a heavy blow. Sustained attacks were also made on Suhsien and other important Chinese positions along the Lung-Hai and Tientsin-Pukow Railways.

May 17th Troop concentrations east of Hsuchow were attacked despite the foul weather, and heavy damage was inflicted on the enemy.

May 19th The last day of Hsuchow arrived. The city fell before the Japanese onslaught. The scene then changed and Japanese forces, both

land and air, started pursuit of the enemy which was fleeing in disorder from Hsuchow. The Japanese naval air force was also active in attacking the fleeing enemy.

May 21st Naval air units were active all day, cooperating with the ground forces in attacking Chinese troop concentrations southeast of Hsuchow.

May 22nd Naval air units assisted the ground forces in clearing the area north of Hsuchow from the remnants of Chinese troops. Attacks were also made on the Chinese positions in the villages northeast of Pengpu. Sustained attacks were made on the Chinese troop concentrations at Holiutsi and the area west of it.

May 23rd Repeated attacks were made on the Chinese retreating from the direction of Hsuchow. Naval air units attacked junks carrying Chinese troops on Lake Hungtse and the Grand Canal and sunk many of them.

Chinese troop concentrations at Kwoyang and vicinity were bombed effectively, while enemy troop concentrations in the area south of Mengcheng and also at Panpuchen and Hsukow were attacked.

May 24th Naval air units visited Hwaiyin, Hwaian and Yingchow and attacked remnants of the Chinese troops which had found their way into those towns. Attacks were also made on the Chinese troops which had taken up positions at Wuhu, Szeyang and other places near Lake Hungtse and on about 5,000 Chinese at Tashahochen west of Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway.

May 25th Over 40 Japanese naval planes visited Hwaiyuan, Fengtai and Yingchow and attacked troop concentrations there, inflicting heavy losses.

May 26th A large force of Chinese troops was sighted fleeing to the area north of Liuho from the direction of Hsuchow, whereupon about 70 Japanese naval planes attacked them continuously. Over 20 villages in which the enemy had established positions were also attacked. Losses sustained by the enemy are estimated to have been very heavy.

Chumatien in southern Honan Province on the southern section of the Peking-Hankow Railway has been used by the Chinese armies as a base of operations. Consequently, the Japanese Naval Air Force repeatedly attacked it.

May 21st Over 30 Japanese naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Suzuki and Lieutenant Aioi visited Chumatien and dropped over 200 bombs on the railway station and munition dumps there. Forty goods waggons were destroyed ; gasoline tanks and munition dumps in the railway compounds were burnt.

May 23rd Over 20 Japanese naval planes again visited Chumatien and bombed the airfield, fuel depots and gunpowder dumps there, with the result that fires were started at several points in the town which was enveloped in murky smoke.

May 25th A naval bombing squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Mano visited Nanyang in southwestern Honan Province and bombed the airfield and gasoline tanks there, which were burnt. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders.

Occupation of Lienyunchiang

Closely following the reduction of Hsuchow by the Japanese military forces, a Japanese marine force made a surprise landing at Lienyunchiang and occupied this port town, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway.

May 20th Covered by warships and naval aeroplanes, a powerful body of Japanese marines effected a landing at Tunglien Island and Lienyunchiang in face of the enemy on the morning of May 20th. Dislodging the Chinese from positions where they offered stiff resistance, the marine force occupied the port town by nightfall.

Within two days after their landing, the Japanese marine force succeeded in clearing Lienyunchiang and its vicinity of Chinese troops and immediately started work on the repair of wharfs and other port facilities destroyed by the enemy. Emergency wharfs have already been put into commission.

The enemy left about 100 dead in retreating from Lienyunchiang. Losses suffered by the enemy as the result of bombardments by Japanese warships and bombing by Japanese naval planes totalled enormous figures.

May 23rd The Japanese marine force attacked enemy positions between Sunkiashan and Peikushan at noon, inflicting heavy damage on them. The Japanese Naval Air Force in concert with the ground forces made sustained attacks on the retreating Chinese troops.

May 25th Japanese naval air units repeatedly attacked the Chinese troop concentrations in and round Haichow.

May 28th Haichow and its vicinity were again visited where Chinese military positions were effectively bombed.

May 29th Japanese naval air units visited the area west of Haichow and either bombed or machine-gunned Chinese troop concentrations there and in the neighbouring villages.

May 30th The area north of Haichow which was infested by remnants of Chinese troops was visited.

Capture of Amoy Island

Amoy has been one of the major bases of anti-Japanese operations for the Chinese National Government. Amoy is separated from Formosa by a narrow strip of water. It is an important port in Fukien Province, conducting brisk trade with foreign countries. The Japanese navy occupied it at dawn, May 10th.

A large number of Chinese who are actively engaged in trade and other business in foreign countries come from Amoy. Therefore, the fall of that city has dealt a severe blow not only to the Nationalist Government but to Chinese abroad, who have been generously supplying their Government with war funds. Many Japanese nationals, especially Formosans, resided at Amoy before the outbreak of the China Affair, but their property had been confiscated by the Chinese authorities, while some of them were executed by firing-squads as spies.

May 10th A strong body of Japanese marines effected a landing at dawn on the eastern shore of Amoy Island in face of the enemy, covered by warships and aeroplanes. The Japanese authorities did everything in their

power to protect the lives and property of the nationals of third Powers and also of peaceful Chinese people. But the Chinese troops which had hitherto frequently used educational and religious institutions for military purposes established strong defence works in the compounds of Amoy University, which the Japanese air force bombed effectively, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.

May 11th The Japanese marine force broke through the enemy positions at noon and entered Amoy City ; at 6 o'clock, the same evening, it occupied the entire town together with the compounds of Amoy University, where the enemy had taken up positions. Attacks were immediately started on the forts at Paishih, Hulishan and Panshih. Panshih Fort was reduced during the night, while Hulishan Fort was taken at 9 o'clock, the following morning.

Japanese naval air units attacked caravans of Chinese military motor-cars and motor-lorries on the continent. They also visited Lungyen and Changting, Foochow and Kienow in Fukien Province and Tienho and Pokwan near Canton, bombing the airfields and dealing heavy damage to the hangars and other installations.

May 12th Hulishan Fort was taken in the morning. All key points on Amoy Island were occupied during the day, while a clean-up campaign was started against the remnants of Chinese troops which fled into the mountainous region.

May 13th Several naval air units effectively bombed Tapanchiao Fort on the mainland, opposite Amoy.

May 14th A Japanese ground force crossed to the island and occupied Tapanchiao Fort, which was then dismantled.

Traffic on the Canton-Hankow Railway is Disrupted

The Japanese Naval Air Force is disrupting the Canton-Hankow Railway, the last defence line of the Chinese Nationalist Government, with sustained attacks. Frantic efforts are being made by the enemy to reorganize and strengthen the military establishments along the railway and also at Canton and Hankow, the terminal points.

May 2nd Pakonghow was visited and goods trains and railway tracks north of it were bombed.

May 4th All railway stations south of Shiuchow were visited ; military establishments and steel bridges were bombed.

May 6th The Japanese Naval Air Force devoted its attention to Yingtak and the surrounding district on the Canton-Hankow Railway, where railway stations, railway tracks, steel bridges, godowns, goods trains and junks near wharves were bombed effectively.

May 7th Wongshek and Pakonghow were visited. Military freight trains and railway tracks were bombed near Wongshek and the military arsenal and anti-aircraft batteries near Pakonghow were attacked.

May 8th Railway tracks and munition depots south of Pakonghow were attacked.

May 12th Naval air units made surprise attacks on the airfields at Tienho and Pokwan near Canton, where not a single Chinese plane challenged them.

May 13th Pakonghow was raided again. Railway tracks and goods trains south of it were bombed. Sheklung Station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was attacked ; station buildings and railway tracks were destroyed. A night raid was made on the airfield at Tienho where the hangars and military barracks were bombed.

May 14th Several railway stations south of Shiuchow were attacked and bombs were dropped on station buildings, military freight trains and railway tracks. Military trains and railway tracks near Saitsun were also bombed and damaged, while Kungyifow on the Sunning Railway was visited and bombed.

May 15th Several naval air units visited Pakonghow and bombed the military arsenal there. Several bombs hit the arsenal. The local anti-aircraft batteries were also attacked, while the sidetracks in the railway compounds and several military freight trains were bombed and damaged. A night raid was made on the airfield at Tienho, near Canton.

May 16th Shatsun on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was visited where military trains were attacked, while junks carrying munitions near Samshui were also bombed. The airfield at Pokwan near Canton too was attacked and various installations there together with the military barracks were bombed and damaged.

May 17th Several points between Yingtak and Shiuchow on the Canton-Hankow Railway were bombed, while military freight trains were attacked. The hangars and various installations at the Koyiu airfield were bombed and damaged.

May 22nd Wongli Station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was visited ; railway tracks there were bombed and destroyed.

May 25th Japanese naval planes flew over Tungtang Station on the Canton-Hankow Railway south of Pakonghow. The railway tracks there were destroyed at three points. Sheklung Station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was also visited and station buildings and railway tracks were bombed. Several bombs hit the station buildings, which were burnt.

May 26th Pakonghow was again raided and various points south of it were bombed. Railway tracks south of Pakonghow were disrupted at several points.

May 27th About 40 Japanese naval planes visited the Canton-Kowloon Railway and bombed steel bridges, railway tracks and station buildings there. Two railway bridges were destroyed and the railway tracks were disrupted at over a dozen points.

May 28th A large-scale air attack on Canton was launched. About 30 Japanese naval planes visited Canton and bombed Wongsha Station, the terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway. Station buildings, godowns and railway tracks were either destroyed or burnt. The Kwangtung Provincial Government buildings and the Chinese military headquarters were also bombed. The Japanese raiders were greeted with fierce fire from the Chinese military positions in and around Canton, but all of them returned to their base safely. Indiscriminate firing by the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries and machine-gun emplacements apparently caused heavy casualties among the Chinese civilians.

May 29th Another group of 30 Japanese naval planes again raided

Canton, and furiously bombed the military establishments there.

Wongsha Station was bombed again, and various establishments in the station compounds including godowns were burnt or destroyed together with goods trains. The aeroplane repair shops in southeastern Canton were bombed and demolished. The Kwangtung Provincial Government buildings and the military headquarters were bombed. The anti-aircraft batteries in the factory zone at Honan, part of Canton, were bombed and virtually destroyed.

Munition factories at Tsengpu, a suburb of Canton were also attacked and the sulphuric acid factory, cement mills and electric power stations were bombed.

May 30th Air attacks on the military establishments in and around Canton were continued despite heavy anti-aircraft fire. Buildings of the Canton Municipal Government, the Kwangtung Provincial Government, the military headquarters and Finance Ministry were bombed. Several bombs hit these buildings, of which the Provincial Government ones were burnt.

The anti-aircraft batteries east of Saitsun were bombed and destroyed. The munition factories of Tsengpu, a suburb of Canton, were bombed and the electric power station, the sulphuric acid factory and cement mills were destroyed, with scores of bombs taking effect. The military arsenal in the northeastern part of Canton was bombed, the shops and godowns of which were burnt.

May 31st Japanese planes raided the Canton-Hankow Railway. Railway tracks at Lohchong and in the mountain defile north of it were bombed. The line was disrupted at fourteen points, while in one place a cliff collapsed burying the tracks. Part of the station establishments at Lohchong was burnt.

One Japanese naval air unit visited Canton and attacked the airfield at Pokwan near Canton. The military barracks in the northwestern part of the airfield were bombed and burnt, while the anti-aircraft batteries were bombed and destroyed. Another Japanese naval air unit raided Saitsun and bombed goods trains and railway tracks north of Saitsun.

About 30 Japanese naval planes commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Tokoro visited Hankow, but they were troubled by poor visibility. Nine Japanese planes, led by Lieutenant Yoshitomi, which formed an outer flank of the Japanese squadrons sighted about 50 Chinese planes. Engaging the enemy planes despite heavy odds, the Japanese raiders succeeded in bringing down 20 out of some 50 Chinese planes after a 20-minute combat. All but one of the Japanese planes returned to their base safely.

One Japanese plane which participated in the raid, piloted by Warrant Officer Minami, was disabled with the wings hit by several bullets. It made a forced landing on the Yangtze River, but was rescued by a Japanese patrol boat.

In Central and South China

May 3rd Naval planes flew over Nanling, Fowning and Sihochen south of Wuhu. Chinese troop concentrations were bombed with heavy losses.

May 14th Koyiu in Kwangtung Province was raided and the airfield and munition depot were attacked. The depot exploded and was burnt.

May 15th Changchow, Chaochow and Foochow in Fukien Province were visited and the airfields there were bombed. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders. The hangars in the airfield at Foochow were destroyed.

May 16th The airfields at Meihsien, Lungyen, Kutien and Kienow were bombed, without opposition from Chinese planes.

May 25th A Japanese naval bombing squadron commanded by Lieutenant Morinaga raided Siangyang in northwestern Hupei Province and bombed the airfield. It also visited Laohokow in northwestern Hupei Province and bombed the airfield there, destroying various installations.

May 26th The Japanese Naval Air Force was active over an extensive area, visiting points in the three provinces of Fukien, Kiangsi and Chekiang.

The airfield at Pucheng in northern Fukien Province was bombed. Two planes on the ground and the runway were destroyed.

Yushan in Kiangsi Province was also visited and the airfield there was attacked, but no Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders, who destroyed the runway.

About 10 Japanese naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Suzuki visited Nancheng in Kiangsi Province on the afternoon of May 26th and attacked the local airfield. Two Chinese planes on the ground were destroyed. A large building and a hangar in the airfield were bombed and destroyed. The Japanese raiders discovered six dummy planes at the airfield in addition to the two real ones which they bombed and destroyed.

May 28th A Japanese naval air unit visited Kanhsien in Kiangsi Province and attacked the airfield there. One Chinese plane on the ground was bombed and destroyed, while the fuel depot, airfield and runway were bombed. The fuel depot went up in flames.

Another naval air unit raided Kwanghsing in Kiangsi Province, attacking the airfield. No Chinese planes were sighted on the ground, but the runway was bombed and destroyed.

Nancheng in Kiangsi Province was also visited and the airfield there including hangars was bombed and destroyed.

The airfields at Ningpo and Chuki in Chekiang Province was bombed.

May 31st The Japanese Naval Air Force made extended visits to the three provinces of Fukien, Chekiang and Hunan.

Foochow, Pucheng, Kienow, and Yushan in Fukien Province, Lishui, Chuchow and Ningpo in Chekiang Province and Siangtan in Hunan Province were visited ; the airfields were attacked. Several godowns at the aerodromes at Lishui, Chuchow, Yushan, Siangtan and Ningpo were bombed and burnt.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. —ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—

Press Section, War Department

Recent activities of the Japanese military forces in China have centred in the drive up the Yangtze River. This drive has been made possible by the brilliant cooperation of the three arms of the Japanese forces, land, sea and air. Anking, capital of Anhwei Province was captured on June 12th. The next immediate objective was the important Chinese military base at Hukow, standing at a point on the Yangtze, about 20 kilometres downstream from Kiukiang and about 120 kilometres from Hankow.

After the Japanese troops completed their withdrawal from the area flooded as the result of the destruction of the southern dikes of the Yellow River by Chinese troops, their operations upstream along the Yangtze became more active. The Japanese took Tsienshan on June 17th and Tikang, about 40 kilometres above Wuhu, on the following day.

Certain Japanese troops taking part in the drive left Anking on June 23rd and effected a landing on the southern bank of the river at Hsiangkow in the face of the enemy. The Hsiangkow district was cleared of Chinese troops who were pressed westward and routed.

In this engagement of June 24th, the enemy left 305 dead, 305 rifles, 13 light machine-guns and 3 heavy machine-guns. The Japanese took 126 Chinese soldiers prisoner, including a staff officer of the Chinese Navy. The Japanese casualties totalled 15 injured.

On June 26th, the Japanese occupied Matangchen, a strategically important town on the southern bank of the Yangtze, by dislodging the comparatively well-equipped Chinese troops from their positions on the southern bank of that River. Pengtseh was taken on June 29th and also Shihpoling south of it.

On June 30th, the Japanese crossed the stream to the west of Pengtseh. At noon, July 2nd, they broke through the enemy positions at a height near Liuszekiao (about 16 kilometres east of Hukow). Maintaining their drive, the Japanese broke through strong Chinese positions from Wutsun to Tsomapan (7 kilometres east of Hukow), the main defence line of Hukow, at 1 p.m., July 3rd. The Japanese occupied Hukow at 6 p. m., July 4th. The following morning, the Japanese forces made a triumphant entry into Hukow.

In the engagements from the Japanese landing on the bank east of Hsiangkow on June 24th to the occupation of Hukow on July 4th, the Chinese losses are estimated at 6,000, including 3,000 dead left on the field. The Japanese spoils of war included 100 horses, 20 guns, a large number of rifles and revolvers, two gunpowder magazines and 10 motorcars.

The Fowning Sector

The Japanese Garrison at Fowning left Fowning late in June and moved southward, when part of the remnants of Chinese troops attacked the rear of the Japanese column. The Japanese then turned back and started a clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops which were practically routed by the morning of July 15th.

Along the Yangtze River

While the Japanese forces were advancing on Tsienshan north of the Yangtze River and also on Hukow on the southern bank of the river, General Chiang Kai-shek apparently formulated a plan for encircling the Japanese troops from the Tapieh mountain range north of the Yangtze and also from the southern bank by concentrating about 15 divisions of troops near Tsienshan north of the Yangtze and about 12 divisions on the southern bank of the river. His plan was frustrated by timely counter-attacks launched by the Japanese forces.

Since then there has been no change in the situation. About 100 Chinese soldiers made three attacks on the Japanese positions at Maotsashan, about 8 kilometres east of Hukow on July 14th and 15th, but were repulsed by the Japanese on every occasion.

Reduction of Kiukiang

The Japanese military force which had been preparing a further drive upstream since its occupation of Hukow on July 4th resumed operations on July 23rd.

The Takahashi and Satoh detachments at 2:40 a.m., July 23rd crossed Poyang Lake and effected a landing near Kutang, southwest of Hukow in face of the enemy. Successfully battering Chinese positions in a mountainous region despite the intense heat, these detachments reached the line between Choukialing and Matsushan by noon, and about 4 p. m. advanced to the line connecting Tsinchuanshan, Tatingshan and Wuchangting.

On July 24th, the Japanese troops broke through the strong enemy positions between Kiaochuang and Tsaikiatang. By 8 a. m., the following day, they reduced the eastern half of a height 3 kilometres southwest of Kuakaoshan. At midnight, the Japanese vanguard entered Kiukiang, which was completely occupied by 7:30 a. m., July 26th, with all remnants of Chinese troops routed.

Kiukiang is an important port town on the Yangtze, being the northern terminus of the Nanchang-Chekiang Railway. As it is only 200 kilometres from Hankow by the overland route, Kiukiang forms an important military base for the defence of Hankow.

The Japanese operations along both banks of the Yangtze River are progressing favourably. The Japanese force south of the river conducted operations against the Chinese troops in the Lushan mountain range after taking Kiukiang on July 26th, while another Japanese force north of the river frustrated the Chinese attempts to recapture Taihu, occupied Susung in southwestern Anhwei Province and also Hwangwei in southeastern Hupeh

Province. The Japanese operations against the remnants of Chinese troops near Kashing in Chekiang Province are also making steady progress.

The Kiukiang Front

On July 26th when the Japanese troops took Kiukiang, part of the Japanese force attacked Hsuchuang west of Kiukiang in pursuit of the retreating enemy, while another part dislodged the enemy from Szetzeshan (Lion's Hill). Some eight Chinese divisions engaged the Japanese at Kiukiang, but left 3,700 dead, 3 ten-centimetre guns, 2 field-guns, 2 anti-aircraft guns, 6 mountain-guns, several machine-guns, and large supplies of arms and ammunition. The Japanese detachment operating in the Lushan mountain range south of Kiukiang reduced part of the enemy positions on July 29th, by defeating two Chinese divisions under General Wu Chi-wei.

The Taihu, Susung and Hangmei Fronts

The Japanese troops which occupied Tsienshan, an important town in southwestern Anhwei Province, started a drive on Taihu on July 25th. The Hasegawa and Nakano detachments occupied the line connecting Wukiafailu, Fenghsiangpu and Hwangnikang at 10 a.m. The enemy, covered by an artillery force which had taken up positions at Kwanyinsze and Takiaotao, offered stiff resistance.

The Sano detachment occupied Takiaotao at 7 p.m., July 26th, by crossing the Chang River, while the Hasegawa detachment at 5 p.m. took the enemy artillery positions at Kwanyinsze and within an hour reached the eastern bank of the Chang River, about 700 metres east of Taihu.

Japanese military air units effectively bombed the enemy positions at Taihu on July 26th in cooperation with the Japanese ground forces. After dislodging the Chinese troops from their positions in the mountainous region, the Ogata, Ejima and Fujimura detachments at 11:20 a.m., July 27th reduced Taihu, a strategically important town in southwestern Anhwei Province. The enemy which consisted of the Chinese 31st army under General Wei Hsueh-Sung fled toward Hwangmei in southeastern Hupeh Province. The Chinese troops attempted not only to check the Japanese western push at the height northwest of Liangtingho but to launch an attack on Taihu in an effort to recapture it. But their attempts were frustrated by Japanese counter-attacks. The Japanese force, on the evening of July 28th, reached the line extending west and east from Liushuho (about 8 kilometres north of Taihu) and on July 30th routed the Chinese troops driving them northward. Part of the Hasegawa detachment reached the line of Liangtingho on the evening of July 27th.

The Japanese right column, the Nakano detachment, dislodged the Chinese troops from the villages at the southern base of the Tapieh mountain range early on the morning of July 28th and occupied Mayinpu, about 16 kilometres south of Kiangtingho, by 9 o'clock.

The Hasegawa detachment which formed the left column reached the district near Junpingtan about the same time and on the evening of July 31st occupied Erhlangho. On August 1st, the Japanese troops broke

through the Chinese positions at Chiehling, the border village between Anhwei and Hupeh Provinces, and entered Hupeh.

The part of this detachment that had advanced along the Taihu-Susung road from Liangtingho, started a general attach [sic] on Susung on the afternoon of August 1st covered by artillery fire and reduced it at 6 p.m.

On August 2nd, Japanese troops started a converging movement on Hwangmei in southeastern Hupeh Province, operating from Chiehling and Susung. At 4 p. m., the same day, they succeeded in occupying Hwangmei, which is a strategically important town in southeastern Hupeh Province, being only 200 kilometres away from Hankow.

South of the Yellow River

The inundation of the Yellow River, caused by the breach of the southern dikes on the part of the Chinese troops in a desperate attempt to check the Japanese drive on Chengchow and also on Hankow, steadily abated during the month of June, although toward the end of the month the waters rose again. During July, the Japanese troops in the flooded area completed their withdrawal to other places.

Prior to the Japanese withdrawal, a small Chinese unit attacked the Japanese troops near Kanglu, about 8 kilometres west of Weitze on June 20th, but was easily repulsed, leaving many dead. Judging by the dead bodies and also statements given by Chinese soldiers who were taken prisoner, the enemy belonged to the Chinese 24th division of the Central Army.

The Japanese troops followed up their victory, by attacking the Chinese positions southwest of Weitze and dealing crushing blows to the Chinese 20th and 24th divisions.

The Shansi Front

The Chinese troops in southern Shansi Province became active with the arrival of fresh troops from Tungkwan. Especially active were the Chinese troops at Wensi, which attacked the Japanese positions frequently though without success. According to statements given by Chinese prisoners, the Chinese 14th division established headquarters west of Kianghsien in southwestern Shansi Province where the Chinese 83rd and 84th divisions were stationed.

About 3,000 Chinese soldiers armed with mountain-guns and trench-mortars attacked the Japanese positions at Hotsin in southwestern Shansi Province at midnight, July 22nd, but were repulsed with heavy losses by the following dawn. The enemy left 120 dead besides 15 soldiers who were taken prisoner. The Japanese casualties totalled 1 killed and several injured.

Part of the Japanese troops which advanced to Yangwu routed the Chinese at Yuanwu at 6 a. m., July 29th. The same evening, the Japanese concentrated at Hsiaochichen. In the engagement, the enemy left 200 dead, but no casualty was suffered by the Japanese.

The Chinese troops in southern Shansi Province were comparatively well-equipped, possessing tanks and 12-centimetre trench-mortars. Those

which had taken up positions along the Kwei River formed the mainstay of the Chinese force, consisting of about 10 divisions of the Central Army under General Wei Li-huang. They apparently planned to recapture Shansi Province, taking advantage of the battle of Hsuchow and its aftermath in which large Japanese forces were concentrated there. Consequently, the Chinese troops in southern Shansi Province launched a pitched battle against the Japanese instead of their past guerrilla warfare.

On July 6th, the Japanese troops started general attacks on these Chinese troops from Sinkiang to Kuwo in the west and at Tachiaochen in the east.

The following day, the Japanese broke through all enemy positions. On the afternoon of July 7th, part of the Japanese force entered Kianghsien. The following morning, the Japanese troops gave a running fight to the Chinese, and at 11 a.m., July 12th reached Wanchuan.

The Japanese force operating in the Kianghsien area pressed the enemy southward into a defile and reached Wanglingkwan on the evening of July 11th. The centre of the Japanese force advanced to the area north of Yuncheng on the evening of July 11th and launched an attack on the enemy round Yuncheng.

Prior to this, part of the Japanese garrison at Yuncheng had moved north toward Wensi and on the afternoon of July 5th defeated a Chinese detachment east of Wensi. It proceeded to cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops from Kuwo and Howmachen.

The Japanese detachment which was attacking the enemy positions near Siyangtsun (about 20 kilometres east of Yuanku) in southeastern Shansi Province in concert with the Japanese military operations in other parts of that province, succeeded in breaking through the enemy positions on July 11th and entered Puchang. The main body of the enemy which was composed of the Chinese 17th, 83rd and 116th divisions fled southward across the Yellow River, while part fled into the mountains in the north.

The Morimoto detachment which reached a point north of Yuncheng on July 11th, after defeating the enemy on the way from Kuwo to Yuncheng dispersed the Chinese troops which had been besieging Yuncheng and entered the town on the afternoon of July 12th. All Chinese troops in the Yuncheng district were routed westward by July 15th.

Part of the Yamazaki detachment which entered Wanchuan at 11 a.m., July 12th drove northwest and occupied Tunghuachen.

Part of the Japanese force reached Ishih on the evening of July 13th, while other Japanese detachments started a general attack on Anyi on July 13th.

Another Japanese detachment, which pursued the enemy from Kianghsien toward Yuanku, reached Wanglingkwan on the evening of July 11th and Wangmaochen at midnight, July 12th. Two days later, this Japanese detachment effected a junction with the Japanese troops which had been operating at Siyangtsun and Puchang. Wangmaochen is only 12 kilometres northwest of Yuanku on the Yellow River which forms the southwestern border of Shansi Province.

The Mongolian Front

Japanese forces started operations in June against the Chinese Communist

troops which had been infesting northern Shansi Province from early in that month and successfully concluded the campaign on June 29th. In 19 engagements, the Communist troops left 670 killed, 130 horses, 81 rifles, 7 light machine-guns and other arms. The Japanese casualties totalled 7 killed and 12 injured.

As the successful result of the Japanese clean-up campaign, a large number of Communist soldiers and bandits are now surrendering to the Japanese in Inner Mongolia. Some of those who are given necessary guidance for following peaceful pursuits, while some are employed by the Federated Autonomous Government of Inner Mongolia as auxiliaries in combating the bandits.

So far, 4,000 Communist soldiers and bandits have surrendered, including those under General Yu Tzu-ho, while seven more applications, involving 2,000 soldiers, have been made to the Japanese authorities for surrender.

Activities of the Military Air Force

Chinese bombing squadrons have recently increased their activities. On July 24th and 25th, Chinese bombers raided Japanese positions in China six times, but no serious damage was sustained by the Japanese side. The Military Air Force is now standing by to crush the Chinese Air Force.

At 11 a.m., July 26th, four Japanese military planes encountered over a dozen Chinese planes of E 15 and 16 types west of Anking. In the ensuing battle, the Japanese succeeded in shooting down 9 Chinese planes over Lake Poyang.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II. — FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION —

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Activities of the Naval Air Force

The Japanese Naval Air Force has been cooperating with the Japanese naval and military forces in their drive on Hankow along the Yangtze River and keeping up its attacks on the military establishments at Canton, Foochow and other important towns in South China and on the Canton-Hankow Railway.

An outline of the activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force in China from July 5th to August 8th is given below.

July 5th Naval air units, while cooperating with the naval and military forces in their drive up and along the Yangtze, bombed the Chinese positions at Taihu in southwestern Anhwei Province. Naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Sonokawa repeatedly attacked Taihu and destroyed the enemy headquarters there. Chinese troop concentrations at Taihu were also attacked. An air unit commanded by Lieutenant Murata blew up over a dozen junks, containing Chinese troops near Taihu, while another group led by Lieutenant Taoka attacked a Chinese troop concentration southeast of Taihu and inflicted heavy losses on it.

July 6th The Naval Air Force was active in Central and South China. Several units attacked the Chinese positions on both banks of the Yangtze, while another visited Kienow in Fukien Province and effectively bombed the airfield there. Still another detachment raided Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, bombing the barracks and wireless station.

July 7th Another raid was made on Foochow, where the garrison headquarters were bombed. Several points on the Canton-Hankow Railway were bombed together with the airfield at Samshui. A goods train was attacked and overturned south of Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway, while the station compounds at Yingtak were attacked. The airfield at Samshui was again raided and the hangars and runways there were destroyed.

July 8th Wusueh on the Yangtze River above Kiukiang was visited and the enemy positions and troop concentrations there were attacked.

Chinese planes made four raids on Anking, but no damage was sustained by the Japanese side. Three Chinese planes were shot down, including two which were brought down by Japanese naval pursuit planes.

The Canton-Hankow Railway was attacked near Yingtak, where the track was disrupted at four points. Several godowns in the station compounds were bombed. Over 100 junks near Yingtak were blown up.

July 9th A large naval air unit led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi and Lieutenant Nakajima raided Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, and bombed the old and new airfields. Unchallenged, the Japanese raiders bombed and burnt five blocks of buildings, including hangars and aeroplane shops.

A naval air unit commanded by Lieutenant Mihara visited Hengyang in southern Hunan Province despite the cloudy weather and bombed the airfield there, defying a heavy barrage of anti-aircraft guns. Four out of over a dozen planes on the ground were bombed and burnt, while two more were destroyed.

The Japanese naval air units operating along the Yangtze River visited Tienkiachen above Kiukiang and bombed the enemy positions there. Other enemy positions on both banks of the Yangtze were also attacked.

July 10th The airfield at Sinyang in Honan Province was attacked. Tienkiachen was again raided, where the enemy positions were bombed. Taking advantage of the improvement of the weather in South China, several naval planes attacked Bocca Tigris Fort on the Pearl River.

July 11th Naval planes visited Yuantan on the Canton-Hankow Railway, destroying the steel bridge nearby. Enemy positions near Yingtak were attacked and the railway bridge near Yingtak was destroyed. Sheklung Station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was bombed and the steel bridge nearby was damaged. The Chinese positions at Tienkiachen and between Kiukiang and Hukow were attacked.

July 12th Hankow and Wuchang were visited by Japanese planes which bombed the enemy positions and barracks at Wuchang. The enemy anti-aircraft fire was very fierce, but all the Japanese planes returned to their base safely.

In addition to the raid on Hankow and Wuchang, Japanese naval planes visited Ichang, Yunghsiu and Yushan in Central China and bombed the airfields there. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders who noticed only three real planes and some dummy ones on the ground.

Naval planes operating along the Yangtze bombed and silenced the enemy artillery positions at Szetzeshan (Lion's Hill), below Kiukiang in cooperation with the naval force on the Yangtze. Two Chinese warships were bombed and burnt near Tienkiachen above Kiukiang.

July 13th Two out of several Chinese heavy bombers which raided a point below Hukow were shot down by Japanese naval pursuit planes.

July 15th Nanchang was raided and 15 out of 22 Chinese planes in the airfield there were bombed and destroyed, while the hangars and shops were heavily damaged.

The Chinese artillery position at Szetzeshan (Lion's Hill) was completely silenced by Japanese naval planes.

July 16th A large number of Japanese naval planes flew to Hankow in formation and bombed the airfield. Two large-sized planes and one medium-sized plane on the ground were destroyed. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders succeeded in shooting down 2 bombers and 8 pursuit-planes, of which one is unconfirmed, out of 25 Chinese planes. All the Japanese planes returned to their base safely. Kishui in eastern Hupeh Province was also raided; the Chinese positions were bombed

heavily.

Changmutao Station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway was bombed and the track near there was disrupted at three points. Japanese naval planes raided Yingtak and Shakow on the Canton-Hankow Railway and destroyed the railway tracks and station buildings.

July 17th Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, was raided again and 7 Chinese planes in the airfield there were bombed and destroyed, while the hangars were also damaged, including one which was burnt.

Naval planes operating along the Yangtze heavily bombed the Chinese positions on both banks of the river below Kiukiang, including those at Taohuashan and Sinkang.

Canton was visited. Wongsha Station, terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway, was bombed with the result that six buildings in the station compounds were destroyed and the track was disrupted at four points near the station. Chinese military works and munition factories round Canton were also bombed and damaged, while the military arsenal at Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway was bombed and burnt.

July 18th A large Japanese naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commander Matsumoto and Lieutenant Nango bombed the airfields at Nanchang.

When the Japanese planes appeared over the new airfield at Nanchang, they found that about 15 Chinese planes were taking the air to escape. Pursuit-planes commanded by Lieutenant Nango gave chase to and shot down 8 of them. Japanese bombers, led by Lieutenant-Commander Matsumoto, bombed and burnt 7 out of 12 Chinese planes which failed to leave the field. Finding that all the ammunition of their machine-guns were exhausted, several Japanese bombers made a daring landing on the Chinese airfield and set fire to the Chinese planes which had hitherto escaped.

Another naval air unit led by Lieutenant Watanabe attacked the old airfield at Nanchang, but found no enemy planes. There were several dummy planes on the ground. This unit returned to its base after heavily bombing and destroying various installations in the airfield.

In the unprecedented air combat over Nanchang, Lieutenant Nango, commander of the Japanese pursuit plane unit, shot down one of the 15 Chinese planes which was taking off. Lieutenant Nango was turning upon another Chinese plane, when the first plane shot down by him crashed, taking an unexpected course, and struck the left wing of his plane. Lieutenant Nango's plane broke up and he crashed to death with his machine.

Naval planes operating along the Yangtze kept up their bombing of the Chinese positions on both banks of the river, including those at Szetzeshan and Sinkang.

Naval planes visited Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway and bombed the munition factories there and also raided the Canton-Kowloon Railway and destroyed the track near Shatsun.

July 19th Hankow was raided again. Defying a fierce barrage from anti-aircraft guns, the Japanese raiders flew low over the airfield at Hankow and machine-gunned over 20 Chinese planes on the ground, including some dummies and burned 5 bombers of the SB type, one Northrop and one Douglas plane. Ten other planes, including bombers of SB type and Northrops were also damaged. Another Chinese bomber of the SB type was

shot down when it was taking the air.

Wuchang and Shechan were attacked and the military barracks and machine-gun emplacements there were bombed. Two Chinese military transports were bombed and sunk and two more were damaged and sent adrift near Yenchi above Hwangshihchi. Chinese positions on both banks of the Yangtze near Kiukiang, including Paishihchi, Lankiangchi, Sinkang, Szetzeshan and Hsiachukiao were bombed.

In South China, Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway was visited; its military arsenal and godowns were bombed.

July 20th At Yochow on the northeastern shore of Lake Tungting two Chinese warships and one transport were bombed and sunk, and four more warships were heavily damaged. Several lighters were also sunk.

In South China, the military arsenal and godowns at Pakonghow on the Canton-Hankow Railway were bombed and destroyed. Lohchong Station was visited and two engine-sheds together with four godowns were bombed and burnt. The Canton-Kowloon railway was disrupted at Sheklung.

July 21st Naval planes flew over Sinyang on the Peking-Hankow Railway. The station compounds were bombed and burnt. One goods train was also destroyed.

Naval planes operating along the Yangtze River bombed the Chinese positions on both banks of the river, including Sinkang, Paishihchi and Szetzeshan. One Chinese transport was bombed and stranded near Weiyuankow, while over twenty military junks were bombed and sunk. The military works near Weiyuankow were also bombed and destroyed.

July 22nd Naval air units visited Hankow, Siaokan, Kingmen, Ichang and Changsha in Central China and bombed the airfields there. Two medium-sized planes and one large-sized plane were bombed and destroyed. There were many dummy planes in the airfields, but not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders. Two Chinese planes took the air at Ichang, but fled away.

The Canton-Hankow Railway and the Canton-Kowloon Railways were disrupted at Sinkai and Sheklung respectively.

July 23rd Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, was visited and the airfield there was bombed. Four medium-sized planes on the ground were destroyed.

Attacks on the Chinese positions on the Yangtze River were resumed, including those near and below Kiukiang. Canton was visited again and the military works and munition factories in and round the city were bombed, including those at Tsengpu. The Canton-Hankow Railway was attacked near Saitsun and Shakow where three steel bridges were destroyed, while a goods train was bombed and damaged.

July 24th The Canton-Hankow Railway was attacked near Lienkonghow, Wongteh and Shakow and steel bridges and tracks were destroyed.

July 26th Attacks on the Chinese positions on both banks of the Yangtze River were kept up, including those near Kiukiang, Hsiaochikow, Tean, Shihlipu and Hwangshihkang. One Chinese gunboat was bombed and sunk at a point about 3 miles upstream from Hwangshihkang.

July 27th The Canton-Hankow Railway was attacked at Yochow and Sienning, where godowns, goods trains and tracks were bombed and destroyed.

The Nanchang and Chekiang Railway was attacked near Tean and Siushui, where remnants of Chinese troops were bombed or machine-gunned. Two Chinese heavy bombers were brought down by Japanese naval planes at a point southwest of Hankow and west of Wusueh.

July 28th Japanese naval planes operating along the Yangtze River continued their attacks on the Chinese military positions on both banks of the river, including those at Tienkiachen, Kichun and Susung. Several Chinese military junks also were bombed and sunk. Changshuchen west of Nanchang was visited where the airfield was bombed.

July 29th Tatung in Anhwei Province was visited and the base of operations for remnants of Chinese troops was bombed.

July 31st Three Chinese gunboats were bombed and stranded together with one small Chinese steamer above Kiukiang, while over a dozen Chinese military junks were also bombed and burnt.

August 1st Naval planes operating along the Yangtze River attacked the Chinese military positions on both banks of the river extended over a distance of 200 miles with Kiukiang as centre, including those at Kichun, Tienkiachen, Hwangshihkang, Hwangchow and Hsinchow. Three Chinese gunboats were bombed and sunk and three more destroyed. Three small gunboats also were sunk and five more damaged.

The Chinese troops destroyed the dikes of the Yangtze River at Kanhu, about 10 miles above Kiukiang in a desperate attempt to check the Japanese drive on Hankow.

August 2nd The Japanese Naval Air Force was active both in Central and South China. Sinyang and Kwangshui Stations on the Peking-Hankow Railway were visited and the godowns there were bombed and burnt. The Canton-Kowloon Railway was attacked at Changping, where godowns were destroyed. The Chinese military positions along the Yangtze River were bombed, while a large Chinese transport was sunk near Kichun.

August 3rd A large Japanese naval air unit flew to Hankow and attacked the airfield. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders succeeded in shooting down 32 out of over 50 Chinese planes including Gloster Gladiators, those of the E 15 and 16 types and Curtis-Hawks. Seven Chinese planes on the ground were also bombed and destroyed. Two Japanese planes were lost.

Sustained attacks were made on the Chinese military positions along the Yangtze River, including those at Wusueh, Twanfeng, Hwangshihkang and Tienkiachen.

One Chinese gunboat and another small gunboat were bombed and sunk between Wusueh and Twanfeng together with over a dozen junks which were loaded with munitions. A Chinese troop concentration near Pengtseh was attacked.

August 4th Nanchang was raided and the munition dumps and godowns in the railway compounds were bombed and destroyed. Over a dozen Chinese junks loaded to capacity with munitions were bombed and sunk near Kichun and Hwangshihkang.

August 5th Attacks on the Chinese positions along the Yangtze River were continued, including those at Hwangshihkang, Tienkiachen, Yangshanchi and Yangshan. One steamer, one large steamer-launch and a small

steamer, together with several junks were bombed and sunk near Hwangshihkang. The Canton-Kowloon and Canton-Hankow Railways were attacked at Shektan and Chuntien, Yinchanyao, and Yuantan respectively and the railway tracks and steel bridges at those places were bombed and destroyed.

August 6th Another big raid was made on Hankow. Bombing squadrons were led by Lieutenant-Commander Mano and pursuit plane units were led by Lieutenant Nakajima. The Japanese raiders bombed and burnt 8 out of over 20 Chinese heavy bombers of the SB type and destroyed 7 more. Eight godowns in the airfield were bombed and burnt together with munition dumps. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders, while the Chinese anti-aircraft fire was remarkably slack. All the Japanese planes returned to their base in safety.

In South China, Lishui and Yushan were visited; the local airfields were attacked. Yinchanyao on the Canton-Hankow Railway was raided and the steel bridge nearby was bombed and destroyed.

Chinese military positions along the Yangtze River were attacked again, including those at Echeng, Hwangshihkang and Yangshanchi. Two 700-ton steamers and three 100 to 200 ton mine-layers were bombed and burnt near Hwangshihkang and Echeng.

August 7th Nanchang was raided again by naval planes under the command of Lieutenant Soyeda. The airfields and railway station were bombed and destroyed. Two big godowns near the station were damaged, while about 30 newly-built godowns were destroyed on the Kankiang River to the west of the station.

August 8th Chinese positions along the Yangtze River were attacked again, including those at Echeng, Lanchichen, Tienkiachen and between Wuhu and Anking. One 800-ton transport was bombed and burnt near Echeng, while one 1000-ton transport was bombed and stranded upstream from Lanchichen.

The headquarters of the gendarmerie, Provincial Government offices, Municipal Government offices and an electric power station at Canton were bombed and damaged.

The Drive on Hankow

The Japanese naval and military forces which left Anking, capital of Anhwei Province, about June 23rd succeeded in occupying Hukow, a strategically important point on the Yangtze on July 4th, successfully fighting against foul weather and swirling muddy water in the Yangtze, sweeping mine-fields and removing booms. Their successful drive upstream was the result of coordinated cooperation between the land, sea and air forces.

On June 13th, when Anking was occupied, part of the Japanese naval force immediately started a drive upstream to sweep mines and remove booms. The following day, it reached a point 15 miles above Anking, by repulsing the enemy air raids and silencing the enemy positions on both banks of the river. On June 29th, the Japanese naval force succeeded in breaking through the booms at Matangchen, which were claimed by the Chinese to be impregnable. The Japanese Navy thus succeeded in controlling

the Yangtze between Matangchen and Shanghai, a distance of about 440 miles. From Anking to Matangchen, 250 mines were discovered and disposed of. On July 10th, a Chinese torpedo-boat was shelled and sunk in Poyang Lake by a Japanese gunboat. The Japanese drive upstream from July 15th to August 4th is described below.

July 15th The Chinese gunboat Pingming, about 200 tons, was bombed and sunk at a point upstream from Kichun and Tienkiachen by a Japanese naval plane. Japanese warships and naval planes attacked remnants of Chinese troops in the mountainous region northeast of Hsiangkowchen.

July 16th Naval planes bombed and sunk two 200-ton Chinese transports between Kichun and Wusueh together with several junks.

July 17th One 200-ton Chinese transport was bombed and sunk near Wuchengchen on Poyang Lake, while a 50-ton military tugboat was also bombed and damaged.

July 19th Japanese warships effectively bombarded the Chinese positions near Szetzeshan (Lion's Hill).

July 20th Warships heavily bombarded the Chinese positions on both banks of the Yangtze River near Hukow in cooperation with the Naval Air Force.

July 23rd A joint drive on Kiukiang was started by the Japanese naval and military forces, which had been making preparations since July 4th when they reduced Hukow. Part of the naval force successfully covered the landing of military units on the shore of Poyang Lake. Another part of the naval force shelled the enemy artillery positions on both banks of the Yangtze near Kiukiang and silenced them. By breaking through the mine-fields successfully, the Japanese warships reached within striking distance of Kiukiang on the evening of July 24th.

July 25th In the morning when it was observed that the Chinese troops at Kiukiang showed signs of wavering, the commander of the Japanese naval force ordered the Japanese warships to enter Kiukiang. By defying the fierce artillery fire from the Chinese positions on both banks of the Yangtze, by machine-gunning Chinese troops on the banks and breaking through the mine-fields, the leading warship of the Japanese naval force entered Kiukiang at one o'clock in the afternoon, followed by other vessels which all entered Kiukiang by 3 p.m. Kiukiang, strategically the most important point between Nanking and Hankow, fell into Japanese hands.

Meanwhile, the vanguard of the Japanese naval force reached a point about 3 miles above the city where it cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops from Kiukiang. A special naval landing party also landed at a point above Kiukiang. The Naval Air Force fully cooperated with the naval and military forces in their drive on Kiukiang, by bombing the Chinese artillery positions on both banks of the Yangtze and efficiently covering the landing of the military force on the shore of Poyang Lake.

July 26th By 8:30 a.m., Kiukiang was completely occupied by the Japanese forces. The landing party occupied the area from the old British concession to the West airfield, while the military force held the other parts of the city.

July 29th Japanese warships attacked a large-sized junk loaded with mines and sunk it at a point above Kiukiang.

August 1st Chinese troops breached the dikes of the Yangtze River at two spots in a desperate attempt to check the Japanese advance. The breach caused at Kanhu between Kiukiang and Hsukiawan was about 5 metres wide, while the breach near Hsukiawan was over 100 metres wide. The alarmed local Chinese people immediately started repair works.

August 4th The Japanese naval force bombarded the Chinese positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the Yangtze River above Anking. Three Chinese heavy bombers raided Hukow, but fled before a barrage of anti-aircraft batteries from the Japanese warships.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. —ADVANCE OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY—

Press Section, War Department

Japanese forces are converging on Hankow from the north, south and east. Their pincer movement is being steadily tightened. The Chinese military authorities have established strong defence works at every vantage point, but the Japanese are taking fort after fort in rapid succession.

THE FRONT NORTH OF THE YANGTZE

From Hwangmei and Chienshan to Kwangtsi

The Japanese garrison at Hwangmei was attacked by about 600 Chinese soldiers armed with mountain-guns and trench-mortars on August 14th, who, however, were repulsed leaving about 100 dead in addition to 12 taken prisoner. The Japanese capture included 8 machine-guns of Czechoslovakian make. The Japanese casualties totalled only 4.

The Japanese garrison at Wukialu, about 20 kilometres west of Chienshan, was attacked ineffectively by some 300 Chinese soldiers on the night of August 16th.

The Japanese garrison at Liangtingho, about 20 kilometres north of Hwangmei, repulsed the 700 Chinese soldiers who launched an attack at 4:30 a.m., August 20th. The enemy left about 200 dead. Some 100 Chinese regulars attacked Poliangting, about 8 kilometres southwest of Liangtingho, at 2:40 a.m., August 20th, but the Japanese garrison drove them away.

On August 27th, the Japanese detachment at Hwangmei dislodged the Chinese troops from Hsiungyunshan and Paitzeshan, about 8 kilometres northwest of Hwangmei, and reached the line between Paiyangling and Meishihling.

On the evening of August 30th, the Sano, Wakamatsu, Nakano, Hasegawa, Fujimura and Koga detachments advanced to the line connecting Howshanpu, Hungkialing and Fengshuling and at the following dawn started a general attack on the enemy near Tahopu. The Japanese detachments at Howshanpu and Hungkialing broke through the enemy positions at Poshankow and reached Tahopu at 3 p.m. The Japanese left column started operations from the line extending north and south from Fengshuling and dislodged the enemy from Sifosze at 5 p.m.

The Japanese forces reached the line extending north and south from Shwangcheng and Chienkialu, south of Shwangcheng, at 5 p.m., September 1st. The following day, they broke through the line connecting Howhuchai,

Ejenchai and Maolichai. They occupied Kinshansze and Tafushan on the afternoon of September 4th.

At dawn, September 5th, the Japanese forces advanced from the line between Wufengshan and Tafushan and took Patieh at noon. Giving running fight to the retreating enemy, the Japanese forces reached the line extending north and south from Maolichai at 2 p.m., capturing 4 field-guns and 600 rounds of ammunition.

The enemy attempted to resist the Japanese onslaught along the line connecting Hengkangshan, Efengshan and Shihmenshan, but was pressed back by the Japanese, who took all the key points east of Kwangtsi on the afternoon of September 6th. Kwangtsi fell into Japanese hands at 3 p.m., the same day.

Kwangtsi is an important town on the shortest highway from Anhwei Province to Hankow. Taking advantage of the mountainous topography between Hwangmei and Kwangtsi, the Chinese military authorities had established numerous defence works between the two towns, which were guarded by picked troops under General Li Pin-hsien, but the Japanese onslaught proved irresistible.

From Luchow (Hofei) to Liuan and Kushih

The Japanese vanguard which had been standing by at Luchow (Hofei) at the eastern base of the Tapieh mountain range and on the Hwainan Railway left Luchow on its western drive in extremely hot weather which registered 130 degrees, Fahrenheit on August 22nd. The vanguard dislodged about 80 Chinese soldiers from Kwanting shortly after 1 p.m., August 23rd, when it captured a Chinese staff-officer, a major. At 7 p.m., it reached Kinkiao.

On August 25th, the Japanese force reached Erhshihwulipu. Part of the force was detailed to Tungerhshihlipu to drive away about 200 Chinese soldiers. On August 27th, the Japanese advanced to a point roughly 8 kilometres east of Liuan, when an attack was started on the eastern Chinese positions of Liuan. The south gate of Liuan was occupied at 4 p.m., August 28th. The walled town was completely occupied at 10 p.m., the same day. The Chinese troops which defended Liuan consisted of the 14th, 16th, 104th and 204th divisions. They left about 1,000 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 5 killed and 30 injured.

The Ota, Nishirokujo, Fukuei and Mori detachments, after reducing Liuan crossed the Pi river and at 9 p.m., August 30th reached Hsukiatsi, about 14 kilometres northwest of Liuan. At 7:30 p.m., the following day, the Japanese force reached Hungkiatsi without encountering any hostile force on the way.

On September 1st, the Japanese force advanced to Wulungmiao. The weather was alternately fine and cloudy. The thermometer registered 108 degrees, Fahrenheit, in the sun and 89.7 degrees in the shade.

The following day, the Japanese force started from Wulungmiao for Likiatsi. Roads were turned into veritable quagmires by rains, so that the Japanese baggage corps experienced great difficulty in advancing. The Japanese detachment which reached Likiatsi crossed the Shih River

at a point south of Shihfotien on the night of September 3rd. The next afternoon, Nantakiao, 8 kilometres south of Kushih, was attacked. It was reduced at 5:30 p.m.

On September 5th, a general attack was launched on Kushih. A salient of the walls of Kushih was occupied on the night of September 6th. The walled town was completely occupied on the morning of September 7th. Kushih is a strategically important town in the valley of the Shih at the northern base of the Tapieh mountain range.

From Shucheng to Shangcheng

The Morozumi, Satomi, Soyeda and Kurabayashi detachments which pushed westward from the line between Taokichen and Shucheng south of Luchow reached Chunshukang district on the veening [sic] of August 26th. These detachments crossed the Pi River near Sukiapu on the evening of August 28th. Part of the Japanese force was detailed to attack the northern extremity of the heights north of Hwoshan. Covered by artillery, the Japanese force took the north gate of Hwoshan shortly after 8 p.m., August 29th, after over 20 hours of severe fighting. The same night, the Japanese completely occupied Hwoshan. The enemy left about 300 dead, while the Japanese casualties totalled 11 killed and 40 wounded. Another part of the Japanese force routed the Chinese troops which had been retreating from Liuan, and occupied Nanyomiao, about 20 kilometres west of Liuan, on August 29th and Tushanchen on August 30th.

All the Japanese troops crossed the Pi River in their westward push on August 29th and 30th. The detachment which advanced along the highway from Hanpatu to Taolimiao via Nanyomiao surrounded the Chinese troops at Taolimiao on the morning of August 31st and took the Chinese first defence line on the evening of September 1st. The enemy totalled about 2,000 men belonging to the 114th division. They retreated leaving about 260 dead. The Japanese losses were 5 killed and 40 wounded. Pursuing the retreating enemy, the Japanese forces reached the area east of Yehkiatsi at 3 p.m., September 1st and started an attack on the 1,000 Chinese soldiers who had taken up positions there.

All the roads to Yehkiatsi had been deliberately destroyed by the Chinese troops, so that no vehicle could be moved along them without repairing the destroyed spots.

At 5 p.m., September 2nd, the Japanese troops captured Yehkiatsi. The enemy retreated to the west of the Shih River, with their numerical strength materially weakened.

Part of the Japanese force reached Kaishunkai on the Shih River at 2 p.m., September 2nd. Taking advantage of the twilight, the Japanese troops crossed the river. The following evening, the Japanese first line extended from Chungtsitze to Shihmemkow via Fukinshan (about 4 kilometres southwest of Yehkiatsi). The enemy was about 2,000 strong, belonging to the Chinese 36th and 114th Divisions.

On the morning of September 4th, the Japanese right wing penetrated deep into the enemy positions. The same evening, the Japanese first line extended from Hwachwangchiao, about 2 kilometres west of Yehkiatsi,

to a height northwest of Liushutien via Changkialu. Stiff resistance was offered by the enemy on September 5th. A Chinese prisoner of war stated that the Chinese 36th division reached Fukinshan as reinforcements. A Japanese detachment reached Shuihokiachung on the evening of September 5th via Hungshihchiao for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of Chinese troops.

The war situation developed favourably from the morning of September 6th. That evening, the Soyeda detachment made a fierce attack on Fukinshan. The Satomi unit which formed the Japanese right wing successfully stormed Shunhotien at 6 p.m., swooping down from the north by a roundabout way. The enemy strength was later ascertained to be about 30,000 men, composed of seven infantry divisions and one cavalry division.

THE FRONT SOUTH OF THE YANGTZE

Kiukiang and West of Kiukiang

Since their occupation of Kiukiang, the Japanese forces have given attention to the restoration of peace and order in the town. British and American officials and residents were permitted to visit the city on August 6th, when American residents told the Japanese authorities that they were satisfied with the protection extended them by the Japanese Army, paying tribute to the Japanese air forces for their accurate marksmanship in aerial bombing. The commanders of the British and American gunboats expressed their thanks to the Japanese authorities for the full protection extended to the British, American and French buildings in Kiukiang before they left the town.

The main body of the Japanese force left Kiukiang at 5 p.m., August 19th, reaching Palipu, about 10 kilometres northeast of Juichang, at 9:30 a.m., August 21st. At 3 p.m., that day, the Japanese force reached the line between Tsaokiayo and Hsientienyo. The enemy at this sector consisted of three divisions of troops. On August 23rd, the Japanese force advanced to the area north of Pinniuling, about 5 kilometres north of Juichang. The Hirata, Ishimoto, Nakajima and Matsuda detachments successfully reduced Juichang at 4 p.m., August 24th, fighting against heavy odds in the extremely hot weather which registered 140 degrees, Fahrenheit. Juichang is an important town in northwestern Kiangsi Province.

Taking one height after another west of Juichang after August 26th, the Japanese force reached the line extending north and south from Hungshan, about 5 kilometres west of Juichang, on August 27th. On September 4th, the Chinese troops were dislodged from their positions at the Yunkiai height, some 8 kilometres southwest of Juichang. The Chinese troops at the heights north of Yunkiai have since been surrounded by the Japanese troops.

Another Japanese unit dislodged the Chinese troops from Liyuyo and Pichiayo south of Juichang. On August 28th, this detachment advanced to the line between Yaoshan and Changling. Pursuing the enemy in a southern direction, the detachment occupied Minshan at 6 p.m., August 29th, Hsiaoyangpu at 1 p.m., August 30th and Tsoyunling on August 31st. The enemy

[Map: Detailed Map showing progress of Japanese forces in the Kiukiang, Juichang and Teian sector up to September (caption cut off at the right edge of the scan)]

staged several counter-attacks, but was repulsed by the Japanese troops on every occasion. The Japanese first line then advanced to the line connecting Hsiaoyangpu, Jaokiashan and Tingkialing.

On September 1st, the Chinese 103rd and 185th divisions reached the field as reinforcements from Teian on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway, but were driven back by the Japanese troops, which succeeded in reaching the area north of Tsaokiapan, about 6 kilometres northwest of Mahweiling. The Chinese troops left about 2,000 dead as the result of the engagements on August 30th and 31st, while the Japanese casualties were about 60.

This Japanese detachment engaged nine Chinese divisions, namely the 13th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th and 95th from August 24th when it started operations near Juichang. The capture of the detachment included 4 mountain guns, 1 trench-mortar, 6 machine-guns of Czechoslovakian make and 200,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Japanese forces driving southward reached Mahweiling at 5:40 p.m., September 3rd. They are now pushing to Teian on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway, by pressing back the Chinese troops in the region west of the railway. The Chinese troops left 7,300 dead as a result of the engagements on September 2nd and 3rd.

The Area West of Lake Poyang

The Iizuka detachment which landed on the western shore of Lake Poyang on August 14th and 15th steadily drove southward, pressing back the enemy. This detachment in cooperation with a naval landing party occupied Singtze on the western shore of Lake Poyang at 7:15 a.m., August 21st. The detachment kept up its western drive and took Wuchinyo at dawn, August 22nd. At 4 p.m., August 23rd, the detachment reached the line connecting Wutsun, Changkia and Kwanhsingmiao. Keeping up its drive, it occupied the eastern slope of Tungkuling Hill on August 27th.

The Iizuka and Tsuda detachments launched a combined general attack on Tungkuling Hill on the evening of August 30th. The situation began to develop favourably for the Japanese in the right wing sector, and at 11 a.m., September 1st, the key point in the enemy left wing was taken. On September 2nd, the Japanese forces succeeded in capturing the summit of Tungkuling Hill, about 6 kilometres west of Singtze, and a height north of it and gave chase to the retreating enemy. In the three-day engagement, the Chinese troops left 160 dead in addition to 10 who were taken prisoner. The Japanese casualties totalled 24 killed and 101 injured. On the afternoon of September 2nd, Colonel Iizuka, Commander of the Iizuka detachment, was killed in action. At noon, September 4th, the vanguard of the Japanese force was advancing southward between Tungkuling Hill and Aikowkai.

The Western Base of the Lushan Mountain Range

The Japanese forces operating in the foot-hills at the western base of the Lushan Mountain Range were fighting not only against the Chinese troops, but also against a malaria epidemic.

Successfully pressing back about 5 Chinese divisions, the Tanaka, Motojima, Ichikawa and Sonoda detachments advanced to the line extending west and east from Shahochen on July 30th. These detachments reached the line connecting Tatienshan, the northern base of Mount Maan (Saddle Mountain) and the southern base of Mount Chaomao on August 4th. Commander Tanaka of the Tanaka detachment was killed in action in this sector.

The Japanese forces battered the enemy positions along the line extending north and south from Saddle Mountain. On August 29th, they occupied a salient of the Chinese first defence line near Kungkiashih. The Chinese troops offered stubborn resistance, but their strength was broken on September 2nd when the Japanese troops succeeded in outflanking them.

The Shansi Front

The Japanese unit which occupied Puchow, the southern terminus of the Tatung-Puchow Railway, on August 17th broke through the enemy positions near Hsintien south of Puchow on the morning of August 23rd. On the morning of August 27th, this detachment launched an attack on the Chinese troops, about two divisions strong, which had taken up positions near Fenglingtu on the northern bank of the Yellow River opposite Tungkwan. After two days of severe fighting, the detachment succeeded in reducing Fenglingtu at 6 p.m., August 28th, by routing the enemy, although the Chinese artillery force at Tungkwan shelled the Japanese force heavily. It must be mentioned to the credit of the Chinese troops that they offered very stiff resistance, being watched as they were by the desertion prevention corps at Tungkwan on the southern bank of the Yellow River.

Another Japanese detachment advanced to the area east of Juichang at the southwestern extremity of Shansi Province on August 22nd and occupied Juichang at 9 a.m., August 23rd.

The Japanese garrison at Lishih in west-central Shansi Province on August 22nd drove away the Chinese troops which attacked the Japanese positions.

The Northern Honan Front

The Japanese detachment which started operations from Hwaiking in northern Honan Province on August 25th attacked the Chinese troops in the Menghsien district. On August 27th, this detachment dealt a crushing blow to some 4,000 Chinese soldiers who belonged to the 166th and 87th divisions, in the region southeast of Tsiyuan. The enemy left about 300 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 6 killed and a few injured. On August 29th, this unit started an attack on the Chinese troops, which had established positions at a height northeast of Tiehhsieh on the northern bank of the Yellow River.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II. — FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION —

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

With Hankow now exposed to Japanese attack from north, south and east, the Chinese military authorities are making frantic efforts to defend their capital. Especially strenuous efforts are being made by the Chinese along the Yangtze River in order to check the advance of the Japanese naval force. New forts are set up at various points on either bank of the river; strong booms are constructed at several points above Kiukiang and numerous mines are laid at many points. Yet the Japanese naval force is steadily advancing, silencing the enemy fire from both banks of the river, removing booms and sweeping mines.

On August 21st, a Japanese landing party in cooperation with military units completely occupied Singtze, an important town on the western shore of Lake Poyang. The party was protected by the naval air force.

While assisting the naval force on the Yangtze River and the military forces both north and south of the Yangtze, the Japanese Naval Air Force is attacking the enemy positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the river and also north and south of the Yangtze.

In addition, the air force has visited Nanyung in Kwangtung Province and attacked the Chinese air base there. In an ensuing air combat, the Japanese raiders shot down 17 Chinese fighting planes. Chuchow, a key point of the Chinese line of communication in Hunan Province was also attacked, while Kingshan, the Chinese new base of operations in Hupeh Province was visited, where the military works were showered with bombs.

Sustained attacks are being made by the Japanese naval planes on the various strategic points in South China, including Yinchanyao on the southern section of the Canton-Hankow Railway, where the steel bridge was bombed and destroyed, thus interrupting the service on the railway.

The Japanese Naval Air Force in China

Activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force from August 9th till September 5th are outlined below.

August 9th The naval air force was active extensively in both Central and South China. Kian and Changshuchen in Kiangsi Province were visited and the airfield at Kian was effectively bombed while military goods trains and military depots were bombed at Changshuchen. Troop concentrations west of Lake Tai were also attacked. A Chinese transport was bombed and stranded at a point downstream from Kichun.

Canton, Tsengpu, Saitsun, Kongtsun, Chuntien, Shekpai and Pakwan in South China were visited. The Provincial Headquarters of the Kuomintang and military works nearby were bombed in Canton, while munition factories were bombed and destroyed at Tsengpu.

Troop and military goods trains were attacked at Saitsun and Kongtsun on the Canton-Hankow Railway, while part of a steel bridge near Chuntien was bombed and destroyed. The Canton-Kowloon Railway was disrupted near Shekpai and the airfield at Pokwan was bombed with the result that one hangar was burnt.

August 10th A naval air squadron, braving a downpour, attacked Canton. Saitsun on the Canton-Hankow Railway was also attacked, while munition factories at Tsengpu were bombed. Another air unit bombed and sunk a 100-ton Chinese torpedo-boat at a point downstream from Echeng.

August 11th The most vigorous air raid since the beginning of the China Affair was made by a Japanese air squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Kuno on Hankow. Japanese planes visited not only Hankow but Wuchang and Hanyang, dropping several hundred bombs at the military works in the three cities.

A separate unit flew over the Yangtze valley and bombed and sunk over a dozen junks engaged in military operations below Hwangshihkang. An ammunition dump on the bank nearby was bombed and burnt, while the Chinese military positions and munition depots at Chichow were effectively bombed.

In South China, Wuchow, Koyiu, Yinchanyao and Changmutow were raided. A sulphuric acid factory at Wuchow was bombed and destroyed; the airfield at Koyiu was effectively bombed; the steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was destroyed; the railway station at Laitung was attacked and burnt; the railway track between Yuantan and Pakonghow was destroyed at eight spots; and the steel bridge near Changmutao was partially destroyed.

August 12th Over one hundred Japanese naval planes flew in formation over Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang and effectively bombed the military establishments in those places. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders. In Hankow and Wuchang, the railway stations and godowns were attacked, while the Chinese military headquarters, munition factories and cotton mills in Wuchang were effectively bombed.

The Japanese naval air unit which visited the Yangtze valley bombed and sunk one 50-ton Chinese military launch together with 4 junks. Another unit visited Yinchanyao and Pitsun in South China. The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was again bombed, while the Canton-Kowloon Railway was disrupted at eight points near Sheklung.

August 13th Hankow, Kian and Nanchang were raided by naval planes at dawn. The airfield in Hankow was attacked and the gasoline depot was burnt, while one Chinese plane was bombed and burnt and another heavily damaged on the ground. The airfield and railway station at Kian was attacked, and a goods train and seven godowns were destroyed. The new and old airfields at Nanchang were attacked together with the railway station where a goods train was destroyed.

Yangsin, Yushan, Ningpo, Lishui, Hwangchow and Kichun in Central

China were raided. Military works and troop concentrations at Yangsin were bombed; the airfield and military depots were attacked at Ningpo; the airfield was attacked at Lishui; a Chinese military steamer containing explosives was bombed and sunk near Hwangchow; and several military junks were bombed and sunk at a point below Kichun.

Several points on the Canton-Hankow and the Canton-Kowloon Railways in South China were visited. Further damage was done to the steel bridge near Yinchanyao which had been destroyed by Japanese aerial bombardments and on which repair work was going on; the railway station compound at Yinchanyao was also bombed; a repair-wagon was bombed and destroyed near Chuntien; and the steel bridge and railway track were destroyed near Changping on the Canton-Kowloon Railway.

August 14th A naval air squadron visited Hsingshan in Central China despite the foul weather and effectively bombed the Chinese artillery positions southeast of Hsingshan and troop concentrations and ammunition dumps there.

Yinchanyao, Sinkai and Tienho in South China were raided. The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was again attacked and the railway station compounds at Sinkai and Tienho were effectively bombed.

August 15th The Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River were attacked. Four Chinese heavy bombers raided Kiukiang, but two of them were brought down by Japanese naval planes.

Canton, Saitsun, Chuntien and Yinchanyao were raided in South China. A 20-wagon military goods train was bombed and burnt at Wongsha in Canton, the terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway and buildings in the station compound were burnt. Another military goods train was also bombed at Saitsun and the railway track was disrupted at several points near there. Still another military goods train was bombed at Chuntien.

August 16th A large Japanese naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi raided Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang, without being challenged by a single Chinese plane, though greeted by a heavy anti-aircraft battery fire.

The group of Japanese planes which visited Hanyang bombed the iron works, military arsenal, and anti-aircraft batteries, as the result of which conflagrations started at five places with small fires breaking out at many points. The military tribunal, the headquarters of the 2nd Division and military works at Wuchang were effectively bombed with fires breaking out at several places. The Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River were again attacked.

Naval planes flew over Yinchanyao, Yuantan, Sheklung and Pokwan. The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao was bombed and further damaged; part of the steel bridge south of Yuantan was blown up together with the railway track at two points near Yuantan; part of the steel bridge near Sheklung was blown up; and the airfield at Pokwan, a suburb of Canton was effectively bombed.

August 17th A naval air unit led by Lieutenant Katsumi raided Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, and bombed the railway stations there, with the result that munition depots were destroyed. Another naval air unit attacked the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze river.

The steel bridge south of Yinchanyao which was under repair was bombed and rendered useless for train service. Chuntien on the Canton-Hankow Railway was also visited and a military goods train was bombed. The railway track was destroyed at several points near there.

August 18th A large naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commanders Sata and Mano visited Hengyang and Paoking in Hunan Province and attacked the airfields there. The Chinese military authorities have been trying to reconstruct their air force with Hengyang as its base, following the abandonment of Nanchang.

The naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Sata, that attacked Hengyang, succeeded in shooting down 16 out of about 30 Chinese fighting planes of the E 15 and 16 and Dewoitine types after severe fighting. The Japanese airmen succeeded in burning 6 and bombing 6 other planes out of a total of some 20 Chinese heavy bombers of the S.B. type and medium-sized bombers on the ground, while three gasoline depots and one big godown were bombed and destroyed north of the airfield. Some of the Japanese crews were wounded, but all the Japanese planes returned to their base in safety.

Another Japanese naval air unit led by Lieutenant-Commander Mano visited Paoking and effectively bombed the airfield there. Still another unit commanded by Lieutenant Inouye attacked the Chinese warships near Echeng on the Yangtze River and sank one 50-ton Chinese military launch. This unit encountered over a dozen Chinese heavy bombers of the S.B. type which had raided Kiukiang. In the ensuing air duel, the Japanese unit brought down 4 Chinese bombers, while 3 more Chinese planes disappeared in cloud banks, trailing black smoke. One Japanese plane was lost in the engagement. Thus the naval air force shot down 23 Chinese planes in air combats and destroyed another 12 on the ground.

The naval air squadron which visited South China attacked Yinchanyao, Kongtsun, Chuntien, and Shektan. The steel bridge under repair near Yinchanyao was damaged again. Steel bridges and railway tracks near Kongtsun and Chuntien were bombed and destroyed, while the centre of the steel bridge near Shektan was blown up.

August 19th Juichang, Teian, Singtze, Wusueh and Tienkiachen were visited by naval planes. Chinese military works and troop concentrations were bombed at Juichang; the railway station, munition depots and Chinese military positions were attacked at Teian on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway; Chinese troop concentrations northwest of Singtze were repeatedly attacked; the Chinese military positions at Wusueh and Tienkiachen on the Yangtze above Kiukiang were attacked throughout the day, while numerous Chinese junks engaged in military operations nearby were attacked and sunk.

Yinchanyao, Hwangtsun, Chuntien and Shektan were raided in South China. The bridge south of Yinchanyao was struck again; the anti-aircraft batteries and machine-gun emplacements near the bridge were effectively bombed; and railway bridges and tracks near Hwangtsun and Chuntien were attacked.

August 20th Yinchanyao and Pitsun in South China were raided. The Yinchanyao bridge and the anti-aircraft batteries and machine-gun emplacements

nearby were effectively bombed. The steel bridge near Pitsun was blown up.

August 21st Over 30 naval planes led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi visited Wuchang and bombed the Chinese military barracks southwest of Wuchang. Another naval air squadron attacked the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River above Kiukiang.

August 22nd Chuchow in Hunan Province was raided, and godowns, goods trains and munition factories there were bombed, while the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze were attacked.

The military works and railway tracks at Yinchanyao, Pitsun and Kowtang on the Canton-Hankow Railway were bombed.

August 23rd Chuchow in Hunan Province was raided and the factory zone and railway compound there were bombed. About 100 loaded wagons were destroyed.

Another naval air squadron visited the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked the Changmutow and Kowtang stations. The steel bridge at Kongtsun was bombed and damaged.

August 24th Lieutenant-Commander Mano, leading a naval air force, raided Ichang in Hupeh Province and effectively bombed the airfield there, without being challenged by a single Chinese plane. Hangars, godowns and official buildings were bombed and burnt.

Another naval air squadron repeatedly attacked the Chinese positions and troop concentrations on the Juichang front. Yinchanyao, Yuantan and Sheklung were raided in South China.

August 25th Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, and Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, together with Kian were raided. A naval air squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Yasunobu raided Changsha and bombed the North and East Railway Stations there.

Another naval air unit, commanded by Lieutenant Nakagawa attacked Kian in Kiangsi Province and bombed the airfield there. Still another naval air unit led by Lieutenant Soyeda visited Nanchang and bombed military depots there. A naval air squadron which raided Wuchow bombed and burnt a bullet manufactury and a sulphuric acid works.

Another air unit which flew over Yinchanyao bombed the railway bridge south of it and damaged its girders.

August 26th Changsha was raided and the airfield and railway station there were bombed with the result that fires broke out at three different places.

A separate air squadron visited the Juichang front and heavily bombed the Chinese positions, troop concentrations and line of communication.

Still another naval air unit visited Canton and bombed Wongsha Station, the southern terminus of the Canton-Hankow Railway. The railway bridge near Hwangtsun and the railway station compound at Sinkai were also bombed.

August 27th The Juichang front was again attacked and the Chinese positions were heavily bombed. The Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations west and southwest of the Lushan mountain range were also bombed. The naval air unit flying to Nanyung attacked the airfield without being challenged by a single Chinese plane.

August 28th The strongly-built Chinese artillery positions on the Juichang

front and troop concentrations west of Juichang were effectively bombed.

August 29th A large naval air force led by Lieutenant-Commander Tanamachi made a surprise attack on Kingshan in Hupeh Province which formed an important outpost of Hankow. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders, nor did a single Chinese anti-aircraft battery open fire on them. The Japanese effectively bombed various military works, munition depots and military headquarters. They returned to their base safely, after circling over Kingshan several times to ascertain the effects of their bombing.

Another naval air unit flew to Juichang repeatedly bombed the Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations on the western shore of Chihu (Red Lake). Several junks containing Chinese troops on the lake were bombed and sunk.

Shiuchow (Kukong) on the Canton-Hankow Railway was raided and the railway station and airfield were effectively bombed. Chinese planes did not challenge the Japanese raiders, who returned to their base safely, though they were fired on heavily by Chinese anti-aircraft batteries.

August 30th A naval air squadron commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Yasunobu flew to Changsha. The Japanese planes were challenged by three Chinese fighter planes of the E 15 type, which, however, were soon driven away. The Japanese bombed hangars and godowns at the airfield.

Naval air units commanded by Lieutenants Katsumi and Nonaka in cooperation with the Japanese ground forces attacked the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations west of the Lushan mountain range throughout the day.

A separate squadron visited Chihu and repeatedly bombed the Chinese artillery positions west of the lake in cooperation with the Japanese ground force and the naval force on the Yangtze.

Nanyung, Chenhsien and Shiuchow (Kukong) were raided in South China. A naval air unit which visited Nanyung, the border-town between Hunan and Kwangtung Provinces, sighted four Chinese planes over the city, but the latter escaped. Then the Japanese planes proceeded to Chenhsien on the Canton-Hankow Railway and attacked the airfield, destroying three Chinese planes on the ground. Various military works in the town were also effectively bombed.

Another naval air unit attacked Shiuchow (Kukong) on the same railway and bombed and burnt hangars in the airfield there. Another naval air unit also raided Nanyung. This unit was challenged by 17 Dewoitine fighting planes, all of which it succeeded in shooting down after fierce fighting. Two Japanese planes were lost in the engagement.

August 31st Naval air units attacked the Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the Yangtze River. Chinese positions west of Chihu as well as those at the western base of the Lushan mountain range were bombed and machine-gunned.

Naval air units commanded by Lieutenants Mori, Nakamura and Igarashi and Sub-Lieutenant Oka showered bombs at the Chinese positions north of the Yangtze River. A large naval air force commanded by Lieutenant-

Commander Mano visited Chuchow in Hunan Province and bombed the North and East Railway Stations. Scores of junks near the North Station were bombed and sunk. All were loaded with munitions. Fires broke out at no less than 33 godowns in the East Station Compound. Not a single Chinese plane challenged the Japanese raiders.

Fungshun and Yinchanyao were visited in South China. Japanese planes, after bombing military works at Canton, raided Yinchanyao and bombed the steel bridge south of it which had been almost completely repaired. Strong machine-gun emplacements were found nearby. The naval air unit which raided Fungshun in eastern Kwangtung Province effectively bombed the local military works and barracks.

September 1st Several naval air squadrons continuously bombed and machine-gunned the Chinese military positions and troop concentrations on both banks of the Yangtze River. Other air units which visited the Canton-Hankow and Canton-Kowloon Railways bombed and destroyed the steel bridge at Pitsun and inflicted heavy damage on those at Paishih, Shektan and Yuantan.

September 2nd Sustained attacks were made on the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Yangtze River.

Pitsun and Wuchow were visited in South China. The steel bridge was blown up at Pitsun, while the bullet manufactory, sulphuric acid factories and godowns were bombed at Wuchow.

September 3rd In cooperation with the Japanese ground forces, several naval air squadrons effectively bombed and machine-gunned Chinese troops fleeing southward from the western foothills of the Lushan mountain range.

The naval air units visiting South China disrupted the southern section of the Canton-Hankow Railway at four points.

September 4th In close collaboration with the ground forces, several naval air squadrons attacked the Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations south of Kiukiang and northwest of Juichang.

Naval air units led by Lieutenants Mori and Nakamura visited Yunghsien and showered bombs on the Chinese positions and troop concentrations nearby. Mahweiling was also attacked and the Chinese troops which already showed signs of wavering were bombed and machine-gunned.

Another naval air squadron visited Kwangtsi north of the Yangtze River and effectively bombed the Chinese artillery positions, troop concentrations and military motor-lorries at points east of Kwangtsi.

Naval planes which visited South China bombed and destroyed a military goods train near the steel bridge south of it. The railway bridge and track near Yuantan were bombed and destroyed.

September 5th Yochow, Sinyang, Nanchang, Kwangtsi, Mahweiling, Teian, Yunghsin and Yuichang in Central China were visited. Engine-sheds, godowns and other buildings in the station compounds were bombed at Yochow, while the ammunition dump, godowns and power-stations were bombed at Sinyang.

Godowns and munition dumps at the railway station at Nanchang were bombed; Chinese artillery positions and troop concentrations were attacked in the Kwangtsi district; Chinese troop concentrations in the woodlands near Mahweiling were attacked; artillery positions were bombed at

Teian; Chinese military positions and caravans of military motor-lorries were attacked along the highway between Teian and Yunghsiu; and the Chinese field artillery positions and troop concentrations northwest of Juichang were effectively bombed and machine-gunned in cooperation with the ground forces.

Pakonghow and Yuantan on the Canton-Hankow Railway were raided and the railway bridges and tracks near there were bombed. One Japanese plane was lost during the operations.

While the naval air squadrons were engaged in bombing Yuantan, a plane, appearing to be an enemy heavy bomber was sighted flying northward over Yuantan. The Japanese aeroplanes immediately gave chase to this suspicious plane, but stopped their attacks when the plane was ascertained to be one of the Eurasia Aviation Corporation. Such flights not only hinder the Japanese military operations, but are very dangerous when made through the zone of operations of the Japanese air forces.

The Japanese Naval Force on the Yangtze

A Japanese landing party entered Singtze on the western shore of Poyang Lake at 6 o'clock on the morning of August 21st through the south gate. They occupied the walled town completely within an hour in cooperation with the military force which entered by the east gate.

Japanese warships penetrated into Poyang Lake and appeared in front of Singtze, after sweeping mines. The warships covered the marine and military forces in the latter's attack on Singtze.

August 22nd The Chinese heavy artillery positions were silenced by the Japanese warships, while the Chinese artillery near Singtze was also silenced.

August 30th The naval force advanced up the Yangtze under a scorching sun, by silencing the Chinese positions on both banks of the river in cooperation with the army and the naval air force.

September 4th The naval force in cooperation with the military force made a steady drive up the Yangtze River.

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.

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.

The Situation in China

I —Advance of the Imperial Army—

Bureau of Information, War Department

Following the occupation of the three Wuhan cities, Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang, Japanese forces entered Hunan Province, pushing south along the Canton-Hankow Railway and took Yochow, a strategically important town on Tungting Lake.

Meanwhile, organized campaigns were successfully conducted against the remnants of Chinese troops and guerilla bands in North, Central and South China.

The actual situation prevailing in the Japanese occupied territory is reflected in the organization of peace maintenance commissions by Chinese citizens at Hankow, Canton and other cities in an effort to cooperate with Japan in building up a new order in East Asia.

CENTRAL CHINA

The Front North of the Yangtze River

The campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops in the areas both west and east of the Peking-Hankow Railway still continues. In the region west of the railway, the Japanese forces are driving further west in pursuit of the enemy. One detachment took Tsaoshih, about 24 kilometres west of Yingcheng, on November 4th. The following day, this detachment occupied Sunghochen, about 40 kilometres west of Tean (Anlu) and also Suihsien north of Sunghochen.

The Lotien Sector

While the pincer movement against Hankow was in full swing, the Chinese troops under General Liao Lei which had taken up positions in the mountainous region between Lotien and Yingshan, north of Kwangtsi escaped the Japanese attack. With the occupation of Hankow, however, the Japanese forces turned their attention to those Chinese troops. On November 17th, they took Lotien and on November 19th reduced Yingshan, crushing the flower of General Liao's forces, which consisted of the 138th, 149th, 150th, 170th and 174th divisions.

The Wushih Sector

The military operations in the area north of Wushih developed smoothly with the result that the enemy left 52 dead and 15 rifles, while about 8,000

Chinese soldiers under General Ting Wan, operating on the southeastern shore of Lake Tai formally surrendered to the Japanese on November 15th.

The detachment which had been eliminating remnants of Chinese troops near Wuchen and Sinshihchen south of Lake Tai returned to its original base on November 14th. In this sector, the enemy left 900 dead in addition to 90 who were taken prisoner up to November 15th, while the Japanese casualties were 1 killed and 3 injured. The Japanese capture included 5 trench-mortars, 2 heavy machine-guns and 120 rifles.

It was ascertained that the Chinese casualties during the battle for Hankow included 195,000 killed, while the Japanese spoils of war included about 300 field-guns and some 2,000 machine-guns. A peace maintenance commission was organized in the three Wuhan cities by leading citizens on November 25th.

The Front South of the Yangtze River

A Japanese military detachment which had been sailing up the Yangtze River, leaving Hankow on November 7th, succeeded in landing on both banks of the Yangtze near Linhsiang, about 30 kilometres northeast of Yochow, in face of the enemy on November 10th. Another powerful body of troops landed near Chenglingchih, 8 kilometres below Yochow, on the morning of November 11th. These two detachments in concert with the forces which had been driving south along the Canton-Hankow Railway started a joint attack on Yochow.

The Japanese troops which had been pushing south along the Canton-Hankow Railway and also along the highway from Tungshan to Tungcheng via Tsungyan east of the railway carried everything before them and approached Yochow.

On November 7th, the Japanese forces driving south along the Canton-Hankow Railway broke through the enemy positions on the river bank opposite Sintienchen. These forces, on November 9th, reached Yunki, about 20 kilometres northeast of Yochow and, keeping up their southern drive, occupied Yochow on the afternoon of November 11th.

Part of the forces which successfully reduced Yochow followed up their victory and advanced on Sinkaitang, southeast of Yochow. Another Japanese force, which was pushing south in the area east of Sinkaitang reduced Tsungyang on November 6th and Tungcheng on November 9th.

Chinese guerilla soldiers are still active near the Japanese first line on the front south of the Yangtze, but the majority of the Chinese regular forces have already withdrawn to Nanchang, Changsha and Hengyang. These regular forces are estimated to have lost some 80 per cent of their fighting strength.

The Front West of the Peking-Hankow Railway

The Japanese troops near Chekiangshih, west of the Peking-Hankow Railway, were counter-attacked on the night of November 12th and on the

following day, but successfully repulsed the attackers, dealing them heavy losses.

Part of the Japanese troops at dawn on November 13th advanced to the areas northwest and south of Chekiangshih, by going round the base of Mount Maan (Saddle Mountain) to engage the enemy on the right bank of the Hsiaoche River.

SOUTH CHINA

The Chinese troops which fled from Canton and its neighbourhood have withdrawn north of the line between Sunfeng and Tsingyun, about 120 kilometres northeast of Canton, where they are now busily engaged in the construction of defence works. In the West River district, there are some troops at Szewui and Shiuhing (Chaoching), while remnants of the Chinese troops infest Waichow from time to time.

The Canton Front

Generally speaking, Canton and its surrounding district are quiet. On the evening of November 6th, Japanese troops started operations against the Chinese who had been active in the area northeast of Canton. The Japanese crossed the Liuchishui River in face of the enemy and on the following day succeeded in trapping many Chinese troops. Making a further northern drive, they occupied Fahsien. In the engagements, the enemy left some 800 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 5 killed and 4 injured, and the capture included bridge building materials enough for two companies of engineers, 2,000 cases of gasoline and a large number of machine-guns and rifles.

The Canton-Kowloon Railway Front

A clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops in the triangular area between the East River and the British leased territory at Kowloon was started on the morning of November 19th and successfully concluded on November 26th.

A Chinese force, about 1,000 strong, armed with trench-mortars and heavy machine-guns was defeated near Siakowao, south of Sheklung, on the morning of November 19th. After defeating some 500 Chinese soldiers who held the area south of Pankiao, the Japanese force occupied Tungkun at 9:30 o'clock, the same morning. In the engagements, the Japanese suffered 3 killed and 8 injured. The enemy casualties are still under investigation, but are estimated to have reached large figures.

The Japanese forces formed four columns to drive on the border between Kwangtung Province and the British leased territory at Kowloon in an effort to eliminate the remnants of Chinese troops. In the Tungkun, Sheklung, Yashan and Lungkang areas, they encountered and defeated many groups of 200 to 300 Chinese soldiers and reached the line connecting Howkai, Talanghu, Changmutow and Pingshanhu on the evening of November 23rd. The Japanese net was tightened further on

November 25th when troops reached the line between Wushihyen and Wongkonghu. The enemy was attacked from west and east in the area north of Shumchun, a town on the border between Kwangtung Province and the British leased territory at Kowloon, with the result that a large number of Chinese soldiers crossed the border and fled into the British territory. The Chinese forces thus cleared from the triangular area consisted of the 193rd and 197th regiments of the 457th brigade of the 153rd division and guards of the Bocca Tigris Fort.

The Samshui Front

A Japanese force cleared the Samshui area from the remnants of Chinese troops, by routing about 400 Chinese soldiers near Yangmeihu on the western shore of Lake Talongwo on November 23rd. Samshui stands at the junction of the North and West Rivers.

The Tsengshing Front

The force that had been operating against the remnants of Chinese troops in the area north of Tsengshing routed a Chinese force about 700 strong on November 25th. The enemy left some 250 dead and as many as 150 rifles, some mountain and machine-guns and a large quantity of ammunition.

The organizing committee for the proposed Peace Maintenance Commission was formed by leading Chinese citizens at Canton on the afternoon of November 27th.

NORTH CHINA

Following the Japanese occupation of Mount Wutai, the Buddhist sacred mountain in northern Shansi Province where the Chinese Communist Army had set up headquarters, and also Yuanku in southern Shansi Province on the northern bank of the Yellow River, the activities of the Communist troops in Shansi have decreased remarkably, although the Chinese guerillas and bandits in the Hopeh plain are claiming allegiance to Communism.

The Chinese troops in the Luan plain in southeastern Shansi Province and along the Taokowchinghwa Railway in northern Honan province are still active, falling back on the assistance extended by the forces on the southern bank of the Yellow River. Peace and order are gradually returning in other parts of North China.

The Wutai Front

The garrison troops at Wutai made a surprise attack on about 500 Chinese soldiers near Pehkaohung, 25 kilometres east of Wutai, on November 3rd and virtually wiped them out. In the engagement, 70 Chinese soldiers were taken prisoner and 2 trench-mortars captured. On the way back to Wutai the next morning, the Japanese were surrounded by some 5,000 Chinese soldiers near Sitienho, but succeeded in breaking

through the enemy line and returned to their garrison headquarters the same evening. On November 6th, these troops again left Wutai for Sitienho, where they succeeded in dealing the enemy a crushing blow.

The Ningwu Front

The Chinese Communist troops and the force under General Fu Tso-i which had taken up positions near Ningwu in central Shansi Province were attacked early in November. Japanese detachments left Taihsien and Yuanpingchen on November 6th and 7th respectively for Ningwu. After defeating several hundred Chinese soldiers near Lungkung and Yangwu, they took Hsienkang on November 8th. The next day they reduced Ningwu. The enemy left 120 dead. A Chinese force of 2,000 belonging to the 115th division was also routed near Hsiapuchen. The Japanese troops reached Twikiuyu on November 6th.

In concert with the drive on Ningwu, the Senda detachment pushed south from Shohhsien and on November 10th dislodged the enemy from Yangfang, north of Ningwu. During October, this detachment engaged Chinese troops 14 times. The capture included 74 rifles and machine-guns. The casualties of the detachment were 7 killed and 25 injured.

The Peking-Paotow Railway Front

The troops operating near Sangyuan, halfway between Peking and Kalgan, routed some 500 Chinese soldiers on November 3rd.

Another Chinese band [w]as wiped out near Kwangling on October 28th, while a large force was defeated near Tatan on November 4th.

The 1st, 5th and 6th divisions of the Chinese Communist Army are still active near the Great Wall southwest of Hwailai with their base established at Tungchitang, apparently watching for an opportunity to advance northward. Part of the 120th division of the Communist Army is also engaged in guerilla warfare in the mountainous area near the Inner Great Wall, northeast of Wutai.

On November 11th, the Tanaka and other detachments dealt the Chinese guerillas belonging to the 120th division a crushing blow at points south of Kwangling and Lingkiu.

These detachments during October engaged Chinese troops 24 times, aggregating 5,830 in numerical strength. The enemy left 508 dead in addition to 20 who were taken prisoner. The Japanese captured 116 rifles and 4 light machine-guns, and suffered 19 killed and 56 injured.

The Southern Shansi Front

The detachment which was standing by at Lingkow left Yicheng on November 4th, after eliminating the remnants of Chinese troops in the neighbourhood. Conducting clean-up operations on the way, this detachment reached Mengchengchen. After clearing the eastern zone of the railway from Chinese troops, the detachment reached Linfen on November 6th.

A Chinese force, about 400 strong, was attacked in the mountainous region south of Chiehhsien which lies west of Yuncheng. The enemy left some 80 dead, while 500 other Chinese soldiers were wiped out near Chaoichen, east of Puchow, on November 5th. The following day, the enemy in the mountainous district north of Juicheng was liquidated. The Japanese garrison at Lintsin on November 30th routed about 300 bandits at a point 12 kilometres northeast of Lintsin.

The Peking-Hankow Railway Front

A Chinese force of about 400 men was routed at Hsiaoticheng, northeast of Paoting, on October 31st, while the Japanese garrison at Tungchangshou on the Peking-Hankow Railway wiped out some 200 Chinese soldiers at a point 8 kilometres north of Tungchangshan.

An infantry company of the garrison at Pingting encountered Chinese troops near Kungtaokow on November 5th, while escorting a baggage corps from Hsiyang to Pingting, and drove them eastward. The enemy left 62 dead.

The garrison at Taochuan on the Shihchiachwang-Taiyuan Railway, about 20 kilometres west of Shihchiachwang, engaged about 400 Chinese at a point southwest of Taochuan on November 4th and sent them southwest.

A Japanese detachment engaged and dispersed Chinese troops at Pehmen, northeast of Taming, and Hsintien, north of Changte, on November 2nd and wiped them out, while 500 others were repulsed near Nanwu, west of Wuan, the same day.

At 3:30 a. m., November 7th, some Chinese troops attacked the garrison at Wanghuapu, 10 kilometres north of Hantan, which, however, repulsed them after a 40-minute fight.

On October 30th, the enemy at Nanyuan and Liumatai, east of Yentsin, were attacked and dealt a crushing blow by Japanese forces, while the area south of Shiuwu was cleared of Chinese troops on November 2nd.

The Peking and Tientsin Front

A Chinese force about 500 strong was routed by a Japanese expeditionary force near Kwanyinshe, some 20 kilometres southwest of Tangshan, on November 6th. Other Chinese soldiers were dispersed at a point north of Iuanhsien.

In the Tientsin area, a clean-up campaign was conducted near Hsiaochan, south of Tientsin, by the garrison troops for four days starting November 6th. About 800 Chinese were engaged near Tuisungchen, southwest of Paoti, on November 1st and 125 of them were disarmed, while the Japanese garrison at Tangkwantun routed 400 Chinese soldiers at a point southwest of Tsinghsien on November 9th.

The garrison troops encountered some 2,000 Chinese soldiers near Chentzechen, north of Tangshan, on November 12th and routed them. The enemy left 400 dead in addition to 180 rifles.

The Shantung Front

A systematic clean-up campaign was launched in Shantung Province. Shangho, Linyi and their neighbourhood were combed for remnants of Chinese troops on November 1st. In the Tsingchow area, the Japanese wiped out 700 Chinese soldiers on November 1st, while in the Lantsun area, 250 Chinese soldiers were liquidated on November 2nd.

A clean-up campaign was started in northern Shantung Province on November 8th. Simultaneously, the Japanese forces launched an attack on the Chinese troops under General Shih Yu-san which had taken up positions near Szehsien and Lingpi, southeast of Hsuchow. The Japanese troops occupied Szehsien on November 9th. A clean-up campaign was also conducted in the Tsaochwan, Chiachwan, Aihu and Wangchwan areas northeast of Hsuchow.

The force that had been clearing remnants of Chinese troops from the Tungchang area west of Tsinan defeated some 1,000 Chinese soldiers on November 15th. The Japanese booty included 800 rifles, several trench-mortars, 9 machine-guns of Czech manufacture and a large amount of ammunition.

A clean-up campaign along the valley of the Tze River east of Tsinan and north of Tsingchow was successfully conducted from November 12th to November 14th. The enemy left 165 dead in addition to 18 rifles.

ACTIVITIES OF THE MILITARY AIR FORCE

Japanese military air units raided Hengyang, 160 kilometres south of Changsha, on November 7th and attacked the airfield there. The raiders bombed and destroyed 16 Chinese planes on the ground, without being challenged by a single Chinese plane. They all returned to their base safely.

At dawn, November 15th, the Harada air detachment made a surprise attack on Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, and bombed the airfield there. In the ensuing air combat, the Japanese shot down two Chinese planes.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II —Forces of the Imperial Navy in Action—

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

During the month following the capture of Canton and Hankow, Japanese naval forces in China continued their general operations.

Waterways in the upper courses of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River have been re-opened; mines have been swept and remnants of Chinese troops along the banks of both rivers have been suppressed.

Naval landing parties have cooperated with military and air forces in launching attacks on Chinese troops near Weihaiwei, Chefoo, Lienyunkang and Tsingtao. The bombing activities of the naval air force in practically all parts of China have resulted in making it impossible for the Chinese air force to reorganize itself. It is estimated that General Chiang Kai-shek now has less than 200 aeroplanes at his command.

Sea warfare may be decided by a single battle. Conversely, land warfare may be continued as long as reserve forces are available to be thrown into the field. Aerial warfare probably lies between these two extremes. While it is possible for air forces to be reorganized after fighting has begun, there may be insurmountable difficulties attending the attempts of a vanquished air force to reorganize itself in a short space of time by producing the necessary planes and by training the needed pilots. At the beginning of the current hostilities, the Japanese Naval Air Force, aided by Japan's command of the seas, succeeded in dealing the Chinese air forces a crushing blow and has subsequently subjected them to incessant attacks.

The number of Chinese aeroplanes either shot down in air combats or destroyed on the ground has exceeded 1,400. Without adequate facilities for producing planes, China has depended upon foreign countries for their replenishment and for pilots. As in Spain, China has become a testing ground for the aeroplanes of various foreign powers, inasmuch as the Chinese air force has been composed largely of sample planes sent from the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States, France, Italy and other countries. Thus the Japanese air force has been given fine opportunities to test foreign makes of planes. It has found, for example, that Soviet planes of the I-15 type do not meet high standards in aerial warfare.

Achievements of the Japanese Naval Air Force in China, as announced by the Navy section of the Imperial Headquarters on November 9th, are tabulated below.

RESULTS OF MAJOR AIR COMBATS

COMPARATIVE SINO-JAPANESE LOSSES OF AEROPLANES

Operations by Japanese naval planes during the month of November, 1938 were extensive. Bombing expeditions were conducted in the provinces of Kiangsi, Hupeh, Szechuan, Hunan and Kwantung. The air field and military establishments at Ichang in Hupeh Province were bombed many times, while repeated visits were paid to Nanning in Kiangsi Province, Chungking, Liangshan and Chengtu in Szechuan Province, Hengyang in Hunan Province and various points along the Chekiang-Kiangsi and Canton-Hankow Railways. Chinese troop concentrations at Mienyang, 100 kilometres southwest of Hankow, were also attacked.

River Warfare

In Central China, the Japanese naval force continued its drive up the Yangtze during November, sweeping mines and removing booms. After re-opening the waterway at Shuikow, the naval force reached Sangchiashih, 12 miles above Yaowan, on November 5th. Paotachow was reached the following day.

On November 7th, the naval force pushed further upstream and reached Chihpi, 90 miles above Hankow. One large Chinese junk which was laying mines near Chihpi was bombarded and sunk. Some 150 mines were discovered and disposed of during the day. By November 9th, Japanese vessels were within striking distance of Yochow.

By breaking through the mine-field at Leikushan, the vanguard of the naval force on the Yangtze entered Yochow at 3 p.m., November 13th. Thus, the waterway between this town and Hankow, a distance of some 130 miles, was re-opened to traffic. On November 15th, the Chinese gunboat Kiangchen, 550 tons, was captured as was the gunboat Minsheng, on the following day. Both were near Yochow.

In South China, Japanese naval forces were active in their operations along the Pearl River. By November 24th, remnants of Chinese troops were routed from Erhhutao (Bill Passage).

Activities of Landing Parties

In North China, a Japanese landing party, in cooperation with naval forces, that had been eliminating remnants of Chinese troops from Lienyunkang in Kiangsu Province, started an attack on other enemy forces in the mountainous region southeast of Mount Pehyuntai on November 26th. The Chinese left some 700 dead in addition to 53 prisoners. The Japanese capture included 1 trench-mortar, 3 heavy machine-guns, 84 rifles and 10 mines.

At Hankow, the Japanese landing party has undertaken the duty of maintaining peace and order in that city since November 2nd.

The Situation in China

I. Achievements of the Imperial Army during the Latter Half of 1938

Bureau of Information, War Department

New Year's Day of 1938 saw Japan in possession of Nanking in her drive against the Chiang Kai-shek Régime; that of 1939 saw her in possession of the three Wuhan cities many miles up the Yangtze River and of Canton, the stronghold of South China. This article will review the activities of the Imperial Army from July, 1938 to the end of the year.

The Changkufeng Incident

Last May, when the battle of Hsuchow had been successfully completed, the Japanese forces started immediate preparations for a pincer movement against Hankow. On July 11th, however, a clash occurred between Japanese and Soviet troops on the Manchoukuoan-Soviet border; the clash became known as the Changkufeng Incident.

It is not yet clear what motivated the Soviet Union to precipitate this incident. One version has it that the new Soviet commander of border patrols in the Possiet District, who assumed office following the flight into Manchoukuo of General Genrich Samoilovich Lueshkov, found that Wuchiatze, Shuiliufeng and other key points on the border were in the possession of Japanese. Prompted by the desire to add to his personal reputation, the commander apparently ordered his men to occupy Changkufeng Hill with the knowledge of the Soviet military authorities at Habarovsk. According to this version, the consequent Soviet operations were not vigorous nor were they designed by the Moscow Government to create a diversion against the Japanese military action in China.

If not, however, it is difficult to understand why the Soviet troops made such stubborn attempts to recapture Changkufeng Hill. After July 31st when the Japanese took the hill, the Soviet military authorities concentrated one army corps of sharpshooters, one mechanized brigade and two brigades of the air force in front of Changkufeng, as these authorities were held responsible for the loss of the hill by the Moscow Government. And it is difficult to imagine that the indiscriminate bombing of Korean territory was carried out by the authorities in the Far East without the knowledge or instruction of the Moscow Government.

Despite all efforts, the Soviets failed to recapture Changkufeng and accepted truce proposals on August 10th. Seven reasons may be given for

[Map: Map of China, showing Progress of Japanese Military Operations as of January 15, 1939]

the successful conclusion of the truce agreement.

1. Repeated failures of the Soviet attempts to recapture Changkufeng Hill. 2. The Soviet Union's lack of confidence in waging war against Japan. Although Soviet armaments in the Far East had been greatly expanded, the harmful effect of the so-called purge of military leaders, lack of confidence in the military command in the Far East, and insufficient stocks of war materials apparently caused the Moscow Government to avoid the issue, as pointed out by General Lueshkov. 3. Unrest in the Soviet Union. 4. The strengthening of border patrols by the Kwantung Army. 5. Anglo-French diversion against the Soviet Union. Judging from information from numerous sources, Great Britain and France, especially the latter, resorted to various measures calculated to divert Soviet attention from the Far East, believing that a frontal clash between Japan and the Soviet Union in the Far East would destroy the balance of power in Europe. 6. Moscow's lack of confidence in General Chiang Kai-shek. Had the Moscow Government reposed full confidence in the Chiang Kai-shek Régime, it is logical to suppose that it would have adopted more vigorous operations to hamper Japan's action in China. However, in spite of Chinese attempts to magnify the incident, a truce was reached. 7. Unfavourable public opinion in foreign countries. The total lack of support for the Soviet Union by totalitarian and democratic countries must be regarded as an important cause for that country's hesitation to take more vigorous action and her subsequent acceptance of the truce agreement.

The Canton Campaign

While the Japanese pincer movement on Hankow was in full swing, the Army in close cooperation with the Navy carried out a transoceanic operation by effecting a surprise landing on the shore of Bias Bay, east of Hongkong, at dawn, October 12th. On October 21st, within 9 days of their landing, the Japanese forces successfully reduced Canton, thus intercepting the major route of arms supply for the Nationalist Government and destroying one of its most important bases for military operations.

Out of the many speculations as to the real cause of Japan's success, three main reasons may be singled out: too much dependence on Great Britain by the Chinese authorities, demoralization of the Cantonese Army and faulty strategy on the part of General Chiang Kai-shek.

That Japan should send an expeditionary force to South China to occupy Canton was almost axiomatic. The Chinese military authorities paid due consideration to the matter, it seems, but they apparently came to the conclusion that Japan would never start military operations near Hongkong for fear of complications with the British. A Reuter dispatch from Chungking reported the extreme dissatisfaction and disappointment felt by the Chinese over the failure of Great Britain to take any action. This

message probably reflected the true Chinese attitude following the fall of Canton.

Canton has been known as the cradle of the Chinese revolution; the Cantonese have been reported to hold strong anti-Japanese sentiments, and the Cantonese Army has been reputed to be well equipped and disciplined. The last two statements were exploded by the Japanese campaign in South China. The Cantonese had mechanized units, but these possessed only a dozen or so tanks. They had superior anti-tank guns, imported from Great Britain, but their men were not sufficiently trained to use them. On the eve of the Japanese landing at Bias Bay, when a large number of Japanese transports was at anchor in the bay, the Chinese divisional commander responsible for the defence of the local shores was in a restaurant in Hongkong.

Just before the Japanese landing in South China, General Chiang Kai-shek had ordered the Canton military authorities to send troops as reinforcements for Hankow. The authorities were at a loss to know what to do, inasmuch as it was persistently reported at the time that Japanese troops, some 35,000 strong, were sailing south from Tsingtao and Shanghai. In response, however, to the insistent demand of Chiang, they decided to send about one and a half divisions from Tsengcheng to Hankow. These troops were en route when the Japanese landed at Bias Bay.

It is felt that the swift occupation of Canton by Japanese troops and their strict maintenance of peace and order there have done much to ameliorate the local anti-Japanese feeling. Canton and its vicinity form the native home of many Chinese abroad who wield great influence on Chinese politics and finances. These Chinese overseas have been disillusioned and are no longer believing wholeheartedly in the propaganda systematically and laboriously conducted by the Chiang Kai-shek Régime.

The Battle for Hankow

The complete occupation of the three Wuhan cities, Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang, announced by the Imperial Headquarters on October 27, 1938 provided the Japanese nation with the greatest thrill of the year.

In reviewing the battle for Hankow, it must be noted that the Chinese armies did their best to defend that city. They were blessed with a great geographical advantage, further reinforced with strong defence works. The strong positions which they had set up around Shanghai were reproduced on the summits of the Tapieh and Lushan mountain ranges. The descendants of the builders of the Great Wall of China have proved very able in constructing fortifications.

General Chiang Kai-shek took personal command of the troops defending the Wuhan cities. He organized a desertion prevention corps that meted out immediate death to any deserter, while guards of pill-boxes and key points in trenches were often put in stocks to prevent their desertion. Overlooking trivialities, however, the Chinese troops fought bravely during the progress of the battle for Hankow. At the front north of the Yangtze River, when the Japanese advanced to Loshan, the Chinese force

assumed positions for encircling the former. A similar offensive defence was taken by the Chinese at Teian at the front south of the Yangtze, where positions were constructed with a view to taking the offensive against the Japanese. Consequently, bitter fighting raged for ten days between the troops which advanced to the west of Teian and the Chinese forces there before the Japanese succeeded in breaking through.

During the progress of the attack on Kwangtsi on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, the Japanese line of communication some 40 kilometres long extending from Kwangtsi to Hwangmei was patrolled in the rear by one or two companies. Meanwhile, a large force of Chinese troops, about two or three divisions strong, made incessant attacks on this line from Yingshan in the north. The Japanese troops, fighting against overwhelming odds, safeguarded their line, inspired by their unshakable conviction in ultimate victory. Units along the communication line were usually kept in contact with each other by an orderly, who, singlehanded, broke through the enemy lines on his way to and from his destination.

Military Achievements Summarized

By the end of 1938, the Japanese occupied territory corresponded to 47 per cent of that part of China which is still under the jurisdiction of the Chiang Kai-shek Régime. Chinese inhabitants in the occupied territory represent 68 per cent of the total Chinese population in unoccupied regions.

Further comparison reveals that the Japanese occupied territory represents 32 per cent of China Proper with the inhabitants corresponding to 40 per cent of the total population therein.

The numerical strength of the Chinese armies is now reduced to about 900,000 in comparison with the 2,000,000 men in arms before the outbreak of the present conflict.

Peace and order in the Japanese occupied area began to show improvement from the beginning of last year, with the clean-up campaigns energetically conducted by the forces in North and Central China. Later, however, concentration of Japanese troops in the battle of Hsuchow, which naturally weakened the garrisons at various points, was responsible for an aggravation of the situation. In the three months of June, July and August, when farm crops were growing, Chinese guerillas and bandits increased their activities. The peak was reached in August. Since then, the resumption of clean-up campaigns has proved effective in maintaining peace and order in North and Central China. Even during the progress of the battle for Hankow, Japanese troops in North China engaged guerillas and bandits several hundreds of times. Since the successful conclusion of the battle for Hankow, the forces in North and Central China have returned to conduct clean-up campaigns in an organized manner.

(A List of Japanese Booty)

(Prepared late in November, 1938)

N.B. This list is compiled on the basis of figures which have appeared in the official reports, while indefinite figures such as "large numbers," "large quantities" and "numberless" which have often appeared are excluded from the list. Consequently, arms and particularly ammunition captured by the Japanese forces must be far larger in quantities than mentioned in the list. Large quantities of various apparatus, medical supplies, transport waggons, clothing, provisions including rice and tobacco have been captured, but they are excluded from the list, which is devoted to major arms and ammunition only. Shells include all gun shells except trench-mortar shells.

Comparison of Fronts

The Japanese front in North and Central China as at the end of November, 1938 was 1,975 kilometres long, extending from Hanchow in the south to Anpeh northwest of Paotow, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway in Suiyuan Province, via Yungsiu, Tsaoshih, Sinyang, Chengyangkwan, Checheng, Kaifeng and the western border of Shansi Province.

Compared with the Western Front of the World War, the Japanese front is about four times its length. The Japanese front in South China is 425 kilometres long, far longer than the fighting-line in the Mukden battle of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5 which was only 230 kilometres in length.

The Japanese occupied area in China includes the entire seven provinces of Chahar, Suiyuan, Hopeh, Shantung, Shansi, Kiangsu and Anhwei, the bulk of Honan Province, part of Chekiang Province, part of Kiangsi Province, part of Hupeh Province and part of Kwangtung Province. It contains 1,515,696 square kilometres, more than twice as large as the Japanese Empire which has 675,365 square kilometres. That part of China Proper theoretically remaining under the Chiang Kai-shek Régime totals 3,204,588 square kilometres in area, 47 per cent of which represents the Japanese occupied territory. All China including the outlying provinces totals 10,659,877 square kilometres, 15 per cent of which is now under Japanese occupation.

The Chinese inhabitants in the Japanese occupied area total 169,509,000, representing 68 per cent of the Chinese population of 248,372,000 in that part of China Proper under the Chiang Kai-shek Régime. This figure also corresponds to 39 per cent of the total Chinese population of 429,230,000 for all China.

On the Home Front

Enthusiastic support extended to the fighting services by the nation at home since the very beginning of the China Affair has manifested itself in various forms. The following figures up to the end of November, 1938 show one of its manifestations.

II. Activities of the Imperial Navy in Review

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

In reviewing the Japanese naval operations in China during the latter half of 1938, the seven specific aims of the Imperial Navy must first be enumerated: command of the seas; activities of the landing parties; command of the air by the naval air force; suspension of traffic in China waters to Chinese vessels; naval operations on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers and re-opening of their waterways; occupation of key points of the enemy; and cooperation with the Japanese military forces.

Command of the seas in the Western Pacific is of paramount importance for Japan. It may be said without exaggeration that the building of a new order in East Asia is inseparably connected with the maintenance at full strength of the Imperial Navy.

Naval Operations on the Yangtze River

On June 11, 1938, the Japanese Government informed foreign Powers of the beginning of naval and military operations up the Yangtze River with Hankow as the Japanese objective.

These operations progressed so smoothly that Anking, capital of Anhwei Province, was shortly occupied, while other key positions including Chienshan and Matowchen also fell into Japanese hands. With the occupation of Hukow at the mouth of Lake Poyang on July 4th, the pincer movement against Hankow with the Yangtze River as the major route of advance assumed definite form.

While the naval force was engaged with Chinese troops on either bank of the river and at the same time was removing booms and sweeping mines, Japanese landing parties effected landings at various key points in the face of enemy fire and occupied them. As the military forces advanced on Hankow, the naval force pushed upstream steadily to keep up with them. Keen rivalry was thus started between the two forces in their joint drive on the capital of the Nationalist Government.

Meanwhile substantial contributions were made by the naval air force, which destroyed Chinese planes both in the air and on the ground and effectively bombed enemy positions and troop concentrations.

Such was the daily picture of Japanese operations up the Yangtze for about four months after June 11th. A special drive was inaugurated at dawn, July 23rd, when naval and military forces launched a joint advance. A naval unit successfully covered Japanese troops in their landing on the western shore of Lake Poyang, while other naval units on July 23rd and 24th bombarded

enemy artillery positions on both banks of the Yangtze River below Kiukiang and succeeded in silencing them. After sweeping mines, the naval force reached within striking distance of Kiukiang toward evening of the 24th.

The next morning, the naval force advanced on the wavering enemy; the vanguard entered Kiukiang that afternoon followed by the main body of the naval force including the flagship, which entered the port at 3 p. m. The distance between Kiukiang and Hankow is about 200 kilometres. By this time the vanguard of the naval force had proceeded three miles upstream, a landing party had gone ashore and the retreat of the Chinese troops had been cut off. On the morning of July 26th, the landing party completed occupation of Kiukiang and thus established connection between the military and naval forces.

In the next naval operation of importance, a Japanese landing party entered Singtze on the western shore of Lake Poyang at 6 a. m., August 21st and jointly occupied the town with military units. The occupation of Singtze was facilitated by Japanese warships that had approached after sweeping mines and heavily bombarding Chinese positions on the western shore of the lake.

On the 14th of September, Matowchen was reduced. Two days later a Japanese landing party landed at a point below Wusueh in the face of enemy fire. By September 17th, Wusueh was completely occupied after joint operations by naval and naval air forces. In the mountainous regions north and west of Wusueh, bitter fighting developed between the Japanese landing party and Chinese troops twelve times greater in numerical strength. It was at 8 : 30 a. m., September 29th, that the Japanese bluejackets, covered by warship and aerial fire, occupied Siangshan Fort, the outpost of Tienchiachen Fortress. By October 4th, these men had occupied Panpishan Fort as well.

The fall of Panpishan and subsequently of Tienchiachen Fortress gave powerful stimulus to the progress of the operations up the Yangtze. During the single day of October 8th, the naval force advanced no less than 15 miles, taking Kichun and re-opening the waterway above the town. Prior to this, the landing party that had occupied Panpishan Fort kept up its drive and occupied Maanshan (Saddle Mountain) on October 5th. The party reached Hsuchiawan toward evening, negotiating successfully the mountainous region.

Hwoshan was the next to fall to the advancing naval force, on October 10th. On October 12th, as Japanese troops were landing at Bias Bay, a naval landing party landed at a point on the opposite bank of the Yangtze from Kichun.

On October 15th and 16th, Sichaishan and Shihhweiyao were taken by Japanese bluejackets. Three days later, the latter took Hwangshihkang. In cooperation with military units, the landing party effected a landing at a point below Echeng and reduced that town on the same day, October 22nd.

By October 23rd, the naval force had broken through the boom in the Tuanfeng channel and had reached a point only 44 kilometres below Hankow. The next day it advanced to Kotienchen, after silencing the Chinese artillery positions at Paihushan and Tsingshan.

October 25th, when the entire naval force entered Hankow, and October 27th, when complete occupation of the Wuhan cities was effected, were memorable days. However, the naval force continued its drive upstream without pause. Its vanguard reached a point below Chihpi, 90 miles above Hankow, on November 7th. On the 13th, the vanguard entered Yochow (Yoyang) after breaking through the mine fields at Leikushan. A waterway of 130 miles above Hankow had been opened. Near Yochow, two Chinese gunboats were captured.

The South China Campaign

From the beginning of the current conflict, arms and ammunition have been supplied to China by the northwestern and southwestern routes. The northwestern route is the so-called Red route which runs from Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, to the Lung-Hai and Peking-Hankow Railways and which is devoted to the transportation of arms and ammunition to China from the Soviet Union.

The southwestern route includes Hongkong and Canton, from which munitions have been transported to the interior of China by the Canton-Kowloon and Canton-Hankow Railways. Haiphong and Hanoi in French Indo-China also figure in the southwestern route. Munitions from France, in particular, are transported to Kwangsi and Yunnan Provinces from Haiphong and Hanoi by the Yunnan and Hanoi-Lungchow Railways or by highways. The route from Macao, the Portuguese leased territory, to the interior of China via Hongkong and Canton may also be included in the southwestern route, as may that from Burma to Yunnan Province. Of all these, the most important was the Hongkong route, which supplied 80 per cent of the munitions sold to the Chiang Kai-shek Régime by foreign Powers.

From early in the conflict, the Japanese Navy had been enforcing a blockade along the 2,800-mile China coast line. But as this blockade was directed against Chinese vessels alone, shipments of munitions continued to enter China from foreign countries, although the naval air force made incessant efforts to disrupt the routes of supply within China by bombing them.

Following the Japanese suspension of the Lung-Hai and Peking-Hankow Railways, which disrupted the northwestern or Red route, it became imperative from the strategical viewpoint to intercept the southwestern route. Hence the Canton campaign.

Over one hundred transports, carrying crack units of the Japanese Army, escorted by the Japanese naval force under command of Vice-Admiral Koichi Shiozawa suddenly appeared in Bias Bay and at dawn, October 12th, landed the troops on shore with the protection of the warships and aeroplanes.

The following day, landing parties disembarked on the northern bank of Yaling Bay to the west and also at the base of Paiyashan Fort on the southern shore of Yaling Bay. They occupied these places in the face of enemy fire. The naval force cooperated with the landing of troops at Bias Bay through October 18th. Many mines were discovered in the bay and disposed of.

Operations up the Pearl River

On the morning of October 22nd, the day following the fall of Canton, naval units escorting military transports entered the mouth of the Pearl River.

A landing party, covered by warships and air units, landed at Tachiaotao in face of the enemy and advanced to the shore opposite Bocca Tigris Fortress after routing the Chinese troops on the island. Simultaneously, the warships and naval air units launched furious bombardments on the Chinese forts at Bocca Tigris and Chwanpichiao. On October 23rd, bluejackets and troops landed at the base of Chwanpichiao Fort and Yanianghsieh Fort respectively. Bocca Tigris, whose impregnability was boasted of by Chinese military authorities, fell into Japanese hands at 5 p.m., the same day.

After successfully sweeping mines and re-opening the waterway, the Japanese warships reached Haihsinsha on the mainstream of the Pearl River on October 24th. On October 26th they reached Samshui, the junction of the North and West Rivers west of Canton. The ships that had pushed up the Tamchow channel reached Samshui early on October 25th. After re-opening the 45-mile waterway, the Japanese warships entered Canton on October 29th and were welcomed by the troops which had been there about a week.

The advance up the Pearl River was not easy. The warships had to break through mine fields; they had to watch for enemy torpedo boats illegally flying the British flag; they had to deal with remnants of Chinese troops that infested both banks of the river. The naval landing party had also been busily engaged, reducing Lienhwa Fort in cooperation with the warships and occupying Shihtangtu after a bitter fight with a Chinese company of troops.

On November 23rd, the Japanese warships in cooperation with the naval air force and landing parties cleaned Bill Passage of the remnants of Chinese troops.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

The Japanese naval air force is ubiquitous. It is present in any place where Japanese military operations are conducted and it is cooperating with the ground forces in engagements both large and small.

This force has been responsible in no small degree for the close co-operation and coordination between the Japanese Army and Navy since the beginning of the present conflict. In the great battles for Hsuchow and Hankow, the naval air force played an important part.

With the development of the China Affair and with the expansion of military operations, the force has extended its activities, so that even outlying districts of China are now within bombing range. Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, Chengtu, capital of Szechuan Province, and Yunnanfu, capital of Yunnan Province, are frequently raided by Japanese naval air units.

The activity of the naval air force during the Canton campaign is revealed

through the fact that no less than 2,000 naval planes participated. From October 12th until the fall of Canton, these planes dropped 6,900 bombs with a total weight of 560 tons.

The Japanese naval air force has succeeded in obliterating the Chinese air force, has bombed and destroyed a number of Chinese war vessels, has secured the command of the air in China and has made substantial contributions to the command of the seas secured by the Japanese Navy in China waters.

The official figures for losses in aeroplanes from the beginning of hostilities until October 31, 1938 are as follows:

The Situation in China

I

—The Haichow and Han River Campaigns—

Bureau of Information, War Department

FOLLOWING defeat in the battle for Hsuchow in May, 1938, certain Chinese troops found their way into northern Kiangsu Province where they gradually rallied and reorganized themselves. Their numerical strength totalled about six divisions under Generals Han Te-chin and Kiao Cheng-liu in addition to some 20,000 militiamen. With General Yu Hsueh-chung as commander-in-chief, they set up their headquarters at Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway with the intention of disturbing peace and order in southern Shantung and northern Kiangsu Provinces and of cutting communications between the Provisional Government at Peking and the New Government at Nanking.

Since early in February, the Japanese expeditionary forces in North China had been conducting a clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas in central Hopeh Province between the Peking-Hankow and Tientsin-Pukow Railway lines. On February 10th, Japanese troops concentrated on Kihsien, west of Tehsien on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, and Nankung, where the Chinese forces had established bases, and succeeded in defeating and dispersing them. By stationing troops at various key points, the Japanese forces are now tracking down the Chinese soldiers who have fled in all directions.

Closely following this clean-up campaign, these forces launched a converging movement on Haichow, starting on February 25th.

A concerted drive on this town was made over five different routes, north, south, west, southwest and southeast. The Yamamoto detachment on February 25th started from Linyi in southeastern Shantung Province and advanced in three columns. The Nakajima detachment drove eastward along the Lung-Hai Railway from Sinanchen, after routing Chinese troops, about one division strong, under the direct control of General Yu Hsueh-chung on the way.

Still another detachment on the same day left Sutsien on the Grand Canal to join the converging movement to cut off the retreat of the enemy. It routed the enemy near Shuyang on the Shu River.

[Map: Map Showing February-March Progress of the Haichow Operations. Note as printed: "Chinese in the field include 5 divisions and 20,000 constabulary men."]

The Hirano unit on February 26th made a surprise landing at Antungwei in southern Shantung Province and pushed south on Haichow, pressing back enemy forces far superior in numerical strength. While the Ikushima detachment, in cooperation with the Navy, succeeded in effecting a landing at the mouth of the Kwan River, southeast of Haichow, on March 1st. This unit, after reducing semi-permanent defence-works nearby, completed the Japanese net around Haichow, pushing on the town from the south over overland and water routes. It also detailed squads of troops to the west to cut off the retreat of the enemy. The naval force at Lienyunchiang, the terminal port of the railway also closely cooperated in the converging movement on Haichow. The town fell into Japanese hands on March 4th.

Along the Han River

The Chinese troops under General Li Tsung-jen which were defeated in the battle for Hankow retreated to the Han River and effected a reorganization in the area east of the river.

On February 23rd, the Japanese forces which had been restoring order in the Wuhan area started a campaign against the Chinese in the region east of the Han River, advancing from the first patrol line which connected Tean, Yingcheng and Tsaoshih.

The Yamada detachment, in the southern sector, started from Tsaoshih on February 23rd and by the same evening occupied Yokowchen (Yokiakow) on the northern bank of the Han River, routing some 400 Chinese regulars between Tienmen and Yokowchen. The Sakuma and Kato mobile units also left Tsaochih that day and reached Paimiaotse on February 24th. Two days later both detachments advanced to the basin of the river, after engaging three divisions of the enemy which had taken up positions along a line extending north and south from Yenmenkow.

On March 2nd, the Japanese occupied Kuikowchen on the eastern bank of the river, from which they swung north and pressed hard on Anlu (Chunghsiang) also on the river in central Hupeh Province, where General Chang Tzu-chung, second in command of the Chinese troops in the so-called 5th war-zone had set up headquarters.

The Nambu detachment made its start on February 25th from Yingcheng. The Chinese forces of approximately two divisions, which had established strong positions of the Soviet type west of Kingshan and near Kwonkiaochen, were attacked. Under cover of darkness, the Nambu unit succeeded in outflanking the enemy. Effective combined attacks by the Japanese artillery and infantry

resulted in the dislodging of the Chinese on March 6th from their strongly built positions.

The Kondo and Kitajima detachments left Tean and Yingcheng on February 23rd. By the following day they had broken through the enemy positions at Luhotien and Tsungkiachen. A steady drive gave them Luhotsui on February 26th. After encountering two divisions of the enemy in the mountainous area west of Lufangtsui, the units advanced to Changshoutien on March 5th and cut off the retreat of Chinese troops to the north from Anlu.

In the Han River campaign, the Chinese left 1,750 dead and 85 prisoners during the period from February 23rd to March 6th. The Japanese suffered 41 killed.

Anlu is a strategically important town on the river, forming a junction of highways leading to Hiangyang in the north from Hankow and to Ichang in the west, also from Hankow. The successful conclusion of the Han River campaign now enables the westward expansion of the Japanese patrol lines in the region north of the Yangtze River.

II

—Activities of the Imperial Naval Forces—

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Since the latter part of January, the Japanese naval forces in China have directed efforts to the maintenance of peace and order in those areas under their control. In North China, landing parties have engaged in reducing the remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas, in spite of weather unfavourable for such campaigns. In Central and South China, the naval force is interrupting traffic against Chinese vessels along the coast. Naval units successfully covered the military detachments that effected a surprise landing on Hainan Island, while landing parties were active in various ports of the island.

In mid-February, the activities of the naval forces extended from the Gulf of Pechihli where ice floes were in evidence to the Tongking Gulf, on which a tropical sun was blazing.

The Naval Air Force

Naval air units resumed activities along all fronts late in January. Major attention was devoted to South China, although reconnoitring and bombing operations in North and Central China were conducted and protection from the air was given to the mine-sweeping operations on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers, to the campaigns against remnants of Chinese troops and to the various landings of Japanese troops in widely scattered localities.

In South China, several naval air units on January 21st and 22nd visited various points in Kwangtung Province, including Swatow, Chaochow, Yeungkong, Tinpak and Tunghing and attacked troop trains, military craft and caravans of motor-lorries. Some naval planes flew over Suwen, a town at the southern extremity of Luichow (Leichow) Peninsula in Kwangtung Province and bombed the municipal offices there.

On January 23rd, the military barracks at Yamhsien on the Tongking Gulf were attacked, while suspicious junks off Santsao

Island were attacked and wrecked. On January 24th, Kweihsien in southern Kwangsi Province was raided and several military junks and depots of railway materials were effectively bombed.

On January 25th and 26th, the Tan River in Kwangtung Province was visited and two freighters loaded with munitions were bombed and blown up at points above Sunwui. A naval air squadron which visited the West River bombed and sunk a Chinese survey-vessel of the Chingyun type near Lukpo.

On January 27th and 28th, Sunwui and the West River were again raided and military craft were attacked.

On January 29th and 30th, several naval planes, defying unfavourable weather conditions again visited Yamhsien on the Tongking Gulf and bombed the local military establishments, after silencing the machine-gun nests there. Nanning in southern Kwangsi Province was also reached and the steel bridge under construction to the west of the town was bombed, while 30 motor-lorries on the road were bombed and destroyed, together with several junks loaded with building materials. A naval air unit which flew over Yeungkong in southwestern Kwangtung Province destroyed six military godowns. On January 31st an unidentified plane was observed over Weichow Island in the Tongking Gulf, some 30 miles due south of Pakhoi, by Japanese warships, which fired on and repelled it.

On February 2nd, a Japanese naval air unit, while reconnoitring the West River and Tinpak in southwestern Kwangtung Province bombed military craft, munition factories and godowns.

Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, was raided on February 4th and the provincial government offices and military establishments there were bombed.

Ishan in Kwangsi Province was attacked on February 5th, where the airfield and military godowns were bombed and destroyed. Military godowns, munition factories and military craft were destroyed near Sunwui and Shiuhing.

Kweihsien in southern Kwangsi Province was visited on February 6th and yards for railway building materials, godowns and junks were bombed and destroyed.

On February 7th, Yamchow and Pakhoi on the Tongking Gulf were reached ; troop concentrations and military craft were attacked. On February 8th, the attack on southern Kwangtung Province was resumed and Pakhoi on the Tongking Gulf was again raided. The fort, military barracks, godowns, trenches and military craft were effectively bombed.

The Chinese troops in Kwangchowwan were ascertained to have

set up strong positions. At dawn, February 10th, a Japanese naval force left an undisclosed base to escort Japanese military forces and cover them in their landing operations on Hainan Island. After successfully escorting the military detachments and silencing the enemy forts at Siuying, Hoihow and Kiungchow, this naval force effectively covered the Japanese troops in landing at the northern part of Hainan Island.

In Central China, a Japanese naval air unit carried out a surprise raid on Nanyang in southwestern Honan Province on January 21st and obliterated the divisional headquarters of Chinese troops. Airfields, military godowns and other military establishments were also effectively bombed. A conflagration broke out in the hangars. The Japanese were not challenged by a single Chinese plane during their operations.

On January 25th and 26th, Chenglingchi, Yochow and Maanshan in northeastern Hunan Province were visited and military junks and godowns were bombed.

Japanese naval air squadrons participated in the clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops at Maanshan on January 30th. The following day the Chekan Railway was reached and steel bridges, military goods waggons, godowns and railway station establishments at key points were bombed.

A naval air squadron which raided the Chekan Railway attacked Hwangchitze southeast of Nanchang and bombed the station buildings there on February 2nd.

On February 4th, another naval air unit visited Wanhsien in Szechuan Province and bombed the military barracks and munition factories which were destroyed in an ensuing fire. The following day, the Chekan Railway was again raided. The Japanese were subjected to fierce anti-aircraft fire at Yuanchow and Yaokiachen, but they succeeded in destroying military barracks and railway station buildings at Yaokiachen and Fengling and also overturning goods trains at Yuanchow and Yaokiachen. Tangyang in Hupeh Province was raided on February 6th and the military barracks there were effectively bombed. A naval air unit which visited the Chekan Railway successfully disrupted the railway at Changshuchen and Tungsiang and bombed several troop trains.

In North China, several Japanese ship planes on January 23rd reconnoitred the neighbourhood of Tsingtao. The next day Lienyunchiang, the terminus port of the Lung-Hai Railway, and the Sheyang River in Kiangsu Province were reconnoitred from the air. On January 27th and 28th, the fort at Tengchow at the northern extremity of Shantung Peninsula was bombed, while three

steamers engaged in smuggling on the Sheyang River were also made targets of attack. On February 5th, a naval air squadron made reconnaissance flights over the mouth of the Kwan River, Wentang, the eastern extremity of Shantung Peninsula and Laichow in the northwestern part of the peninsula.

Simultaneously, the naval air force has been cooperating with the Japanese mine-sweepers in the latter's difficult operations on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers and in the creeks flowing into them. as well as with the naval landing forces in cleaning up the remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas on both banks of those rivers.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I — The Imperial Army in the Nanchang Campaign —

Bureau of Information, War Department

At the close of the pincer movement on Hankow, Japanese forces confronted Chinese troops across the Siu River, after bitterly fought mountain warfare in the Tean and Joki sectors in Kiangsi Province. This river connects Lake Tungting to the west with Lake Poyang to the east. As it is from 150 to 200 meters wide, it provides considerable obstruction to the offensive force.

The Chinese troops on this front were about 18 divisions strong under the command of General Lo Cho-ying, commander-in-chief of the 19th Army Corps. They had set up strong positions east of Wuning where they planned to check the southern advance of the Japanese forces.

Progress of the Campaign

The Japanese expeditionary forces in Central China started preparations for an attack on Nanchang, following the campaign on the Han River in Hupeh Province. Unfortunately, a long spell of rain which lasted some eight weeks turned the roads into a veritable quagmire, adding to the difficulty and hardship of the forces that had been watching for an opportunity to launch an offensive.

On March 18th, part of the Japanese forces successfully crossed the Siu River at a point below Yungshiu in face of the enemy, followed by all other forces which crossed the river near Yungshiu and east of Kewtsin at 7 p.m., March 20th.

This was at high tide, but the crossing operations were carried out successfully in two hours, thanks to carefully laid plans executed with daring. The Japanese immediately charged the enemy positions on the southern bank of the river and dislodged the Chinese from their strongly-constructed trenches. On March 22nd, the Japanese gave chase to the Chinese forces, which were retreating south in confusion.

Tank units played an important rôle in the running fight which ensued. They dashed into the enemy positions; they broke through

[Map: Map Showing Progress of Military Operations in the Nanchang Sector, March 18th to 27th]

Wangkiafow and Anyi and entered Fengsin, thus cutting off the retreat of the enemy. The severity of the running fight may be seen from the enemy casualties and the Japanese booty. The enemy left some 500 dead when the Japanese mechanized units reached Fengsin, while the spoils of war included 39 artillery pieces, including 4 ten-centimetre guns, 4 twelve-centimetre trench-mortars and 31 field and mountain guns, 10 motor-lorries, 500 horses and a large quantity of gasoline.

The vanguard of the Japanese infantry in pursuit of the enemy reached the line between Fengsin and Wangkiafow in the evening of March 23rd. It advanced to the Kan River on March 26th. Part of the forces crossed this river near Tsengkia and severed the Chekiang-Kiangsi Railway.

The main body of the forces which crossed the river near Sheng-michieh, south of Nanchang, pressed hard on Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, which they occupied at 6:40 p.m., March 27th.

The Chinese troops in Kiangsi were thrown into confusion by the fierce Japanese onslaughts and the easy fall of the capital of the province.

In the Wuning sector, the Japanese on March 20th surrounded the Chinese force of 25,000 men, which had set up strong positions in a mountainous district near Kwantsaishan, some 16 kilometres northeast of Wuning. Covered by air units, the Japanese forces succeeded in entering Wuning at 3 a.m., March 29th and completely occupying the town at 7 o'clock the same morning, after overcoming the difficulties of topographical and positional warfare.

Those Japanese forces which on March 21st crossed to the southern bank of the Siu River broke through the line extending east to west on the height at Chungheng on March 22nd and took Yangchow on March 24th. By keeping up their southern drive, they reached Miaotsien on March 27th.

In this sector, the enemy left 1,700 dead in addition to 750 men taken prisoner as a result of the two-day fighting on March 20th and 21st. The Japanese booty included 700 rifles, 10 light machine-guns and 1 rapid-firer. The Japanese suffered 58 killed and 230 injured.

On March 23rd, military units in cooperation with the naval force occupied Wucheng at the mouth of the Kan and Siu Rivers and also a height south of it.

The Chinese troops in front of the main body of the Japanese forces left 8,700 dead in addition 2,870 taken prisoner up to the morning of March 28th, while the Japanese casualties totalled some 500. The spoils of war included 9 heavy artillery pieces, 38 field

and mountain guns, 37 trench-mortars, 1 heavy machine-gun, 81 light machine-guns, 2,150 rifles, 13 motor-cars and motor-lorries and 800 horses.

The Hangchow Sector

In concert with the campaign in Kiangsi Province, the Japanese forces near Hangchow, capital of Chekiang Province, started operations against the Chinese troops on the southern shore of Hangchow Bay as well as on the southern bank of the Tsientang River, at the mouth of which Hangchow stands. On March 20th, the Japanese force attacked and sank one Chinese military vessel off Chapu on the northern shore of Hangchow Bay, while the Chinese positions on the southern shore of Hangchow Bay opposite Kanpu were furiously bombarded by artillery.

Early in the morning of March 21st, Japanese troops landed on Changsha Island, a delta of the Tsientang River, which covers an area of 12 square kilometres. The following day, these troops dealt the Chinese company on the island a crushing blow. The enemy left 84 dead in the island, while those Chinese troops which retreated in boats from the island also suffered heavy casualties.

Significance of the Nanchang Campaign

It is no exaggeration to say that all the railways in China have fallen into Japanese hands with the exception of the Chekan Railway or the railway between Chekiang and Kiangsi Provinces which connects Hangchow, capital of Chekiang Province, with Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, via Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province. This vein of communication in Central China has failed to be as efficient as in peace time, but none the less its strategic and economic value has remained as high as ever. It has provided the Chinese regulars in Kiangsi and Hunan Province as well as the Chinese guerillas in Chekiang and Kiangsu Province an important route of supply and communication. Therefore, the Japanese occupation of Nanchang is significant in interrupting this line of communication in Central China.

Nanchang is a city with a population of 500,000. It is the centre of military, political, economic and traffic activities in Central China. In losing Nanchang, Chiang Kai-shek has lost his most important base of operations, to say nothing of traditional importance which is attached to Nanchang in connection with his famous northern expedition or anti-Red expedition as well as with the "New Life Movement" which was started and fostered at Nanchang

before it swept over China.

The Nanchang campaign was successfully concluded in a week by crushing the Chinese armies, some 20 divisions strong. This signal success is attributed to the surprise attacks on the Chinese positions, wedge daringly driven into the Chinese positions by the Japanese mechanized units and efficient covering operations of the Japanese military and naval air forces, all of which deprived the main body of Chinese armies of any chance to take up positions in the heights northwest of Nanchang.

To follow up their victory, the Japanese forces crossed the Kan River before the main body of Chinese armies were able to retreat and disrupted the Chekan Railway. This accounts for the capture of almost all the Chinese artillery pieces along the southern section of the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway as well as for the comparatively larger number of Chinese regulars taken prisoner by the Japanese forces.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II — Activities of the Imperial Naval Forces —

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

The Campaign in Northern Kiangsu Province

Kiangsu Province has long been noted for its anti-Japanese sentiments. A large force of Chinese troops which lost the battle for Hsuchow retreated to Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway, where they set up their headquarters for their anti-Japanese operations in the northern part of the province. The Japanese military and naval forces jointly carried out a large encircling movement on Haichow from late in February to early in March.

At dawn, February 26th, crack military units, covered by naval units successfully landed at Antungwei, the southern border-town of Shantung Province. These units immediately started a southern drive on Haichow.

On March 1st, more Japanese forces landed at the mouth of the Kwan River in northern Kiangsu. These forces sailed up the river with a view to cutting off the Chinese southern retreat from Haichow. The pincer movement on Haichow was completed with military units driving south from Lini in southern Shantung, as other military units pushed east along the Lung-Hai Railway from Sinanchen and as the landing party started a drive on Haichow from Lienyunchiang, the eastern terminus port of that railway. Haichow fell early in the morning of March 4th.

Other Japanese forces which took action in concert with the pincer movement on Haichow started a southern push from Sutsien on the grand canal and succeeded in reducing Hwaiyin, the junction of the grand canal and the Yen River early in the morning of March 2nd, in conjunction with those Japanese forces which had gone up the river.

Following the fall of Hwaiyin and Haichow, the Chinese troops around Lienyunchiang immediately started a retreat and the Japanese landing party which had been engaged in a mopping-up campaign with its base established at Lienyunchiang occupied Hsukow on March 3rd.

Sheyang River in Kiangsu Province has hitherto provided an important route of supplies and communications for the remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas in that part of China, thus seriously hindering the Japanese clean-up campaign. In connection, therefore, with the fresh campaign in northern Kiangsu Province, the Japanese military and naval authorities decided to take action on this river too. Prior to the start of the action, the Japanese naval authorities on March 2nd communicated with the foreign authorities concerned, asking them to advise all non-Chinese vessels to move to points 40 miles from the mouth of the river not later than March 4th, otherwise disclaiming any responsibility for damages. The Japanese naval force on March 7th successfully removed booms and swept mines at the mouth of Sheyang River and sailed up to a point 50 miles from the mouth the same evening, silencing the enemy positions on both banks. The following dawn, this naval force entered Fowning, where it effected a junction with the military forces.

The Hainan Campaign

The Hainan campaign is proceeding smoothly. Since February 10th when the Japanese forces succeeded in landing on the shore of Tengmai Bay in the northwestern part of the island, they have taken important towns in quick succession, including Hoihow (Haikow), Kiungshan, Kiungtung, Tsinglan, Wenchang, Sankiang and Tashih.

In concert with the military forces which were driving south from the north, a landing party effected a surprise landing near Samah in the southern part of Hainan Island at dawn, February 14th and occupied Yulin, the best port in the island, the same day. On February 15th, bluejackets occupied Aihsien and cleaned up the remnants of Chinese troops there. The landing party has since been kept busy eliminating remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas. It routed a large body of Chinese regulars at a point northeast of Samah on February 20th and cleared the district west of Aihsien from the remnants of Chinese troops on February 21st. Part of the landing party cleaned up Tsinglan Port on February 24th but met with no stiff resistance. Japanese bluejackets captured a custom-cutter and a large quantity of arms and ammunition. On February 25th, the landing party defeated Chinese regulars in the suburbs of Aihsien.

On March 1st and 2nd, the landing party carried out an extensive clean-up campaign around the area under its occupation. Yulin

port and neighbouring districts were quiet, but some Chinese regulars were observed north of Maling in the Samah district, while other regulars were spotted near Sintsun west of Aihsien and immediately routed.

Peace and order is being gradually restored in Hainan Island. Restoration of popular confidence is reflected in the re-opening of shops in Haihow and other towns in the area under Japanese occupation.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

From the middle of February to the middle of March, the activities of the naval air force have been extensive. In South China, it participated in the Hainan campaign, covering the movements of the Japanese military forces and landing parties; in Central China it cooperated with the Japanese naval units on the Yangtze River in suppressing the remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas on both banks; and in North China, it took part in the new campaign in Northern Kiangsu Province, by covering the operations of the military and naval forces.

In South China, naval air units which took off at dawn, February 10th, participated in the newly-started campaign in Hainan Island, by covering the forces which successfully effected a landing on the island in face of the enemy that same morning. They effectively bombed Siuying Fort and military establishments at Hoihow and Kiungchow. They then paid attention to the key points in the western part of the island, which they bombed from time to time. They also dropped handbills to towns and villages, containing information on the situation and urging the people to pursue business as usual.

On February 12th, naval air-units attacked the remnants of Chinese troops in various parts of the island. They also raided Leichow Peninsula on the mainland. The following day they attacked the enemy positions at Tanhsien. On February 14th, naval air squadrons attacked various key points in the eastern part of Hainan Island, including Wenchang, Kiungtung, Mankiao (Wenchiao), Wanning, Lushui and Sintsun.

The Chinese military positions at Anting and the military barracks at Lushui were attacked on February 16th, while the Chinese military works in the northwestern part of Hainan Island and also near Haian in Leichow Peninsula in the mainland were bombed on February 17th.

Aerial reconnaissance over the northern and southern parts of the

island revealed that all was quiet on February 21st. Following aerial reconnaissance over the southern part of the island, naval air squadrons on February 25th raided the mainland and attacked Foochow, Amoy and Swatow. Several Chinese military craft were bombed and sunk off Swabue in Kwangtung Province, while munition depots in Leichow Peninsula were bombed and burned.

On February 27th, several naval air units cooperated with warships in blocking the North River in Kwangtung Province. The southern part of Hainan Island was reconnoitred. Other naval air units visited the mainland and attacked Pakhoi and Lienchow, bombing and sinking several military junks off Pakhoi and Kaote.

In concert with the naval force on the Pearl River, several naval air units bombed the Chinese military positions on the North River, while other naval air units visited Swatow and Chaochow and effectively bombed the military establishments there.

Hinghwa and Lungki in Fukien Province were raided on March 3rd and the Chinese troop concentrations and military works were bombed or machine-gunned. Limchow (Lienchow) on the Tongking Gulf was raided on March 7th and the Chinese military positions there were heavily bombed despite furious anti-aircraft gunfire, while Yeungkong on the southwestern coast of Kwangtung Province was visited, where godowns and dockyards were bombed and destroyed.

On March 10th, Foochow, the capital of Fukien Province, was visited and the fort at Kinpaien was bombed. The following day, Chuanchow and Tsungwu on the southeastern coast of Fukien Province were raided and a large number of military craft in the ports were bombed and destroyed.

In Central China, Japanese planes flew over Nanyang in southwestern Honan Province on February 15th. The headquarters of Chinese troops were bombed, while the Chinese military positions along the western shore of Poyang Lake from Hukow to Singtze in Kiangsi Province were reconnoitred and bombed.

Ichang, Siangyang and Kingmen in Hopeh Province were raided on February 21st and the military establishments there were bombed, while the Chekiang-Kiangsi Railway was visited and Chuki in Chekiang Province was attacked. The military barracks and other military establishments at Chuki were effectively bombed. On February 22nd, Chenhai and Taichow were raided and the forts and other military works there were bombed.

The Chekiang-Kiangsi Railway was visited again on March 1st; munition depots at Kweiki in Chekiang Province were bombed and destroyed.

Lukio on the eastern shore of Lake Tungting in Hunan Province was raided on March 8th and the military establishments there were effectively bombed, while Ichang in Hupeh Province was also visited and various military works were bombed. All the Japanese planes returned to their base in safety.

In North China, several naval air units visited Tengchow at the northern extremity of Shantung Peninsula on February 15th and bombed the military barracks there. The following day the Chinese military positions on both banks of the Sheyang River in Kiangsu Province were attacked. On February 21st, naval air units in concert with the local Japanese garrison attacked the Chinese guerillas south of Chucheng in Shantung Province, while on February 28th Fowning and Hwaian in northern Kiangsu province were visited. The Chinese artillery force moving south was machine-gunned.

On March 1st, naval air squadrons cooperated with the military and naval forces in their campaign in northern Kiangsu Province by covering their operations and attacking the enemy positions. Chinese troops, some two companies strong, were machine-gunned near Shwangkiang, while Chinese military craft on the Kwan River was bombed effectively.

On March 2nd, the naval air force kept up its covering operations for the Japanese ground forces, by reconnoitring and attacking the Chinese positions round Lienyunchiang.

Tungkan in northeastern Kiangsu Province was attacked and the Chinese troop concentrations and military motor-lorries there were bombed on March 7th, while the Chinese military positions at Yangchaichen and the Chinese troop concentrations near Koutunchen were attacked. Another naval air unit attacked the Chinese base at Wusin. On March 8th Yencheng was visited and armed military motor-boats were attacked, while the Chinese troop concentrations at Tsaichiakiao on the Sheyang River were bombed and machine-gunned. Another naval air unit attacked the Chinese military positions at Tungshuichen and Yangchinchen. On March 9th, the Chinese troop concentrations and military establishments along the Hwai river, the Sheyang River and the Yen River and also the district south of Fowning were attacked. A military vessel was attacked and sunk near Kiangtun the same day.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—THE CHINESE "APRIL OFFENSIVE" IS DEFEATED—

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

PERSISTENT rumours were spread in Hongkong as early as February to the effect that the war situation might develop in favour of China in April. With the fall of the three Wuhan cities, the situation in China had developed unfavourably for the Kuomintang Government, both militarily and in general. Wang Ching-wei, vice-president of the Party, left Chungking for Hanoi in Indo-China, where he boldly started a campaign for peace, urging the Kuomintang leaders to enter into negotiations with Japan on the basis of a statement issued by Prince Konoye, then Prime Minister.

Another campaign for peace was launched by Marshal Wu Pei-fu. During March, the new régimes in Peking and Nanking gained considerable strength. And to all this was added the alienation of the masses from the Kuomintang Government, especially in Chungking in Szechuan Province, and the weakening of the Chinese armies. Thus, internally, the Kuomintang Government had to map out some plan to capture popular imagination and to galvanise into action the troops which had shown manifest signs of losing enthusiasm in the protracted warfare. Externally, it was under obligation to the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France, which had extended it assistance, to demonstrate the " high morale and prestige " of the Chinese armies.

The Kuomintang Government seems to have expected a great deal from the fishery negotiations between Japan and the Soviet Union, which it hoped might be broken off in April, but which were brought to an amicable conclusion in time for the fishing season.

With these factors in the background, the Chinese " April offensive " was planned by the Soviet military advisers to the Kuomintang Government, Chou En-lai, leader of the Chinese Communist Party, and the " Christian General," Feng Yu-hsiang, in Chungking early in February, according to reliable information reaching Tokyo. In spite of strong opposition voiced by some Chinese military leaders, an organized press campaign was started by the Kuomin-

[Map: Map of China showing troop movements and positions during the "April Offensive"]

tang, heralding the inauguration of the " April offensive " throughout the world.

The Chinese plan was a very ambitious one, extending from Suiyüan in the north to Canton in the south. Part of its failure was caused by renewed Japanese attacks on strategic Chinese positions, launched as early as February, forestalling possible Chinese moves.

The Situation on Various Fronts

Thwarting the Chinese plans, the Japanese forces in China decided to take the offensive on all fronts, including Inner Mongolia, Shansi, Hupeh, Nanchang, Tsungfa and Fahsien in February and March. The Japanese paid major attention to the so-called 9th War Zone between Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, and Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, where the Chinese military authorities had been planning a large-scale offensive. They shattered the Chinese attempts, by capturing Nanchang and other important points in central Kiangsi Province.

Chinese guerillas under Shih Pao-shan and Ma Lai-jen, the Second Route Army under Men Ping-yo and troops under Kuo Hsi-peng, all affiliated with General Fu Tso-i, had been planning to recapture the Peking-Suiyüan Railway, whose western terminus is Paotow in Suiyüan Province. Stealing a march on the enemy, the Japanese forces in Suiyüan Province on February 10th started operations and successfully stormed Anpeh, 80 kilometres northwest of Paotow, after negotiating the Yinshan mountain range at 5 p.m., February 11th. Thus completely frustrating the Chinese attempts to recapture Paotow, the Japanese forces began extending their activities over the plain of Inner Mongolia.

In northern Shansi Province, Chinese troops belonging to Generals Ho Chu-kuo and Chao Cheng-shou were planning to invade Ningwu from Hoku at the northwestern extremity of the province where the Great Wall crosses the Yellow River, but the Ohta detachment on February 10th captured Wuchai, halfway between Hoku and Ningwu and frustrated the Chinese attempts.

In southern Shansi Province, the Chinese forces took the offensive along the entire front from midnight, February 9th to the morning of February 10th, though not in a unified and coordinated way. At 3 a.m., February 10th, some 600 Chinese Soldiers belonging to the 177th division attacked Erhsihliling, south of Chiehhsien at the southwestern extremity of Shansi Province, but were repulsed by the Fujimuro detachment. At 2 : 40 the same morning, some 500

soldiers of the 104th division attacked Siahsien, but were driven back by the Japanese garrison force. At 4 o'clock the same morning, Chinese troops of the 177th division attacked Changtsun, south of Yuncheng, but were repelled by the Japanese garrison. About 150 Chinese troops attacked Tuantsun, 8 kilometres east of Anyi simultaneously, but were repulsed by the Iwakiri detachment.

Chinese troops in groups from 100 to 400 attacked Changtienchen and Howwangtsun, 20 kilometres south of Anyi ; Weikuochen and Hsialiutsun North of Siahsien ; and a district near Wensi, but were all driven back.

In northern Honan Province, some Chinese troops unsuccessfully attacked the railway near Hwaiking. About 1,000 Chinese attacked Kaifeng, capital of Honan Province, on the morning of February 12th, armed with trench-mortars, light machine-guns and rifles, but the Japanese garrison succeeded in routing them to the west, after several hours' fighting.

In the region east of the Han River in northern Hupeh Province, the Japanese forces started offensive operations late in February. To meet this campaign, General Chiang Kai-shek on February 22nd ordered General Li Tsung-jen at Siangyang on the Han River to outflank the Japanese right wing from the Tahung mountain range. Consequently, the Chinese troops under Li Tsung-jen began moving southeast.

Since April 7th, the Japanese have kept up their offensive in the mountainous region west of Haokiatien, which stands 20 kilometres northwest of Yingshan. On April 12th they succeeded in breaking the Chinese resistance. They also repulsed the Chinese troops which invaded the district northeast of Anlu in the evening of April 10th.

After the reduction of Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, and also Wuning, another important town in the province, the Japanese forces operating in the front south of the Yangtze River kept up their southern drive and occupied Shihchakai and Kaoan south and west of Nanchang respectively on the morning of April 11th, thus destroying the Chinese defence line between Nanchang and Changsha.

In South China, a major campaign was started by the Japanese forces against the Chinese troops north of Canton with the close of the wet season. The Japanese first column on April 6th crossed the Liuki River and dislodged the Chinese troops from their positions at Maoshan, by advancing west of Tsungfa the same evening. This column also took Lienhuhu the same evening, thus

cutting off the Chinese retreat. The second column also crossed the Liuki River, closely following the first one and reached Mitzeshan the same evening, after dispersing the Chinese troops in the mountainous region northwest of Tapingcheng on the way. Part of this column engaged a large force of Chinese troops east of Szechuanshih. Thus in South China, too, the Chinese forces have been forestalled and have since failed to display any activity.

The Chinese air force which suffered so heavily from Japanese attacks did its bit in the " April offensive." Seven Chinese planes on April 11th raided Yusiang at the southwestern extremity of Shansi Province and dropped bombs, but the Japanese sustained no damage. Rumour was persistent for some time that the Chinese air force was planning a raid on Japan, but the rumour was false. On the contrary, the Chinese air base at Yushan in Kiangsi Province was raided and destroyed by Japanese military and naval planes.

\* \* \*

A survey of the results of the Chinese " April offensive " shows that General Chiang Kai-shek and his lieutenants have not been tenacious of purpose, while the bulk of the Chinese troops which undertook the offensive were provincial troops, not the so-called central armies under the direct control of Chiang. To make matters worse, the warlords of the provincial troops were more keen on preserving their military strength than conducting an offensive against the Japanese in dead earnest. Hence a mere apology for an offensive made by the warlords who managed to keep their forces intact as much as possible and sent a fraction of their troops to the field only for the purpose of reporting to their superior officers.

No wonder that the Chinese " April offensive," so noisily heralded, ended in failure only to demonstrate the weakness of the Kuomintang Government both at home and abroad and to hasten its downfall, by courting further damage.

In the engagements, the Japanese forces in North, Central and South China engaged the Chinese troops with an aggregate military strength of 259,800. The total number of major engagements was 414, while the Chinese forces left 45,700 dead. Japanese casualties were negligible. The Japanese booty included large quantities of arms and ammunition which have not yet been classified.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II

—ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVAL FORCES—

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

Progress of the Hainan Campaign

THE campaign in Hainan Island made such satisfactory progress that the entire island was placed under Japanese domination by the end of April. Close cooperation and coordination between the Japanese military and naval forces resulted in Japanese occupation of a large number of important Chinese military points on the island, while Japanese landing parties landed at key points along the coast in face of the Chinese troops and secured various important sea-ports.

On April 16th, a Japanese landing party, covered by warships and aeroplanes, effected a landing at Poao on the eastern coast of Hainan Island in face of the Chinese force and occupied the port. Pushing inland, the party entered Lokwei (Lohui), where it effected a junction with a Japanese military force which had been driving south. Both Japanese forces immediately started a clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops in and round Lokwei. The same day, another landing party, covered by warships and aeroplanes and in close cooperation with a military force, successfully landed at Yangpu on the western coast of Hainan Island and occupied the port town at about 11 o'clock in the morning.

A joint attack was started by military and naval forces on Tanhsien in the northwestern part of the island early in the morning of April 17th. At 10 o'clock the same morning, Tanhsien, the capital of the prefecture of the same name, fell into Japanese hands. A party of blue-jackets entered the town of Sinying in order to follow up the victory. Thus Japanese forces occupied Tanhsien, Kachek and Lokwei, where the Chinese forces had set up their bases of operations to disturb peace and order in Hainan Island. The same day, the Japanese landing party made a surprise attack on Tengkiu (Tengchiao), a strategically important town in the southern part of the island and occupied it, after dislodging some 400 Chinese regulars.

Naval Operations in Inland Waters

On March 18th, a Japanese naval force began operations on Lake Poyang to participate in the fresh campaign started in the region west of the lake. This naval force, led by a mine-sweeper unit, sailed south along the western shore of the lake. Successfully pushing through the mine-fields, it sailed up the lower reaches of the Siu River and reached Yehkiatsi the same afternoon. Meanwhile, those warships which were anchored off Wucheng at the mouth of the Siu River opened a bombardment on Wucheng. The Chinese troops made stubborn resistance to hold Wucheng with the result that fierce fighting developed round the city for several days. Covered by warships, a Japanese landing party effected a landing near Wucheng and immediately occupied Lingkungchow, northeast of it. In concert with the Japanese military force which had also successfully landed at another point near Wucheng, the landing party engaged several thousand Chinese troops on the eastern bank of the Kan River in bitter fighting which lasted several days. The landing party, in cooperation with the military force, succeeded in entering Wucheng in the afternoon of March 23rd and immediately started to clean up the remnants of Chinese troops in the town. The following morning a junction between the landing-party and military force was effected at Wucheng, which was thus completely occupied. The Chinese forces left 80 dead in the Wucheng sector, while the Japanese booty included 10 mines, a large number of rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.

A further push up the Siu River was made by the warships, after removing booms and sweeping mines. On March 26th, the warships reached Hsukiafow. The following morning, another naval force which sailed up the Kan River reached Sanchowtow, removing booms and sweeping mines on the way. Meanwhile, the landing party in concert with the naval force advanced to a point south of Antanghu, by clearing the enemy force from the right bank of the Kan River.

On March 28th, the landing party broke through the enemy position at Pehkangshan and pressed the enemy southward. The same afternoon, the party occupied Changyi and its surrounding district. The Japanese warships on Lake Poyang suppressed remnants of Chinese troops on the shores of the lake and made further progress in the operations of removing booms and sweeping mines on March 30th. The naval force which had been engaged on the Kan River between Wucheng, its mouth, and Nanchang,

capital of Kiangsu Province, since the middle of March met with various difficulties in the form of strongly-built booms at several points and stubborn resistance offered by the remnants of Chinese troops on both banks of the river, but succeeded in entering Nanchang at 2 : 30 p.m., April 3rd.

Simultaneously, a Japanese naval force on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River had started a clean-up campaign against the Chinese military craft on Lake Tungting on March 15th and sank some 20 enemy vessels in the northern part of the lake in addition to another 6, which were captured.

An unfortunate incident occurred on the Whampoo River at 3 : 28 p.m., March 18th when the Juiho, a steamer of Jardine Matheson & Co., scraped against the Japanese warship Izumo, which sustained damage in her hull and armament.

On March 19th, a Japanese naval unit which was patrolling off Chekiang Province bombarded the Chenhai Fort in the suburbs of Ningpo between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The Hungyuan, Chanchiaotsui and Paichishan forts were also bombarded and damaged.

Activities of the Landing Parties in North China

Following the successful conclusion of the campaign in northern Kiangsu Province which resulted in the fall of Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway, the remnants of Chinese troops have been eliminated from northern Kiangsu Province and Shantung Province.

The Japanese landing party at Weihaiwei in cooperation with the security police dispersed some 500 Chinese troops at Wenteng at the eastern extremity of Shantung Peninsula. The following day the landing party entered Wenteng and the same evening returned to Weihaiwei.

On March 14th, the landing party at Lienyunchiang, the terminus port of the Lung-Hai Railway, attacked the remnants of Chinese troops round Lienyunchiang and dispersed them. The Chinese left 16 rifles, 500 cartridges and 12 mines.

On March 15th, this landing party, accompanied by 200 security policemen, dispersed the remnants of Chinese troops near Chefoo. It advanced to Muping. On April 17th, the landing party, accompanied by 40 security policemen, routed remnants of Chinese troops from Chiyunshan on the southern slope of Pehyuntai.

Japanese landing parties have also been active at key points on the Yangtze River in Central China. On April 13th, a party, covered by warships and in cooperation with a military force,

liquidated some 150 Chinese regulars at Pochengchen, which it occupied.

Clean-up campaigns are being carried on in various parts of South China. On March 9th, a landing party belonging to the Japanese naval force on the Pearl River landed on French island, capturing 15 rifles and several hundred rounds of ammunition. The same night, a clean-up campaign was started against the Chinese military craft on Chukiang Bay. On March 10th, several Chinese military junks were captured off Heungchow (Siangchow) together with large quantities of arms and ammunition.

On March 11th, the landing party, which had been operating in the southern part of Hainan Island, advanced to Lolo, west of Aihsien via Chiuso. On March 17th, the party made a further push and occupied Tengchiao where it seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

The naval force on the Pearl River, in cooperation with the military forces which started an attack on Jungki on the delta, escorted them and covered their landing near Jungki on March 27th. After the successful landing of the military forces, the naval force in close touch with them cut off the retreat of the Chinese troops at Hsiaolan and Maning, southwest of Kweichow.

Another landing party belonging to the naval force on the Pearl River effected a landing at a point northwest of Tanchow in co-operation with the naval force on April 14th and occupied Tanchow Fort, by routing the Chinese troops on the way. In the engagement, the party captured two 12-centimetre guns, four 8-centimetre guns, one 40-milimetre gun and a large quantity of ammunition.

Taking advantage of a dense fog on the morning of April 21st, a large body of Chinese troops attacked Chinmen Island off Amoy, but was easily repulsed by the Japanese bluejackets who were stationed there.

Part of the naval force on the Pearl River started operations for removing booms and sweeping mines round Tachiaoko Island and near Tanchow, covered by naval aeroplanes, early in April. Up to April 20th, the naval force discovered and disposed of some 50 mines. The number of mines discovered and disposed of since the beginning of the Canton campaign has totalled about 500.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—SUMMARY OF JAPANESE MILITARY GAINS—

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

On May 29th, the Army section of the Imperial Headquarters made public the results of the Sino-Japanese hostilities from the outbreak of the China Affair in July, 1937, to the end of April, 1939.

Japanese Occupied Area in China

The total area under Japanese occupation in China comprises the seven provinces of Chahar, Suiyuan, Hopeh, Shantung, Shansi, Kiangsu and Anhwei in their entirety, the greater part of Honan Province, wide areas in the four provinces of Chekiang, Kiangsi, Hupeh and Kwangtung and all of Hainan Island.

The Japanese occupied region in China covers an area of 1,562,938 square kilometres, about two-and-half times as large as Japan, the area of which is 675,365 square kilometres.

The proportion of the Japanese occupied area to China Proper, which has an area of 3,157,346 square kilometres, is 50 to 100, while the percentage of the Japanese occupied area to continental China (including the outlying provinces), which has an area of 10,059,877 square kilometres, is 16 to 100.

COMPARATIVE SINO-JAPANESE LOSSES

(Compiled at the end of April, 1939)

The total losses from the outbreak of the China Affair up to April, 1939, were 936,345 Chinese soldiers killed and left on the battlefield as against 59,998 Japanese killed.

N. B. The results of the Japanese clean-up campaigns in various parts of China have not yet been fully reported. The above list, therefore, is incomplete. Conservative estimates of total Chinese casualties during the period under review may be placed at 2,300,000, including 936,345 bodies actually counted on the battlefields.

ARMS AND WAR MATERIALS CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE UP TO THE END OF APRIL, 1939

N. B. The above list is based on the exact figures which appeared in the reports received from the front ; all intangible designations, such as " large quantities," are excluded from the list. The amount of ammunition captured by Japanese forces, therefore, may be considerably larger than the above list shows. Large quantities of medical supplies, carts, waggons, clothing and provisions, including rice and tobacco also have been captured from the Chinese armies, but this list is concerned only with major items of arms and ammunition. The gun shells mentioned above comprise all sorts shells, including all heavy gun missiles, except those used for trench-mortars.

II

—ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVAL FORCES—

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

Air Force in Action

The Japanese naval air force made successful raids on Chungking, seat of the Nationalist Government, on May 3rd and 4th. During the subsequent month, it not only repeated its attacks on Chungking but engaged in extensive activity all over China, attacking Chinese military points, cooperating with the Japanese landing parties in cleaning up remnants of the Chinese troops and guerillas, covering Japanese warships in their operations for removing booms and sweeping mines in the Yangtze and other rivers and cooperating with the Japanese military forces in their campaign. Especially remarkable has been the activity of the Japanese naval air force in Central and South China.

South China

On May 4th, Swatow and Chaochow were attacked in a series of raids. The first and second attacks were directed against Chinese military establishments, including depots and godowns. Many of these were set afire. The third attack was directed against Chinese waggons carrying military goods near Chaochow. Chuanchow also was visited and the local government offices and machine-gun emplacements there were bombed and strafed.

On May 5th, Swatow and Chuanchow again were raided and Chinese military works were bombed heavily. Three raids were made on Swatow and Chaochow on May 6th. The first attack was directed against Chinese military positions, chemical plants and local government offices at Swatow ; the second one against troop trains, electric power stations and chemicla works at Chaochow and the third against military establishments at Swatow and Chaochow. Several naval air units attacked Lingshui and other strategic points in the southeastern part of Hainan Island, to cover the operations of the landing parties.

May 7th was devoted to attacks on Tanchow and Nanching, in Fukien Province. On May 8th three raids were made on Foochow, capital of Fukien Province and on Yenping in the central part of the province. Naval air units also covered military operations in Hainan Island by attacking Lingtu, Nanlan and Lingmen. One Japanese plane was lost.

Yungan and Chuanchow in Fukien Province were attacked on May 9th and local government offices there were bombed and destroyed. Luichow (Leichow) Peninsula in the southwestern part of Kwangtung Peninsula also was visited and Suwen, a strategically situated town there, was attacked, while

several naval air units covered military operations in Hainan Island.

The mainland opposite Amoy was visited on May 12th, including Changchow, where Chinese military positions and barracks were bombed and machine-gunned. Several naval air squadrons attacked Nanfeng and Yangkiang in Hainan Island in cooperation with military forces on May 13th, while Luichow (Leichow) Peninsula again was visited and Suikai, an important town was attacked.

On May 14th Changpu and Nanan in Fukien Province and Loan and Wanning in Hainan Island were attacked.

Swatow again received the attention of the naval air force on May 15th, when several units bombed Chinese military establishments, including depots and godowns. Nodoa and Nanfeng in northern Hainan Island and Loan and Wanning in the southern part of the island were attacked. Swatow was raided again on May 17th, and the municipal government offices, police station and the military line of communications were bombed. Mawei, outer port of Foochow, also was raided.

Tungshan, the southernmost district of Fukien Province was visited on May 18th. The following day one Japanese plane was lost when a naval unit attacked Suikai, in Luichow (Leichow) Peninsula.

The mainland opposite Amoy was raided by some 30 naval planes, which made a sustained attack on Chinese military positions there on May 20th. The attack on the mainland resulted in fires at eight places on May 21st and 22nd. Naval air units cooperated with the naval forces on the Pearl River in the latter's clean-up campaign against Chinese remnants and guerillas on May 22nd, while other air units attacked Chinese troops operating northeast of Lingshui, in the southern part of Hainan Island. On May 23rd, military works were bombed and destroyed at Yungchin in the southern part of Fukien Province, Lungyuan, Swatow and Chaoyang in Fukien Province were visited on May 24th, and the airfields, barracks and other military establishments there were bombed effectively. May 27th and 28th were devoted to attacks on Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, and Hinghwa, a strategically important town in the eastern part of the province.

One naval air unit attacked Wanning, on the eastern coast of Hainan Island on May 30th and another raided Pehli, in the southwestern part of the island. The attack on Pehli was continued on May 31st, while another air unit visited the mainland and attacked Hweian, Hingan, Shihma and Kiowei.

On June 1st, Changchow, Shihma, and Chuanchow were visited in Fukien Province. Chinese military headquarters and positions in these towns were bombed effectively. Kanen, in the western part of Hainan Island, also was visited and military works there were bombed.

Central China

On May 4th, braving inclement weather, a naval air-squadron raided Kinhwa, an important junction in central Chekiang Province and also Yushan and Kian, where it bombed the airfields. Lientang south of Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, was visited and Chinese military positions and troop concentrations there were bombed and machine-gunned on May 6th.

Ningpo also was attacked, and munition works, godowns and wharves there were bombed. Siangyang in Hupeh Province, Nanyang in Honan Province and Sian, capital of Shensi Province, were raided on May 7th. The airfield and military barracks were targets of the Japanese naval airmen the same day. On May 9th, Loki in Fukien Province and Tsinsien in Kiangsi Province were attacked, as were Yangchiashan in Hupeh Province and Ningpo in Chekiang Province. Chenhai and Ningpo in Chekiang Province were attacked on May 10th. Hengyang in Hunan Province and Ningpo were visited on May 12th, and the airfields, barracks and other military establishments there were bombed and destroyed.

The same day, a naval squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Irisa made a third raid on Chungking, in Szechuan Province, seat of the Kuomintang Government, and effectively bombed military establishments there. Six Chinese pursuit planes challenged the Japanese raiders, who succeeded in shooting down one of them. On May 13th, Yushan on the border of Chekiang Province was raided.

Ningpo again was visited on May 14th. Remnants of the Chinese troops, operating at Taipingkwan in Hupeh Province were attacked on May 16th and 17th. Several naval air units cooperated with military forces to disperse Chinese guerillas in the mountainous region near Tikang in Anhwei Province who had been hampering Japanese shipping on the Yangtze River.

A fourth raid was made on Chungking on May 25th. Taking advantage of a moonlit night, a naval squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Irisa appeared over Chungking at about 9 p. m. and effectively bombed Chinese military establishments in the eastern part of the city, including the headquarters of the Military Council. Fires started at several points. Four Chinese planes challenged the Japanese raiders, who brought down one of them. The Japanese fliers were fired upon heavily by Chinese anti-aircraft batteries scattered around the town, especially at the foreign residential quarter on the bank of the Yangtze River, as a result of which one Japanese plane was lost. The same night, Japanese planes attacked the Chinese airfield at Kwangyang in the suburbs of Chungking.

Tzeki, near Ningpo in Chekiang Province, was visited on June 1st and Chinese troop concentrations there were bombed and machine-gunned. Ningpo again was visited on June 3rd. Fuchow, south of Lake Poyang, was raided on June 4th, when Chinese military establishments, including headquarters, were bombed. The railway between Chekiang and Kiangsi Provinces also was visited, Pingsiang, Kweiki, Kwongsin, Hokowchen being attacked. On June 5th, Kian and Kangshangkai in Kiangsi Province and Taiho in Anhwei Province were raided. Troop concentrations and barracks there were bombed.

North China

On May 19th, naval air units participated in a clean-up campaign against remnants of the Chinese troops near Chefoo, where their bases were attacked. From May 21st to May 24th, naval planes attacked Poerhchen, Laiyeng and Hsiatsun. Laiyang, in the central part of Shantung Province, again was attacked on May 29th and 30th. Tichwang, southwest of Laiyang, was

bombed and machine-gunned on May 31st.

Haiyang on the northeastern coast of Shantung Peninsula was visited on June 1st, and Chinese military depots and godowns there were bombed. Yencheng and Tungtai in central Kiangsu Province were raided and the military barracks and wireless station there were bombed.

Activities of the Japanese Warships

The Japanese Navy continues its blockade of the China coast against Chinese shipping, while some naval units are active in the inland waters of China, removing booms, sweeping mines and suppressing Chinese remnants.

In Central China, naval units cooperated with the military forces in the latter's clean-up campaign during the period under review, sweeping mines day and night. On May 17th, Chenhai in Chekiang Province was attacked. On May 30th and 31st, a naval unit sailed up the Wukiang River, which flows into Wenchow Bay in Chekiang Province, and bombarded Chinese forces which had been engaged in constructing positions at Shatowshan.

In South China, a naval unit attacked Chaochow and bombarded Chinese military craft there. On May 17th, a naval unit in concert with a naval air squadron attacked barracks and other military establishments at Tinpak, in southwestern Kwangtung Province. At Pakhoi on May 19th, an attack was directed against Chinese military positions, depots and other establishments.

On May 22nd, the Japanese naval detachment on the Pearl River started a campaign to clean up remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas along the Pearl River. On June 2nd and 3rd, Japanese warships bombarded the Chinese positions on Wenchow Island, Chekiang Province.

Activities of the Japanese Landing Parties

Culminating 11 months' fighting along the Lung-Hai Railway, following their original landing under enemy fire in May, 1938, the Japanese landing party which has held Lienyunchiang, terminus of the railway, at midnight on May 12 transferred control of the port to the Army. The landing party had fought steadily with a large Chinese force at Haichow and neighbouring points from the time of landing until last March, when the Japanese forces occupied Haichow (Tunghai) esatern terminus of the Lung-Hai Railway.

The Japanese landing party in Hainan Island encountered a large force of Chinese troops at a point northwest of Lingshui in the southern part of the island on May 4th and routed them. The enemy left 30 dead, while 15 of their number were taken prisoners. On May 6th Japanese blue-jackets took Lingshui, covered by naval planes. Hwangliu southwest of Lingshui, also fell into Japanese hands the same day. A Chinese troop concentration near Lingshui was attacked on May 10th, the Chinese fleeing, leaving 188 dead. Fulo was taken on May 13th and Pomatsing on May 14th. Villages near Wongpo were attacked on May 20th and 21st and two rifle factories there were destroyed. In cooperation with a naval air unit, the landing party made a surprise attack on Chinese troops operating northeast of

Lingshui on May 22nd and dispersed them, 39 Chinese being killed. Tantsaitsun and other places were attacked on May 24th, military barracks being destroyed together with a large quantity of ammunition.

Naval Achievements

The Navy section of the Imperial Headquarters on May 31st announced the results of the Japanese naval operations between January 1st and May 31st, including the losses inflicted on the Chinese air force and the number of mines discovered and disposed of by the Japanese fleet.

(1) Chinese Losses in Aeroplanes : During the period under review, the Chinese air force lost 58 planes, including eight which were not confirmed, bringing the total of Chinese losses since the outbreak of the current Affair to 1,561 planes, including 218, which have not yet been confirmed. The Japanese naval air force lost three planes in the period under review, making a total of 116 lost since the beginning of the China Affair.

(2) Chinese Mines Discovered and Disposed of : The Japanese fleet discovered and disposed of 536 mines in the Yangtze River, bringing the total number of mines discovered and disposed of since the outbreak of the Affair to 2,848, while 237 mines were discovered and disposed of in the Pearl River, making a total of 654 since the beginning of the hostilities. The grand total of mines discovered and disposed of since the inception of the China Affair is placed at 3,502.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES—

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

Occupation of Swatow and Chaochow

The Swatow campaign was launched in the small hours of June 21st by Japanese military and naval forces operating in close cooperation.

The main body of the military forces, which had landed near Sintsin, eight kilometres east of Swatow, stormed the Chinese guard station, and the single company of troops which had been guarding the station retreated in disorder. Another military detachment which landed on the southern shore of Tahao Island, south of Swatow, immediately started a northern push and took Kioshih on the opposite end of the island. The march from Sintsin to Swatow, although only eight kilometres, proved a very difficult one for the Japanese, for they not only had to fight the enemy all the way but also had to contend with bad roads and a blazing sun. By 3 o'clock in the afternoon, however, the Japanese forces had occupied practically all important points in the perimeter of Swatow, thus dominating the treaty port. Some of the troops immediately started to clean up the Chinese remnants in the town. The Chinese garrison forces in Swatow were about one regiment strong and offered stubborn resistance, taking clever advantage of foreign properties in the town. They retreated under cover of darkness, however, after starting fires in various parts of the city.

Another Japanese detachment, which had sailed up the estuary of the Han River, took Ampow at 9 o'clock on the morning of June 21st and cut off the northern retreat of the enemy from Swatow. Army and Navy air forces participated in the Swatow campaign throughout efficiently covering the advance of the ground forces and facilitating the smooth progress of the campaign.

The Chinese troops which engaged the Japanese at Swatow consisted of one regiment of the Ninth Brigade of the Kwangtung Army and 1,000 militiamen. They left no fewer than 600 dead and yielded 98 prisoners. The Japanese losses were 22 dead and 44 wounded. The Japanese also captured 100 rifles, a trench-mortar and 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

Occupation of Chaochow

Following up their victory at Swatow, the Japanese forces on the night of June 25th launched a drive on Chaochow, northern terminus of the Swatow-Chaochow Railway. Overcoming all resistance along the way, they dislodged a large body of Chinese troops from Fungkai (Fengchi) on

June 26th and reached the outskirts of Chaochow the same night. At dawn, they took the city. Captured two days later was Tenghai, halfway between Swatow and Changli.

Chaochow is noted as the place to which the famed Chinese poet Han Tui-chih was banished during the Han dynasty. It is an industrial and cultural centre in eastern Kwangtung Province with a population of 350,000. Tenghai is situated in the centre of the Han River delta region. It has a population of 10,000, and is the native town of a large number of overseas Chinese merchants, particularly those in the Southern Pacific.

Losses of Soviet and Outer Mongolian Planes

The Soviet and Outer Mongolian air and land forces, which crossed the western border and invaded Manchoukuo territory late in May, lost their international prestige when they were driven back with serious losses by the combined Japanese and Manchoukuo forces. Later, however, they rallied and reorganized themselves for another assault in the vicinity of Nomonhan.

On June 17th and 19th, Soviet and Mongolian planes in groups of more than 10 frequently crossed the border between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia to bomb Halunarshan, Chiangchunmiao, Amukulan, Khanjurmiao and other Manchoukuo towns.

The Japanese and Manchoukuo forces exercised self-restraint, however, in sincere effort to induce the Soviet-dominated Outer Mongolians to reconsider their dangerous course.

At 4 p.m., June 22nd, 18 Japanese planes patrolling Manchoukuo territory sighted some 150 Soviet planes of the I-15 and I-16 types, which had crossed the border. In the ensuing aerial battle near Khanjurmiao, the Japanese shot down 56 of the invading planes, with a loss of four craft from their own ranks, including one piloted by Captain Morimoto.

At about 8 p.m., June 23rd, the Japanese air unit which had been patrolling over Lake Buir encountered five Soviet planes and chased them across the border. One enemy plane was brought down, while Sergeant-Major Nakanishi, on the Japanese side, was killed in the air battle.

At 8 : 30 a.m., June 24th, a Japanese air squadron encountered approximately 60 Soviet and Outer Mongolian planes over the Halha River, south of Lake Buir, and shot down 12 of them. All the Japanese planes returned safely to their base.

Another engagement took place at 1 p.m. the same day over Lake Buir in which the Soviets lost four planes, one of which was captured by the Japanese after making a forced landing. One Japanese plane, piloted by Lieutenant Amano, failed to return to the base.

Another air battle occurred south of Khanjurmiao at 6 : 10 p.m., June 26th. Japanese flying units, which had been standing by some 20 kilometres south of Khanjurmiao, went aloft to meet about 40 enemy craft of the I-15 and I-16 types and shot down 16 of them after spirited fighting. The Japanese suffered no losses.

At dawn the following day, Japanese pursuit planes encountered approximately 200 Soviet-Mongol planes over Lake Buir. In the thrilling

30-minute battle that ensued, the Japanese brought down at least 98 planes, and possibly six more.

Following the large-scale air battle, Japanese bombers took off from their base to retaliate for the repeated Soviet-air raids on " open " Manchoukuo towns and also to destroy the base of the Soviet-Mongol air base at Tamsk, 100 kilometres south of Lake Buir. The Japanese raiders bombed and burned 30 enemy planes on the ground. Three Japanese planes failed to return to their base.

From the beginning of the Nomonhan incident up to June 27th, the Japanese air force destroyed 282 Soviet and Outer Mongolian planes and captured two more, adding an impressive page to the annals of world aerial warfare.

The Moscow Government maintained secrecy regarding the border fighting at the beginning, but was compelled to make public its version of the incident through the Tass News Agency on June 26th, following world-wide publicity on the affair. The Soviet version as usual, was concocted to suit its own convenience.

Clean-up Campaigns in Southern Shantung Province

The clean-up campaign started by Japanese forces on May 31st against the Chinese troops under General Yu Hsueh-chung and Admiral Shen Hung-lieh, and also against the Chinese Communist forces in southern Shantung Province, with an aggregate numerical strength of 120,000, has been conducted with extremely satisfactory results.

The Chinese 51st Army, comprising the 113th Division and the 114th division under General Yu Hsueh-chung, the 57th Army comprising the 11th Division and 112th Division under General Miao Cheng-liu, the 40th Army comprising the newly-organized 4th Division and the Shantung militia force under Admiral Shen Hung-lieh and the 89th Army, composed mostly of the salt guards at Haichow under General Li Shou-wei which managed to flee from the Japanese campaign at Haichow, crept into Southern Shantung Province where they joined forces with part of the 8th Route, or Communist Army.

General Yu, as commander-in-chief of the combined Kuomintang and Communist forces, established headquarters at Kaohu, to direct military operations in Shantung and Kiangsu provinces. It is understood that four additional divisions of Chinese troops had hurried north to Shantung from Honan Province as reinforcements.

These combined forces had established bases in the Taishan mountain range and also at Chuhsien, Yishui (Linyi), Mengyin, Chuchang and Jihchao in Southern Shantung Province, where they constructed strong positions. They apparently maintained a line of communication between their bases and Shihsueh, on the southern coast of Shantung.

The Japanese forces converged on these Kuomintang and Communist troops from three routes, namely the Shantung Railway, the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and the Lung-hai Railway. The Japanese Muda, Yamagata, Watanabe and Ishihara detachments pushed south from the Shantung Railway on May 31st; the Kitagawa, Azuma and Yanagawa

detachments pushed north from the Lung-hai Railway on May 29th, and the Yamamoto and Toyama detachments drove east from Taian on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway on May 30th. Marching under a scorching sun with the thermometer registering 110 degrees Fahrenheit, negotiating difficult mountain passes and enduring extreme hardships and privations, especially shortage of water, the Japanese forces steadily tightened their converging movement. On June 7th, they reached the line connecting Chucheng, Takwan, Antungwei and Yichow, 40 kilometres from the enemy positions at Chuhsien and Yishui.

The Japanese air force played an important role in the clean-up campaign in Southern Shantung Province. On June 7th, flying units visited Tunglitien, Kaohu, and Tafow, where the enemy had established bases, and attacked the headquarters and other military establishments.

The Chinese offered stiff resistance in all sectors in an attempt to check the Japanese advance, falling back on their geographical advantage. Undaunted, the Japanese battered the enemy positions and took Mengyin, the Chinese western base, on June 8th. The following day they reduced Yishui, the enemy headquarters. That night, the Japanese Muda mobile detachment stormed Chuhsien. With their headquarters and important bases in Japanese hands, the Kuomintang-Communist forces started a general retreat southwest and southeast of Yishui and Chuhsien.

Following up their victory, the Japanese forces dealt effectively with the Chinese remnants.

Results of the Clean-up Campaign

During the clean-up campaign in southern Shantung Province, which lasted from June 1st to June 26th, the Japanese forces had 109 engagements with enemy forces of an estimated total numerical strength of 52,000. The Chinese left 5,783 dead and lost 302 as prisoners. Their total casualties, including wounded, are estimated at more than 17,000. Japanese booty included 2,037 rifles, 66 machine-guns, 6 rapid-firing guns and 399 horses.

Prior to the June campaign, not a single Japanese soldier had set foot in southern Shantung province, with the exception of that sector which was involved in the battle for Hsuchow last year.

Aside from providing access to the rich agricultural and mineral resources for which southern Shantung is noted, the clean-up campaign is significant in that it has dealt a crushing blow to the combined Kuomintang and Communist forces, which had menaced the peace and order of North China with southern Shantung as their base of operations.

Movement of the Soviet-Mongol Forces Since May

After driving the Soviet and Outer Mogolian troops beyond the border as a sequel to the Nomonhan incident late in May, the Japanese and Manchoukuo forces returned to their base and awaited further developments, which were not long in coming.

For a time, the Soviet-Mongol forces were quiet, but toward the middle of June they resumed their invasion by land and air, in an effort to regain prestige following their earlier humiliation at Nomonhan.

Soviet aeroplanes were shot down every time they ventured across the

border, however, their losses in aircraft totalling 393 up to July 5th. Meanwhile, Soviet-Mongol ground forces on June 11th reappeared on the Halha, border river between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia, to survey the topography of the region near the confluence of the Halha and Holsten rivers. On June 18th they constructed a bridge across the Halha near the juncture of the two rivers, crossing over to establish positions on the heights near Manchoukuo territory. At that time, their forces numbered about 1,000 and their armaments included 10 artillery pieces, 10 anti-aircraft guns and scores of tanks.

They were reinforced steadily. On June 24th, a strong body of the transgressing troops, equipped with 70 tanks, armoured cars and lorries, and seven fieldguns crossed the Halha and attacked the Japanese Kobayashi detachment, which was standing guard over Chiangchunmiao. Emboldened by their superior numerical strength, the Soviet-Mongol forces surrounded the Japanese positions and bombarded them heavily with artillery. They met with much stiffer resistance than they expected to find, however, and were compelled to retreat toward evening with heavy losses. In withdrawing they picked up all their dead and wounded. The Japanese succeeded in destroying or disabling 10 tanks and armoured cars and one lorry. Japanese casualties comprised four killed and 15 wounded.

The invaders then strengthened their positions on both banks of the Halha River. Japanese aerial reconnaissance revealed that their first line reached as far into Manchoukuo as Nomonhan. The Soviet-Mongol numerical strength in this sector on June 25th totaled 4,000, and their equipment included 70 cannon, 26 anti-aircraft guns, 140 tanks and armoured cars and 860 motorcars.

The Manchoukuo border patrols at Jaminhotok, near Lake Buir, engaged approximately 300 Soviet-Mongol regulars, equipped with 30 armoured cars, on the evening of June 17th, while Manchoukuo troops at Tsanganobo, on the western shore of Lake Buir, were surrounded by about 1,000 Soviet and Outer Mongol troops, armed with 50 tanks and over a dozen mountain-guns. These invaders were beaten back, after bitter fighting.

On June 19th, 200 Soviet and Outer Mongolian regulars, armed with five tanks and six machine-guns, crossed the border and attacked Khalhamiao on the northern shore of Lake Buir. On June 29th, invading tank units attacked Nomutosolin.

Japanese Punitive Expedition

It is scarcely necessary to mention that the Japanese Army, which is jointly responsible with the Manchoukuo Army for the defence of Manchoukuo, should let these provocations pass unchallenged. Therefore, the Japanese Army decided to strike a decisive blow at the Soviet and Outer Mongolian troops to restore peace and order in Holunbair. After completing necessary preparations, the Japanese-Manchoukuo forces launched a punitive expedition against the Red Army troops which had crossed the border and constructed positions inside Manchoukuo territory.

At midnight, June 31st, the defending forces quietly left their base for an advance on the plain of Holunbair. Late the next night, they had arrived

within striking distance of the first line of the Soviet-Mongol forces.

Giving full play to their mobility, the Japanese on the night of July 2nd surrounded some 4,000 enemy troops on the eastern bank of the Halha and completely cut off their retreat.

The Japanese Yamagata and Yasuoka detachments battered the front of the enemy positions vigorously and succeeded in destroying or disabling more than two-thirds of the enemy's 140 tanks and armoured cars. A Manchoukuo detachment, in cooperation with the Japanese left column, attacked the enemy positions on Noro height and at 8 a.m., July 4th, reached a point four kilometers northeast of the confluence of the Halha and Holsten Rivers.

The Japanese and Manchoukuo first line steadily pressed back the enemy and at dawn on July 8th took the 738 metre hill north of the junction of the two rivers, thus entirely dominating the enemy positions.

The Japanese air force played a large role in the punitive expedition, securing command of the air and cooperating effectively with the ground forces.

In an aerial battle on July 3rd, the Japanese brought down two S.B. type planes, one L.Z. plane and six I-15 and I-16 aircraft.

On the afternoon of July 3rd, about 50 S.B. planes, flying in formation, attacked the Japanese first line repeatedly. The Japanese damage was negligible, however, and Japanese pursuit planes shot down two of the invaders.

July 4th witnessed a major air battle, in which the Japanese air force shot down 45 I-16 and one I-15 craft as well as seven S.B. bombers. It was believed that 15 other bombers were winged, but confirmation was impossible. No Japanese planes were lost in this engagement, although three fliers were wounded.

On July 5th, the Japanese air force bombed enemy artillery positions and tank units. On the same afternoon, 110 Soviet and Outer Mongolian planes, consisting of 60 S.B. bombers and 50 I-15 and I-16 planes appeared over the Halha River. In the ensuing battle, Japanese fliers brought down five of the first category and seven I-16 machines, returning safely to their base after the battle.

The Japanese air force on July 6th encountered a large Soviet-Mongol squadron, consisting of 40 I-16 planes and 12 S.B. bombers east of Lake Buir and shot down 24 of them. One Japanese ace made a forced landing near the scene of battle, while two more failed to return to the base.

Popular Contributions to the War Fund

During the two years of the China Affair, up to June 30th, the Japanese public has contributed 90,000,000 yen to the war fund, as follows :

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II

—ROLE OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN THE CHINA AFFAIR—

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

On July 7th, the China Affair entered its third year. During the two years of the hostilities, the Japanese forces have scored brilliant military achievements, while reconstruction has progressed apace behind the lines.

We took occasion last year to review the naval operations after the first anniversary of the conflict. Thus, on the occasion of the second anniversary, we herewith outline the naval operations which have taken place since.

Command of the Sea

Command of the Western Pacific, secured early by the Japanese Navy, has provided a solid basis for all military operations since the beginning of the China Affair. It has enabled the Japanese forces to give full play to their efficiency on land, on the sea and in the air, and it also has enabled the Japanese Government to reject resolutely all untoward interference by third Powers, leaving it free to press its legitimate claims. In other words, command of the sea is essential for the conduct of Japan's strategy and diplomacy, upon which the latter are based.

Two years of hostilities have resulted in a virtual debacle for the Kuomintang and Communist armies, leaving them powerless before the Japanese forces, except for the desultory activities of guerillas in a few places. What now is in store for Japan is diplomatic warfare with third Powers over political and economic issues arising from the China Affair. The diplomatic negotiations which already have been started between Japan and pro-Chinese Powers are nothing but minor skirmishes in preparation for the forthcoming full-dress diplomatic struggle. Complications which have arisen recently between Japan and Britain, in connection with the British Concession at Tientsin and other questions, suggest the trend of Japan's international relations, which are bound to be complicated and difficult.

No wonder, therefore, that all Powers interested in the Far East are bent upon expanding their naval armaments with a view to acquiring a greater voice in East Asia.

Such an international situation intensified by the fear of an European War, has added to the importance of the command of the Western Pacific, which is absolutely indispensable to the independence, existence and

development of Japan. The present outlook demands that the Japanese nation pay greater attention to this point.

The Japanese sea forces now are called upon to shoulder a fresh burden in bringing the China conflict to a successful conclusion, by facilitating the smooth execution of Japan's world policy. At no time before has the Imperial Navy faced a greater or more important responsibility.

Blockade Forces at Work

The blockade of the China coast is a manifestation of the Japanese command of the sea in the Western Pacific. It is intended to deprive the enemy of the use of sea routes in accordance with Japan's primary strategy. The success of the blockade has an important bearing on the full scope of Japanese military operations.

The question naturally arises : What difficulty could possibly attend the successful establishment of a blockade against a country which has no navy, or rather whose navy has been crushed ? The difficulty is that which accompanies efforts to blockade a vast expanse of shoreline with a limited number of craft, fighting constantly against the elements. The Japanese blockade against China encounters a greater and more serious difficulty in the obstructions presented by pro-Chiang Powers, which have taken advantage of the fact that it is a so-called " peacetime " blockade.

Nevertheless, the Japanese blockade forces have put forth courageous efforts during the past two years to interrupt the supply of war materials and other essentials destined to the Kuomintang and Communist armies, while the military forces have been attaining brilliant victories on land, in inland waters and in the air.

Now that almost all important seaports have fallen into Japanese hands, the Kuomintang régime is resorting to the desperate expediency of " smuggling," adding to the difficulty and complexity of the duty of the Japanese blockade forces, which have been compelled to seize suspicious junks and to board vessels and examine their freight to stop the practice. Vessels of third Powers also are aiding the Chinese, taking advantage of the loopholes of the " peacetime " blockade, under the protection of foreign naval ensigns. They also use junks to supply Chinese guerillas and bandits with arms and ammunition. With the blockade forces being compelled to examine all vessels, the difficulty of their task may be seen on the basis of the ship clearings in only two North China ports, Chefoo and Weihaiwei, for the last third of May, as shown below :

CHEFOO

WEIHAIWEI

The percentage of shipping of various nationalities entering and clearing North China ports applies in approximately the same proportion to ports in Central and South China. It is worthy of special notice that British shipping has increased steadily since the beginning of the China Affair. Small warships of the British China Station are being detailed to various ports of China to protect British shipping and Chinese junks which are engaged in smuggling, thus creating a delicate international complication and adding greatly to the difficulty of the task of the Japanese blockade forces. Interruption of traffic along the China coast, assiduously enforced by the Japanese Navy, has seriously affected the economy and people's livelihood in that part of China which remains under the jurisdiction of the Kuomintang Government.

Command of Inland Waters

Command of inland waters is an extension of the command of the sea, forming a duty of supreme importance for the Japanese Navy.

Operations in inland waters did not come to an end with the capture of Hankow or Canton. The Japanese forces attained splendid military achievements in the interior of China by gaining control of the Yangtze River as far as Yochow, a 750-mile stretch, and turning it into a line of communication. The Japanese military achievements inland can never be extended, however, unless the Japanese maintain command of the Yangtze. If the situation were otherwise, the Japanese expedition to the interior of China might well share the fate of Napoleon's advance on Moscow.

Operations for securing the command of rivers are carried on by sweeping mines and removing booms, by suppressing remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas along the river, and by eliminating all factors for the disturbance of navigation. This is the reason why free navigation on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers cannot be restored so easily.

In view of the importance which attaches to the operations in inland waters, they must be continued until the China hostilities are over.

Naval Units on the Yangtze

After the fall of the three Wuhan cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang, the Japanese naval forces on the Yangtze River continued their drive upstream and occupied Yochow (Yoyang) on November 13th last, thus re-opening the 130-mile waterway between Hankow and Yochow.

The naval units since have redoubled their mine-sweeping efforts in the Yangtze, from Hankow to Yochow, as well as from Shanghai to Hankow, to safeguard the Japanese line of communication. With the advent of the low water season unusually early this year, mines laid by the Chinese

troops came to surface one after another of their own accord. Scores of them were discovered and disposed of in a single day. Meanwhile, the Yangtze forces suppressed Chinese bandits who attempted to disturb the Japanese line of communication and rob Chinese junks on the river. When the Chinese armies and guerilla forces launched their so-called April offensive, the Japanese naval units on the Yangtze attacked their bases and successfully frustrated their attempts.

Last March, when the Japanese opened a drive on Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, the Yantze forces broke through the booms constructed by the Chinese at several points at the mouth of the Kan River. In close cooperation with the landing party, air force and military units, they occupied Wucheng at the mouth of the Kan on March 23rd. The river patrol reached Nanchang by way of the Kan River on April 3rd, and Shihchakai, above Nanchang, on April 23rd. Since then the river units have been safeguarding the new Japanese communication line through Lake Poyang and the Kan River.

Japanese Naval Forces on the Pearl River

The Japanese naval forces on the Pearl River have been kept busy removing barricades and sunken vessels from the river and the water channels connected with it, sweeping mines and suppressing remnants of Chinese troops and guerillas along the waterway and in the delta.

An idea of the unit's activities may be understood from a glimpse of its record for the week starting May 22nd, a typical week. During this period, members of the unit boarded 284 junks, of which four were seized, one scuttled and the rest released. The unit confiscated three guns, 11 rifles, one revolver, 435 cartridges, 35 cases of gunpowder, 5,200 cases of petroleum, 20 tons of dust coal, 40 tons of lumber and a large quantity of sugar, vegetables, anchor chains and miscellaneous goods.

It discovered and disposed of 237 mines between January 1st and May 31st, making a total of 654 mines destroyed since the start of the Canton campaign last autumn.

Japanese operations in inland waters are not limited to the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers, but extended to the Kan, the Yen and the Cheyang rivers in North China. Since the latter part of February, the Japanese naval forces have occupied Siangshui, on the right bank of the Kan River, Haichow, the eastern terminus of the Lung-hai Railway, and Fowning, on the Peiyang River in Kiangsu Province.

Activities of the Landing Parties

In North China, the landing parties cleared the neighbourhood of Weihaiwei, Chefoo and Lienyunchiang, port on the Lung-hai Railway, of Chinese troops and guerillas. In Central China, the landing party liquidated Chinese bandits near Kiangyin, on the estuary of the Yangtze, early this year. In March, it participated in the drive on Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province in cooperation with the Army. In South China, the landing party has undertaken a successful clean-up campaign against Chinese remnants.

The Japanese landing party at Hainan also is playing an important role in the subjugation of the island, cooperating with the naval air force and the military forces in a most effective manner.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

The naval air force has not suspended its activities for as much as a day since the outbreak of the China Affair, except on occasions when weather conditions prohibited flying, and it has virtually liquidated the Chinese air force.

The naval air force has devoted its major attention to South China since the latter part of December, although attacking Chinese positions in North and Central China from time to time.

Activities of the naval air force reached their height from the middle of April, when fair weather returned to China.

It raided Chungking, seat of the Kuomintang Government in Szechwan Province and Chengtu, upstream on the Yangtze River in the same Province. A series of raids against Chungking, carried out in quick succession, has brought General Chiang Kai-shek to the realization that any town in China, however isolated, can bring him no safety from the Japanese naval planes.

From the beginning of the China Affair to May 31st, the naval air force alone has destroyed no less than 1,561 planes of the Chinese air force.

The Swatow Campaign

At 11 o'clock on the morning of June 21st, when the eyes of the world had been focussed on the international settlements and foreign concessions at Shanghai, Kulangsu and Tientsin, the Imperial Headquarters announced a surprise landing of Japanese military and naval forces at Swatow, strategically situated seaport in South China on the eastern coast of Kwangtung Province.

Crack detachments, operating in close cooperation, effected a landing near Swatow in face of the enemy at dawn the same day and immediately started an advance inland. Just a year earlier, to the day, a Japanese landing party had occupied Namoa Island, off Swatow.

For the intervening 12 months, therefore the inhabitants of Swatow had expected a Japanese attack almost every day.

The Japanese Fleet in South China Waters, commanded by Vice-Admiral Nobutake Kondo, and a group of military transports carrying soldiers had sailed from an undisclosed base, arriving off Swatow at midnight, June 20th. Landing operations immediately got under way, and the naval forces at 5 : 30 o'clock in the morning had completely occupied all the islands dominating Swatow.

A unit of Japanese warships at 8 : 30 a.m. started to enter Swatow harbour. By sweeping mines and removing booms in face of the enemy forces on both banks, the warships reached a point only two kilometers east of Swatow at 10 : 50 o'clock, silencing the enemy fort at Kilu and other positions on the way. By 2 o'clock, they had succeeded in sweeping mines and removing booms, enabling the transports to enter the port safely.

Meanwhile, the naval air force worked in close cooperation with the land and sea forces, bombing and machine-gunning the Chinese troops to cover the advance of the ground forces. A Chinese steam-launch near Pengchow, on the Han River, fired on a Japanese naval plane, which returned the fire and sank the surface craft.

Prior to this, a Japanese scouting plane, taking advantage of the morning mist, landed in Swatow Harbour and safely returned to the base after making very useful reconnaissance.

Later operations progressed smoothly, the Japanese military forces steadily extending the area under their occupation.

After the fall of Canton last October, Swatow remained the only seaport from which the Chiang Kai-shek régime could contact the outside world. Merchantmen of third Powers friendly to the Nationalist Government recently had frequented Swatow in increasing numbers, including vessels of Jardine Matheson & Co., Ltd., a British concern. War supplies were imported through Swatow and transported overland to Chungking, while staple products from the interior of China were exported abroad through the Kwangtung Port.

Swatow thus was at once a milch cow, so to speak, and a granary for the Chiang Kai-shek régime. The loss of the vital port therefore represents a serious blow to the Chungking Government.

The scorched earth policy was followed during the campaign by the Chinese garrison forces at Swatow, which set fire to several points in the town on the night previous to the Japanese occupation. The fires raged throughout the night, rendering hundreds of Chinese inhabitants homeless and accentuating their hardships. On June 22nd, the landing party cleaned up the Chinese remnants in the busy streets west of the piers of the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company and completely occupied that part of Swatow.

On June 23rd, Vice-Admiral Kondo, accompanied by his staff, landed at the custom pier, where he was met by the supreme commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces. Together, they inspected various parts of Swatow in which the fighting had taken place.

The naval air force had cooperated fully with the land forces in their attack on the Chinese positions, after successfully covering the Japanese landing operations. Naval planes also dropped handbills, urging the Chinese to cease their futile resistance against the Japanese, and urging non-combatants to go about their business as usual. Bombing and strafing of the fort at Kilu, east of Swatow, proved very effective, facilitating the advance of the Japanese land forces to a great degree. Attacks on Chinese positions in the interior, including Shanghang and Meihsien, also struck terror into the enemy. Mention must be made here of the impressive role played by Japanese flying-boats in the Swatow campaign.

Occupation of Chaochow

The naval air force on June 23rd visited the common border of the three provinces of Fukien, Kiangsi and Kwangtung, and attacked important Chinese military bases at Pinghwo and Nanyung. Naval air units also flew

over the Chasan highway and bombed 40 or more lorries near Fengshun. Ten motor-cars attempting to cross the bridge over the Han River were attacked and burned.

Following the capture of Swatow, a Japanese detachment assisted by aerial squadrons launched a drive on Chaochow, northern terminus of the Swatow-Chaochow Railway. On the night of June 25th, it advanced on Chaochow, overland and by the waterway, reaching a point approximately four kilometres south of Chaochow by dawn.

The military unit immediately launched a general attack against Chaochow, occupying the railway station early in the morning. Other Japanese units converged on the city by three routes from the western bank of the Han River south of Chaochow and reduced the town after hot fighting with the Chinese garrison troops.

Blockade of Wenchow and Foochow

Closely following the capture of Swatow, the Japanese fleet started fresh operations on Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, and Wenchow, in Chekiang Province, both treaty ports, in a determined effort to complete the blockade of the South China coast. Before the fresh operations started, Mr. Yoshiaki Miura, Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai, communicated to the Danish Consul-General, doyen of the foreign consular body, on the morning of June 27th to the following effect :

" The Japanese Navy is starting fresh military operations on Foochow and Wenchow, beginning June 27th. Third Power warships and merchant vessels in Wenchow hereby are requested to withdraw to points east of 121 degrees, 15 minutes East Longitude by noon, June 29th (Tokyo time), and those in the vicinity of Foochow hereby are requested to withdraw to points east of 119 degrees, 50 minutes East Longitude by the designated time. Entry into and clearance from those ports after noon, June 29th, will become impossible. The Japanese Navy will not assume responsibility for any consequence arising from the attempts to enter or clear from those ports after noon, June 29th."

Simultaneously with this communication to the foreign consular body, the Japanese fleet started operations against Wenchow and Foochow on June 27th.

A detachment of Japanese bluejackets which had been standing by landed on Hutow (Tiger's Head) Island, dominating Wenchow, and occupied it on June 27th. Another Japanese bluejacket unit occupied Yuhwan Island and Kanmen Port on the same morning. Meanwhile, other Japanese naval units constructed booms at the mouth of Wenchow Bay, after capturing numerous Chinese military craft.

Part of the Japanese landing party occupied Chwanshih Island at the mouth of the Min River and started constructing booms, while Japanese warships heavily bombarded the Chinese military positions on both banks of the river.

Naval air units devoted two days, June 27th and 28th, to spirited attacks against the Chinese military positions at the mouth of the river, with the result that an exodus of Chinese inhabitants started from there to the interior.

With the steady progress of the fresh operations on Wenchow and Foochow, the Japanese blockade against the South China coast has been tightened further, so that the supply of war materials to the Chiang Kai-shek régime through South China seaports has been severed completely.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

—ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES IN CHINA AND MANCHOUKUO—

Bureau of Information, War Department

The Luan Campaign

THE broad Luan Plain in southern Shansi Province was the locale of renewed military operations during the first half of July, after a lull of more than a year in that sector.

Japanese military forces had gained complete control of the area last year in a three-month campaign starting in February, withdrawing later for strategical reasons.

Early this summer, however, the enemy again moved into the region and established a base for guerilla operations. Consequently, another Japanese clean up campaign was launched on July 3 and was carried off successfully in a fortnight against 16 divisions of Chinese, totalling 195,000 men, despite intense heat and torrential rains, encountered in turn, and the tortuous topography of the southern Shansi region.

Enemy Movements

The enemy extended its line of communication from Luan (Changchih) to Loyang, on the south bank of the Yellow River, via Yuanku and Menghsien. General Wei Li-huang, at the head of 95,000 Central Army Forces, took up a position in the mountainous region east of the Tatung-Puchow Railway. The 45,000 Communist troops, with the 129th Division as their nucleus, were stationed at Liaohsien, Yushe and Chinhsien and approximately 55,000 provincial troops under General Sun Tien-ying were deployed south of Luan. From these positions, they made frequent forays against the Tatung-Puchow, Shihchiachwàng-Taiyuan and Peking-Hankow railway lines.

The 40th Chinese Army under General Pang Ping-hsun was ordered to invade Tsechow in southern Shansi Province, while the troops under General Sun were reorganized and incorporated with the regular army. The Communist troops under General Chu Teh set up headquarters at Luan, establishing primitive arsenals at Chinhsien and other places.

Progress of the Campaign

The Japanese units participating in the campaign converged on Luan Plain simultaneously from all directions, north, south, west and east, effectively

covered by the air force and steadily tightening their cordon around the Chinese troops.

The Japanese Yamazaki, Kawasaki, Kimura and Sasaki units started their operations from the Shihchiachwang-Taiyuan Railway and occupied Liaohsien, Yushe, Chinhsien and other enemy bases in quick succession. These units succeeded in reducing Luan on July 12.

The Japanese Mineki and Oikawa detachments drove north from Tsinghwachen and attacked the 106th and 30 divisions of the Chinese 40th Army, under command of General Pang, which had established strong positions on the Honan-Shansi border. On July 11 they broke through and on July 19 occupied Tsechow, where General Pang's forces had established headquarters.

Within a fortnight of the start of the drive, all important enemy bases had been captured. At the height of the campaign, heavy downpours in southern Shansi washed out highways and forced the Japanese troops to march through quagmires. Some of the Japanese troops were marooned for days, entirely out of communication with the rear. Provisions were dropped by parachute from army planes.

The Japanese forces are continuing their mopping up campaign against the remnants in the Luan sector, although resistance is negligible.

Strained Japanese-Soviet Relations

The strained relations between Japan and the Soviet Union are reflected directly in the present border trouble between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia, which is being aggravated with every fresh clash.

Although the Changkufeng Incident of July, 1938, between Japan and the Soviet, disclosed various weaknesses on the part of the Red Army, it nevertheless was bold enough to provoke the present incident near Nomonhan last May.

At the same time, the Soviet Union has brought intolerable pressure to bear on the Japanese oil and coal concessions in North Saghalien, as explained elsewhere in this issue, while it is doing everything possible to restrict Japanese fishery interests in northern waters. Thus, the whole attitude of the Soviet Union toward Japan is marked by provocation.

The chief motive of the Soviet provocation against Japan may be seen in her Far Eastern policy. Other factors are the German-Japanese-Italian Anti-Comintern Pact, the progress of the five-year industrial plan and apparent under-estimation of Japan's military resources. Such being the case, the only effective way for Japan to deal with the situation will be to foster her national resources and complete war preparations against the Soviet Union. Japan has not the slightest intention of provoking a war, but she must be fully prepared and determined to meet any challenge with armed forces. In this connection, special attention must be directed to the fact that Soviet troops, on full war footing, are deployed along the borders separating Manchoukuo, the Soviet Union and Outer Mongolia for a distance of some 5,000 kilometres. In the Nomonhan sector alone, the Soviet Union has mobilized four or five modern mechanised corps.

To meet such a situation, it is but natural for Japan to assign a sufficient

number of troops to the threatened area. With this situation prevailing, no one can tell whether or not a minor clash will develop into large-scale hostilities. The nation must be fully aware that it now is facing a situation wherein a major international conflict on the China-Soviet fronts has already been developed.

Outer Mongolian Provocations

The Nomonhan Incident which has been discussed at length in previous issues of TOKYO GAZETTE is another in the long chapter of unwarranted provocations by Outer Mongolia, which has become a Soviet puppet.

In the four-year period between April, 1935 and April, 1939, there have been no less than 108 disputes between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia, including cases of border violations, kidnapping of Manchoukuo subjects, firing on Manchoukuo patrols and citizens, demand for the removal of border patrol stations, seizure of Manchoukuo territory and illegal aerial reconnaissance by the Outer Mongolian Army. A few cases which occurred in the Nomonhan area are mentioned below:

On June 23, 1935, Outer Mongolian regulars crossed the border near Holstengohl and kidnapped a surveying engineer, employed by the Kwantung Army, and his Russian assistant, also seizing their surveying apparatus.

On November 6, 1935, two Mongol regulars, assigned to the border outpost at Soktosumburu, crossed the border to steal timber from Manchoukuo territory. When they were arrested by Manchoukuo border patrols, the latter were fired on by Outer Mongolian troops.

On October 4, 1938, 24 members of a Japanese surveying party were fired on by five Mongol cavalrymen near the the Halha River, which forms the border between Manchoukuo and Outer Mongolia.

On January 12, this year, a squad of Mongol soldiers crossed the border at Dongoluluobo southwest of Nomonhan, but were driven away by the Manchoukuo border guards. Five days later, a Mongol woman—citizen of Manchoukuo—was outraged by a trooper of the Outer Mongolian Army in the the same region.

On January 19, a party of 15 soldiers crossed the borders and entered Nomonhan to exchange shots with the local Manchoukuo police force.

These transgressions took place with increasing frequency during the next three months, leading up to the frontal clash in May.

The Manchoukuo Government had protested to the Outer Mongolian Government on every occasion, but the Mongol forces persisted in their provocative acts without the slightest regard for the protests.

Development of the Nomonhan Incident

The Nomonhan incident, as was explained in the July number of TOKYO GAZETTE, had the same inception as the preceding border clashes. On May 11, some 80 Mongol regulars, armed with heavy artillery pieces, crossed the Halha River and entered Balshagal, southwest of Nomonhan, attacking the Manchoukuo border outpost there. The invaders were repulsed by the Manchoukuo border guards, but they renewed their attack on May 13 with

strong reinforcements brought up from the rear. At this juncture, the Japanese Azuma detachment was dispatched to the spot from Hailar. This detachment, in cooperation with Manchoukuo troops, pressed back the Outer Mongolian force to the western bank of the Halha on May 16. Then leaving a few squads on the border to watch the movements of the Mongols, the Azuma detachment returned to its barracks in Hailar.

It was not long, however, before the Mongol force, reinforced by Soviet regulars, again crossed the Halha. They first built bridges over the river and then started constructing fortifications on its eastern bank, which lies within Manchoukuo territory. The Kwantung Army then sent the Yamagata detachment to repulse the stubborn invaders. This detachment reached the Halha River on May 28, driving the Mongol and Soviet forces ahead of it. The Yamagata detachment returned to its base on June 1.

The Japanese up to that time had encountered approximately 2,000 Soviet-Mongol troops, including the Sixth Division of Outer Mongolian cavalry, 1,000 strong and armed with 10 guns, a Red Army unit of 500, which included an infantry battalion supplemented with more than a dozen tanks and a large number of motor-lorries. In addition, there was a motorized unit of sharpshooters, dispatched from Ulanbator, capital of Outer Mongolia.

Sustaining a heavy blow at the hands of the combined Japanese and Manchoukuo forces, the enemy remained quiet until the middle of June. Meanwhile, aeroplanes and mechanised units were rushed to Tamsk, south of Lake Buir from the Soviet Union.

On June 15, the Soviet-Mongol troops again started operations near the confluence of the Halha and Holstein Rivers, establishing positions on the eastern bank of the Halha, as they had done before. Part of them penetrated deep into Manchoukuo territory and attacked the Japanese garrison at Chiangchunmiao, while Soviet bombers flew 150 kilometres into Manchoukuo territory and bombed Halunarshan, the railway terminus.

The Kwangung Army decided to launch another counter-offensive. In conjunction with the Manchoukuo forces, they started operations at midnight, July 1, and faced the enemy front lines the following evening. After 10 days of fighting, the Japanese-Manchoukuo forces succeeded in expelling the invaders from Manchoukuo territory. The strength of the Soviet and Outer Mongolian forces at that time was estimated at 10,000 men, including the bulk of the Eastern Mongolia garrison forces as well as troops sent from the military districts of Transbaikal, Siberia and the Urals. The Japanese and Manchoukuo units then engaged in mopping up the enemy remnants, keeping a vigilant watch on activities across the border. Unwilling to admit defeat, the Soviet-Mongol forces erected strong artillery positions on the western bank of the Halha and watched for an opportunity to launch another attack while powerful reinforcements of mechanised and infantry units were being brought up from the rear. They made small-scale forays from time to time, but were repulsed on every occasion. At 3:30 o'clock on the morning of July 16, enemy bombers raided Fularki, international railway junction in Manchoukuo, and dropped eight bombs on the unfortified town.

One week later, 2,000 or more Soviet and Mongol infantry troops,

equipped with approximately 100 tanks, crossed the border, only to be driven back with heavy losses. At 7 o'clock the same morning, Japanese artillery units opened fire and silenced the enemy batteries on the western bank of the Halha. During the barrage, Japanese fliers also attacked the Soviet gunners.

The Soviet and Outer Mongolian air forces had lost some 700 planes up to July 25, from the beginning of the Nomonhan incident.¹ To replenish their air force at the border, the Soviets sent a number of new planes to Outer Mongolia. Information shows that the Soviet and Outer Mongolian forces near Nomonhan consisted of one infantry division, half a dozen mechanised brigades and at least 300 planes, including S. B. and T. B. bombers and I-15 and I-16 pursuit planes, at the end of July.

Situation in Other Sectors

The border situation between Manchoukuo and the Soviet Union has witnessed no great change since the outbreak of the Nomonhan incident, but strict vigilance is being maintained in other regions by both sides and minor incidents are reported from various points along the border. On May 28, for instance, Soviet gunboats fired on three small Manchoukuo gunboats on the Jao River. Fires started in the Manchoukuo gunboats as the result of the shelling, and heavy casualties were caused. Again on June 1, a squad of Soviet soldiers crossed the eastern border at a point 14 kilometres southeast of Hunchun and started surveying Manchoukuo territory. They clashed with a Japanese infantry unit and left eight dead, while the Japanese suffered six wounded.

On the evening of June 3, two Soviet planes crossed the eastern border and dropped five bombs over Hsiaomaanshan, four kilometres northeast of Changlingtze. Again on June 12, two more Soviet planes crossed the eastern border south of Sanchakow, and dropped seditious handbills.

Although comparative quiet prevails along the border at the time of writing, brisk troop movements are reported in the Urals and Transbaikal.

Results of the Nomonhan Incident

A communiqué issued by the Kwantung Army Headquarters on July 28 states that the Japanese air force had shot down 715 Soviet and Mongol warplanes up to that date. During the same period, 520 tanks, armoured cars and motor lorries were destroyed, seven artillery companies liquidated and 12 artillery companies heavily damaged. The enemy left more than 3,000 dead and lost 90 prisoners. The Japanese also captured large numbers of tanks, armoured cars, motor lorries, artillery pieces, machine-guns, rifles, telephone equipment, maps, documents and a large quantity of ammunition.

¹ Additional losses resulting from sporadic fighting in August brought the total number of demolished Soviet planes to 1,101, according to an official communiqué issued by the Kwantung Army Headquarters on August 22.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II

—FORCES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVY IN ACTION—

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Extension of Naval Blockade

THE Imperial Navy is now blockading the entire 2,850-mile China coast, from Shanhaikwan, on the Manchoukuo China border in the north, to the border between South China and French Indo-China, including Hainan Island in the south. The first proclamation for suspension of traffic along the China coast, applying to Chinese shipping, was issued in the name of the Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet, on August 25, 1937. Suspension of traffic since has been extended on several occasions, until it is now applied to the entire China coast. The Japanese fleet is making invisible but substantial contributions to the termination of the present conflict with China by patrolling China waters, seizing Chinese junks and cutting off the supply of arms to the Chiang Kai-shek régime. The warships on duty patrol not only the muddy waters of the Yellow Sea, but the South China Sea and inland waterways as well.

It is no easy task to patrol such a vast stretch of coastline. Although there is nothing spectacular about it, such as an encounter with a powerful enemy fleet, it calls for the constant vigilance of the Imperial Fleet against Chinese blockade runners who attempt to smuggle arms and war materials to the Chiang Kai-shek Government, and also against Chinese vessels which are disguised as third-Power ships and are used for similar purposes. In addition, the naval forces must fight the elements day and night. Their quiet role requires extraordinary patience and perseverance. The great contributions they are making to the cause of the Japanese crusade in China may sometimes escape public notice, but the officers and men in the naval service nevertheless are doing their best in the discharge of their duties, without caring for public acclaim.

In enforcing the suspension of traffic, attention first must be given the seaports. Since the outbreak of the current hostilities, the major ports of China have fallen to the Japanese, including Tangku, Chefoo, Weihaiwei, Tsingtao, Lienyunchiang, Haichow, Shanghai, Amoy, Canton, Hoihow (Haikow) and Yulin. The last two are in Hainan Island. These seaports have ceased to function entirely for the supply of military equipment to the Chinag [sic] Kai-shek régime. There remained, however, some treaty ports in South China, which were not yet occupied by the Japanese, and which were utilized by vessels of certain third Powers to supply the Chungking régime with vital necessities.

New operations, therefore, were started recently by the Imperial Navy against these strategic ports. Following the Swatow campaign of June 21, a Japanese naval unit, covered by warships and aeroplanes, effected a landing in the southern part of Chushan Island at the mouth of Hangchow Bay early on the morning of June 23. The same evening, the Japanese landing party occupied Tinghai, island capital. Taishan Island, north of Chushan, also was taken. The Chusan group consists of Kintang, Taishan and a number of tiny islets. They dominate not only Hangchow Bay and the mouth of the Yangtze River, but Ningpo and Chenhai, ports in Chekiang Province.

The Chungking régime had concentrated a large body of Central Army troops along the Tsientang River, with bases at Shaohing and Ningpo with the idea of bringing in war materials from abroad through Chushan Island, Ningpo and Shaohing. Chinese troops crossed the Tsientang River from time to time in attempts to invade Hangchow, capital of Chekiang. The Japanese occupation of Chushan Island, together with the earlier seizure of Swatow, therefore, has great strategic significance, upsetting as it does the Chinese plan of operations. Again on June 27, the Japanese naval force carried out a blockade against Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, and Wenchow, important seaport in Chekiang Province.

On July 12, the Imperial Navy decided to blockade Chuanchow, new treaty port in Fukien Province, as well as Tungshan and Chaoan, in the same province. Consequently, the Commander-in-Chief communicated with the foreign consular corps and the Chinese Maritime Customs Administration to the effect that Mr. Yoshiaki Miura, Japanese Consul-General at Shanghai, was requesting third-Power warships and merchant vessels to withdraw from those ports. At 8 o'clock on the morning of July 15, the Navy started operations to blockade the three ports.

Further tightening the blockade of the South China coast, the Imperial Navy captured Swabue in Kwangtung Province at 8 o'clock on the morning of July 18. Swabue lies halfway between Hongkong and Swatow, forming a transit point for the other two ports. It also is a centre of coastal trade in South China. Hinghwa, south of Foochow, was blockaded the next morning. The Powers were notified three days in advance in both instances.

Santuao, Loyuan and Shacheng, all ports in Fukien Province, were blockaded on July 21 and 22. Meanwhile, the Japanese naval authorities on July 26 informed the foreign consular bodies at Canton and Hongkong that the Pearl River would be closed to foreign shipping for two weeks, starting July 28.

The Japanese suspension of shipping hitherto has been in effect only off the China coast, but it now is enforced vigorously in the seaports as well. Japan is fully aware of possible friction with third Powers in trade questions, but is manifesting her solid national determination to deprive the Chiang Kai-shek régime of foreign assistance at all costs.

Suspension of port traffic has the same object as a coastal blockade, that is, in depriving the enemy of war materials. In view of the fact that the objective of the China Affair is the construction of a New Order in East Asia by crushing the Kuomintang Government and the Chinese armies opposing Japan for the sake of lasting peace in the Far East, and not in antagonizing the law-abiding Chinese people, war has not been declared by Japan against

China. In official terminology, therefore, the current conflict is not a war, but an affair. Therefore, the term blockade is not used formally, but instead the Navy's programme is called suspension of Chinese shipping or a "peace-time blockade." This practice is recognized by international law. Moreover, history shows that some of the Powers which are now criticizing the action of the Imperial Navy themselves have enforced "peacetime blockades" openly in the past.

A peacetime blockade is not directed against third-Power shipping in principle. Consequently, Chinese vessels frequently attempt to slip through the Japanese blockade under false colours. Japanese patrol boats therefore order all vessels of suspicious appearance to heave to while a boarding-party inspects them. The Japanese blockade units cannot seize munitions and other goods supplied by foreign Powers and destined for the Chiang Kai-shek Government, so long as they remain in neutral territory, leased territory or foreign bottoms. They are seized immediately, however, once they pass into Chinese hands. Such goods usually are landed at Hongkong, Macao or Kwangchow, French leased territory. From these points they are transhipped in Chinese junks for smuggling into Chinese ports.

Explanation must be made here of the reason the Navy has tightened its blockade of the South China coast. Nowadays any country, even in peacetime, cannot attain independence, existence and development by secluding itself from the outside world. The sea provides trade lanes, and seaports form the doors of international intercourse. It is hardly necessary to say what a severe blow a country would suffer if it had its door closed by another Power. Now, China is not an industrial country, and although she may have had a large stock of munitions before the outbreak of hostilities, her attempt to wage protracted warfare against Japan makes it necessary for her to import more munitions from abroad. It is true that there still are some routes by which the Chiang Kai-shek régime may import munitions. One is the so-called Red route in Northwestern China via Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, through which China can procure munitions from the Soviet Union. Another is the Burma route. Still another is the French Indo-China route. Through the last two avenues, China can get what she needs from foreign countries via Yunnan Province. There are other overland and, of course, air routes. The topography of China, however, makes the sea-route most convenient because goods can be handled in greater volume and shorter time.

Now that the sea has been closed to the Chinese Government, the number of foreign vessels plying between Chinese ports since the beginning of the China Affair is clearly shown by statistics compiled by the Japanese blockade units. It is worthy of special notice that British shipping has topped the list of foreign vessels calling at Chinese ports since the start of hostilities.

Even after the Japanese occupation of Canton, which nullified the value of the Canton-Hankow Railway and the Canton-Kowloon Railway as supply routes, Hongkong has figured most prominently as a source of arms supply for the Chungking Government. These materials are landed at Hongkong, from where they are transhipped to Haiphong in French Indo-China, Swatow and other South China seaports.

After the fall of Tsingtao, Shanghai and Canton, the three major treaty ports of China, Swatow remained as the only available seaport for the Chinese Government. The port became crowded with shipping of third Powers friendly to the Chiang régime. During the three months which followed the fall of Canton, Swatow accounted for 38 per cent of the total foreign trade handled by the sea ports under the jurisdiction of the Chiang Kai-shek régime, thus occupying the foremost place among them. This was before the fall of Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province. Since the Japanese occupation of Nanchang, junction of the Chekan Railway and the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway, which caused a disruption of the former line between Chekiang and Kiangsi provinces, Swatow gained further importance, veritably becoming the only major seaport left to the Nationalist Government.

Swatow enjoyed a very large excess of exports over imports. This shows what an important role it played in supplying the Chiang Kai-shek régime with war sinews by securing foreign currencies from its favourable balance of trade.

Swatow, together with Amoy, Chuanchow, Canton and Hainan Island, all are now under Japanese control.

The Kuomintang Government already has lost its major sources of revenue—customs and salt gabelle revenue—and is now facing loss of another no less important source of revenue in the form of remittance from Chinese nationals abroad. Its specie holdings in foreign countries also are being steadily drained, adding to its financial difficulty. But despite these factors, the Kuomintang is desperately continuing resistance against Japan, relying more and more on third Powers, particularly Great Britain, at the same time paying no heed to the suffering of the Chinese people. Such being the case, the longer Britain assists General Chiang Kai-shek, the more prolonged will be the suffering of the innocent masses. On the other hand, the Japanese blockade of the China coast will be tightened in proportion to the assistance rendered by Britain to the Nationalist Government. Viewed in this light, the policy of Britain is the main obstacle to the realization of peace in the Far East and the construction of a New Order in East Asia. Britain must be urged to reconsider her attitude. The Japanese for their part must be firmly determined to prosecute hostilities and carry on construction at one and the same time.

Second Anniversary of the Shanghai Campaign

The second anniversary of the outbreak of the Shanghai campaign was observed on August 13. In the summer of 1937, the month following the Marco Polo Bridge incident in North China furnished danger signals indicating imminent trouble in central and South China. The Japanese naval authorities on the spot exercised the utmost self-restraint, while protecting Japanese life and property, so as to prevent the outbreak of untoward incidents. The Chinese authorities, however, feverishly pushed war preparations in accordance with their fixed plan. In the Shanghai area, they defied the truce agreement and moved regular troops into the demilitarized zone, where they started the construction of defence works. They

threatened to overpower the Japanese with their military force, which was numerically far superior to the Japanese force. The wanton murder of Japanese naval Lieutenant Takeo Oyama and Warrant Officer Saito, on August 9, started the Shanghai incident. On August 13, the Chinese forces opened fire on the Japanese landing party, which was compelled to respond and to chastise the Chinese armies.

Lesson of the Shanghai Campaign

At the outset more than 100,000 Chinese troops had surrounded the International Settlement of Shanghai. The Japanese landing party was only 3,000 strong, though the Third Fleet was concentrated at Shanghai. The overwhelming odds against which the Japanese fought, complicated by delicate international aspects, placed the Japanese at a heavy strategic disadvantage. Indiscriminate aerial bombardments resorted to by the Chinese on and after August 14 intensified the seriousness of the situation. But the Japanese fought valiantly.

During the 10 days that passed before the vanguard of the Japanese military forces effected a successful landing in the Woosung sector, the Japanese landing party, less than one-fortieth the size of the enemy forces, bore the entire brunt of the Chinese attacks. Even when a large body of Japanese troops was deployed steadily south of the Yangtze estuary, the landing party, as the extreme left wing of the Japanese line, stubbornly defended the International Settlement against the Chinese assaults. Covered by the fleet and the naval air force, it succeeded in driving the Chinese forces back from the Shanghai area in conjunction with the military forces late in October, thus preparing the ground for the drive on Nanking.

During the entire campaign, the Commander of the Japanese landing party refrained from requesting reinforcements, placing full confidence in his men. Thus, the Shanghai Campaign resulted in an impressive victory for the Japanese, thanks to their high morale and the full utilization of modern weapons.

Development of the Naval and Military Operations

Indiscriminate bombings launched by the Chinese air force at the beginning of the Shanghai Campaign roused the Japanese naval air force to action. Transoceanic operations resolutely carried out by the Japanese naval air force proved so successful that not only was the the furious Chinese onslaught against the International Settlement checked, but the naval fliers had nearly liquidated the Chinese air force by the end of September.

The action of the Imperial Navy since has been marked by close co-operation and coordination with the Army in driving the Chinese forces into the interior. Landing parties have been active in various seaports of China; a naval unit has successfully pushed up the Yangtze River, and the naval forces have kept up their attacks on almost all important towns in central and South China. At sea, the Japanese fleet not only destroyed the Chinese navy, but suspended Chinese commercial shipping along the entire coast. The steady development of the military situation has called for

large-scale joint operations between the Army and Navy in various parts of China, including Hangchow Bay, Bias Bay, Hainan Island, and Swatow, where both fighting services have achieved brilliant successes.

Special mention must be made of the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Navy, which not only has firmly secured the command of seas in the Western Pacific, but has succeeded in precluding any possibility of undue pressure or intervention on the part of third Powers, particularly Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union. In this connection, it must be remembered that securing the command of the Western Pacific provides a key to the successful construction of a new China, while at the same time, the Imperial Navy bears further grave responsibilities in view of the heavy naval building programmes now being pushed by Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, France and other Powers.

In observing the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Shanghai Campaign tribute must be paid to the war dead as well as to the sick and wounded who fought so valiantly for the national cause. While wishing their families health and prosperity, we call upon the nation to redouble its endeavours for the achievement of the ultimate purpose of the present Affair, the construction of a New Order in East Asia.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES

Bureau of Information, War Department

The Hunan Campaign

Japanese military operations in China have not been affected by the outbreak of war in Europe, nor have they slackened in view of the campaign for the establishment of a new central government for China. On the contrary, the Japanese Expeditionary Forces in Central China started a large-scale clean-up campaign in Hunan Province in September. Although autumn was far advanced, hot summer weather still prevailed, rendering military operations somewhat difficult.

The Chinese troops engaged in the so-called Ninth War Zone, comprising Hunan and Kiangsi provinces, totalled more than 50 divisions, with a numerical strength of some 400,000. This force included 30 divisions of Central Army troops under the command of General Hsueh Yueh, acting commander-in-chief of the Ninth War Zone, about 12 divisions of Szechwan and Yunnan troops and three divisions comprising remnants of the old Northeastern Army. Following the fall of the three Wuhan cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang a year, ago these Chinese troops had constructed several strong lines of defence facing the Japanese first line. The mountainous topography of Hunan Province represented a big advantage to the Chinese troops in defending their positions. Developments in the military situation of late have proved that the morale of the Chinese forces is not so high as that manifested in the battle for Hankow, but resistance still is quite stiff, regardless.

The Koan Sector

Toward the middle of September, a Japanese detachment started operations from a line connecting Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province and an undisclosed district to the west. On September 19, the Japanese converged on Kaoan (Juichow), some 120 kilometres west of Nanchang. Keeping up their strong attack far into the night, they dealt the main body of the Chinese a crushing blow. In this operation, the Japanese engaged approximately 10 enemy divisions, including the 16th, 18th, 51st, 141st, 182nd, 183rd and 184th divisions. Up to this decisive juncture, the Chinese had left about 10,000 dead on Hunan battlefields and lost an additional 1,000 in prisoners of war, including a large number of officers. The Japanese also captured two mountain guns, three howitzers, 17 heavy machine-guns, 29 Skoda light machine-guns, 1,600 rifles and large quantities of ammunition. The Japanese casualties were listed at 60 killed and 196 wounded.

The Tungting Lake Sector

The Japanese troops in the Yochow sector drove south on September 16 in two columns, one along the Canton-Hankow Railway and the other through the mountainous area east of the railway. On September 19, the Japanese broke through the enemy positions on the north banks of the Sintsiang and Shakang rivers. At dawn, September 23, they made successful crossings of the two rivers, marching southward. At 11 o'clock the same morning, the Japanese right column broke through the Chinese positions on the south bank of the Sintsiang River. This column followed up its victory and reached Shihtangchung, eight kilometres south of the Sintsiang River, just nine hours later.

The left column of the attacking force struck the Chinese positions near Pichiashan on the north bank of the Shakang River, some four kilometres northwest of Yanglinshu, at dawn on the same day. This column immediately started an attack on the Chinese 195th division, which had taken up positions at a height south of Tienchiasun on the south bank of the river. At 11 o'clock that night, the Japanese occupied a salient in the Chinese line. Strengthened by reinforcements brought up from the rear, the Chinese made a desperate stand but were defeated in a night attack.

Another Japanese force, operating in concert with those in the Sintsiang sector, effected a surprise landing near the mouth of the Mi River on the eastern shore of Lake Tungting on the morning of September 23. The following day, this force advanced to Yingtien, pressing hard against the Canton-Hankow Railway and cutting the line at a point west of Kweiyi at 6 p. m., thus facilitating the operations of the main force.

Meanwhile a party of bluejackets effected a landing at the mouth of the Sintsiang River in face of enemy fire. The Japanese bluejackets occupied Chinese positions near Lukio, in concert with the military operations.

After being dislodged from the Sintsiang sector, the defeated Chinese strove to rally their forces in the Mi River region in the south in an attempt to check the Japanese southern drive. Fresh troops also were brought up from the rear for this purpose. Keeping up their southern drive day and night, however, the Japanese frustrated the Chinese attempt by taking Sinshih, a strategically important town on the south bank of the Mi River on September 26. They pushed farther south the next day in an 18-kilometre march from Sinshih. Part of the Japanese forces occupied Pingkiang on the upper reaches of the Mi River, which forms an important outpost of Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, thus cutting off the retreat of the Chinese troops in northern Hunan Province.

The Tungcheng Sector

Another Japanese detachment operating in the Tungcheng sector reduced the Chinese advance positions near Hwakwei, 12 kilometres northeast of Tungcheng, on September 22. The following day this force broke through the enemy positions at Tsilishih, 14 kilometres southeast of Tungcheng, advancing to Mashih the same afternoon. The onslaught made favourable progress as the result of a surprise night attack in which the Chinese troops were pressed back south of the watershed. In this engagement, three

Chinese divisions were encountered. Falling back on the geographical advantage which they derived from the mountainous topography of northern Hunan Province, the Chinese troops put up stubborn resistance. In retreating before the Japanese drives, they systematically destroyed highways to render the Japanese advance more difficult. Undaunted, however, the Japanese started an attack at dawn on September 25 on the enemy positions near Taoshukang, driving four kilometres eastward by 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The next evening, they advanced to a valley near Paochialing. The Chinese troops engaged here belonged to the 134th and 98th divisions. The Japanese casualties from September 21 to September 25, both inclusive, were 152 wounded.

North China

Northern Shantung and Hopeh Provinces: The Chinese troops under General Kao Shu-hsun, which had taken up positions near the Shantung-Hopeh border east of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, started operations at the end of August and extended their activities to Nanlo, Puyang and Kwancheng in southern Honan Province by the middle of September. The Japanese forces dispersed them in short order, however, with well coordinated simultaneous attacks.

Eastern Honan Province: From about the middle of September, activity was noted on the part of the Chinese 81st Division and several guerilla units on the left bank of the Yellow River in eastern Honan Province. They were mopped up effectively in a short campaign between September 24 and 29, suffering heavy losses.

Southern Shansi Province: The Japanese garrison forces, which started operating against troops of the Chinese 47th Division on the left bank of the Pi River (in the Luan area, on September 29, succeeded in dispersing them the next day.

Central China

Hunan Front: Several columns of Japanese troops operating against the Chinese in the Ninth War Zone in Kiangsi and Hunan provinces succeeded in dealing a crushing blow to the main body of the Chinese forces near the Mi River in Northern Hunan late in September. It has been ascertained that the Chinese, up to October 3, suffered 25,000 killed and lost 2,500 as prisoners.

Grand Canal: The Oba, Ogawa, Kanazawa, Tsuchiya, Marukawa and Torii detachments, which had been standing by near Chinkiang on the Yangtze Estuary to clear the Grand Canal of Chinese troops and guerillas in cooperation with the Japanese northern forces, started a drive north along the waterway from Shaoposhen on the night of October 1. At 7:40 a. m. the next day, these Japanese units landed at Kaoyu, simultaneously with naval units. After capturing the latter point, the Japanese pushed farther north and effected a junction at Paoying on October 3 with the Japanese forces which had driven south from Hwaian. Thus the Grand Canal which connects North and Central China was reopened to traffic.

The Chinese troops in this operation suffered 1,100 casualties and lost

200 prisoners, while the Japanese casualties included seven killed and five wounded. One Japanese aeroplane crashed during the campaign.

Chinese Air Raid on Hankow: Nine Chinese aeroplanes raided Hankow at 2:30 p.m., October 3, marking the first such attack since Hankow fell into Japanese hands in the same month, last year. After dropping nine bombs at an objective northwest of Hankow from an altitude of 6,000 metres, the Chinese raiders beat a hasty retreat. The only damage suffered by the Japanese in this attack was the loss of 26 tins of gasoline.

Anking and Wangkiang: On September 27 and 28, the main body of the Chinese 176th Division, which attacked Japanese positions on the north bank of the Yangtze River, were repulsed by the Japanese garrison troops at Anking and Wangkiang. The Japanese mopping up campaign put in motion here is still in progress. In the operations up to October 5, the Chinese troops in this sector left approximately 1,300 dead, while the Japanese casualties were 35 killed and 40 wounded.

South China

Chinese troops in South China had been planning to launch a September offensive near Tsungfa and Hwahsien. On September 1, however, the Japanese forces stole a march on them and upset their plans completely.

During September, the Japanese forces in South China engaged Chinese troops of an aggregate numerical strength of 43,000. The enemy left 4,421 dead on the battlefield and 288 of their men captured. Japanese casualties were 70 killed and 16 wounded.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

II

ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVAL AIR FORCE

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

An oft-cited matter that scarcely needs repetition here is the fact that the military and political assistance rendered by the Soviet Union and the financial and material aid extended by Great Britain play an important rôle in the continued resistance of the Chiang Kai-shek régime, which transferred its seat of government to Chungking just a year ago, following the fall of the three Wuhan towns of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang.

Prompted by the desire to nullify such third Power assistance to the Chiang Kai-shek Government, the Japanese naval air force has been making sustained attacks on Chungking and other military and political bases of the régime.

Meanwhile, war has broken out in Europe as a sequel to the Danzig controversy.

In this connection, the Japanese Government on September 4 issued a statement, enunciating its policy of non-intervention and announcing its decision to concentrate its full effort on the settlement of the China Affair.

Fulfilling its rôle in this regard, the naval air force has redoubled its efforts to wipe out the important remaining military bases of the Chinese Nationalist Government. Between May 3 and October 4, naval fliers carried out 20 raids against Chungking. The first air raid was launched on the first date mentioned, when naval air units commanded by Lieutenant-Commanders Masuda and Irisa visited Chungking and bombed the headquarters of the Chinese Military Council. In the ensuing aerial combat, the Japanese fliers brought down 10 Chinese planes, losing two themselves. A second raid was carried out on the evening of May 4, when the Air-Defence Headquarters and the offices of the Military Council were effectively bombed. This time, all the Japanese aeroplanes participating in the flight returned to the base.

A third raid took place on May 12, when a squadron led by Lieutenant-Commander Irisa droned over Chungking and bombed military barracks and munition factories at Kiayin, on the north bank of the Yangtze River opposite the city. The objectives were destroyed and one Chinese plane was shot down.

Number four was a moonlight raid on the night of May 25. On this occasion, Lieutenant-Commander Yamakami's unit brought down one Chinese plane, but lost one of its own to equalize the score. Another night raid, rendered doubly hazardous by adverse weather conditions, was carried out on June 9. The naval air units, led by Commander Asano, appeared over Chungking after a difficult flight requiring several hours, and

effectively bombed military establishments in and around the city, again including the headquarters of the Military Council as well as anti-aircraft batteries near Central Park and other strategic positions.

In the sixth raid, directed by Lieutenant-Commander Masuda and occurring at 9:20 p. m., June 11, the official residence of General Chiang and several Government buildings were bombed.

A seventh raid took place at dawn, July 6, aided by fine weather following a long spell of rain.

The Japanese naval air force fittingly observed the second anniversary of the outbreak of the China Affair on July 7 by carrying out its eighth raid on Chungking, despite unfavourable weather for the project. It was done at night. Flying under low-hanging clouds, the raiders made two attacks. In the first, they devoted their attention to the northeastern part of the town, bombing the gendarmerie headquarters and Government buildings. In the second attack, the bombing was concentrated on the sections north and west of Central Park.

The ninth of the series was made by a large force of naval bombers on July 24, and the 10th raid was carried out under a full moon one week later under command of Lieutenant-Commander Tanaka.

This was the halfway mark in the period under review. The administrative and military quarters in Chungking had been badly shattered by this time, fires having added to the destruction, and many Government organs had moved out of the city. The régime's resistance continued, however, and so did the bombings.

With the dawn on August 3 came the 11th raid and the second for Commander Asano, at the head of a large force of naval planes. Twenty-four hours later, bombs plunged down from the sky on those military establishments which had escaped the previous attacks, and also on the airfield at Kwangyangpa, a suburb of Chungking.

The Chiang Kai-shek Government had established what appeared to be its last defence positions at Hsiaolungkan, 10 kilometres west of Chungking. On the night of August 23, a flight was again formed by Commander Asano to attack these new and heavily fortified positions. The Japanese fliers fought off five Chinese planes and braved intense anti-aircraft fire to get at their objectives. They nevertheless succeeded in bombing the military establishments and munition factories there, and fires raged in six places as they winged back to their base.

The 14th raid was carried out at midnight, August 28, by a large squadron of naval planes under the joint command of Captain Okuda and Captain Andoh, taking advantage of moonlight visibility. Hsiaolungkan, again was bombed in the course of this attack, with the result that fires were started at nine separate places. To complete their night's work, the raiders dropped more than 100,000 handbills over Chungking on their way back.

On August 30, a naval air-unit again visited Chungking to attack its airfield. At midnight, September 3, another raid was made on Hsiaolungkan. Several Chinese planes offered a challenge, but they did not prevent the Japanese fliers from carrying out their assignment, which was to bomb the military establishments. The same day witnessed the start of the second European war, when Great Britain and France came to the aid of

Poland and declared war against Germany.

Since Japan is staying aloof from the struggle on the western Continent, the outbreak of the European war has not affected the operations of the Japanese naval air force, which, in accordance with the Government's fixed policy with regard to the China Affair, is making persistent attacks on all remaining Chinese military bases in the hinterlands of China. The Chinese air force, which has made repeated attempts to reorganize itself to no purpose, maintains its base in the Kwangyangpa. Such planes as remain manage to preserve themselves only by vanishing in the opposite direction when Japanese naval raiders appear in the sky.

On September 11, Luchow, 140 kilometres south of Chungking on the Yangtze River, was subjected to a Japanese air attack in which military depots and other establishments were bombed, and from which all the participating planes returned safely to their base.

On September 28 and 29, naval aircraft in considerable numbers effected sustained attacks on various key points in the hinterland. At midnight in between, another unit raided the Kwangyangpa airfield in the suburbs, after repulsing several Chinese planes. The planes checked in safely to their base at dawn.

Later the same day, the 18th raid was carried out on the squalid Szechwan city. The Kwangyangpa airfield was bombed again, as was the airfield at Suining, 150 kilometres east of Chengtu, the latter for the first time. At 10 p. m., a squadron, led by Lieutenant Nakamura attacked the Kwangyangpa airfield and bombed it effectively, making the third attack on the Chinese air force base in less than 24 hours. They met with no heavy anti-aircraft fire, bespeaking the effectiveness of the previous raids.

At dawn, October 2, another surprise visit was paid to Chengtu, with perfect autumnal weather prevailing. The visitors dropped their calling cards on the suburban airfield at Hwangshan. A dog-fight developed between the Japanese raiders and Chinese defenders, with the latter supported by heavy anti-aircraft fire. The assignment was executed efficiently despite the distraction, however, and the naval planes flew back to the base although some of them had been hit by machine-gun bullets. These successful raids on Chengtu frustrated Chinese attempts to reorganize their air force with the Hwangshan airfield as their base.

A large force of naval planes under the command of Lieutenant Nakamura raided Chungking at dawn on October 4 and bombed Chinese Government offices in the western suburbs. They flew on to Hsiaolungkan, attacking military establishments there and causing another conflagration in this town.

The 20 air-raids successfully carried out against Chungking by the naval air force since May 3, coupled with the combined attacks made by the Japanese military and naval forces on various key points in the hinterland, have served to further weaken the position of the Chiang Kai-shek régime, which is reported to have moved its administrative offices to points deeper into the interior. Meanwhile, the campaign for the organization of a new central régime in China is sweeping over the length and breadth of the country, portending the imminent birth of a new order of East Asia in the near future.

ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE NAVAL FORCES ON LAKE TUNGTING

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

Following its successful entry into Hankow on October 25, 1938, the Japanese naval force which pushed up the Yangtze River pursued the Chinese forces which fled upstream. On November 11th, it reached Yochow (Yoyang) on the northeastern shore of Lake Tungting, thus commanding the mouth of the lake. The naval force, which had been standing by for nine months until September 21st, 1939, started a drive toward Lake Tungting and the Siang River in concert with the clean-up campaign launched by the military forces against the Chinese troops in Northern Hunan Province.

Lake Tungting and the Siang River, which flows into it, are among the most difficult of China's inland waters to navigate, because of the complexity and sinuosity of the waterways. Lake Tungting is indeed a large lake, but in the low water season, it is dry with waterways remaining in the form of creeks, which intersect one another here and there. The bottom of the lake then presents a vast expanse of green fields. On the other hand, when the high water season sets in, the lake is full of water. Even then there are shoals which defy the skill of veteran pilots who must cautiously follow a series of nautical marks. The navigable channels are sometimes less than 100 metres in breadth, and once the wrong course is taken the unfortunate vessel is almost invariably stranded.

The River Siang rises in northeastern Kwangsi Province and flows northward via Hengyang, Chuchow, Changsha and Siangyin. It flows into Lake Tungting near Leishihshan and Lukio, and its upper reaches are connected by canals with the North River, which is a tributary of the Pearl River. Thus it forms part of an important waterway system connecting Kwangtung and Kwangsi Provinces in South China, with the Yangtze River. The lower reaches of the Siang River, however, are extremely difficult to navigate, due partly to the sinuosity and partly to its narrowness, which accounts for the existence of whirlpools.

If even in peacetime, the veteran captains of Japanese gunboats find it difficult to sail through Lake Tungting and up the Siang River to Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, it can be imagined how much more difficult such an attempt would be under wartime conditions.

Terror-stricken by the swift Japanese advance on Yochow in November, 1938, the Chungking Government resorted to its usual "scorched earth" policy and reduced the greater part of Changsha city to ashes. The Japanese forces, however, showed no indications of launching a further drive southward from Yochow. This heartened the Chungking Government, which gave up its policy of abandoning Changsha and Ichang and instead

decided to defend them. Since early in 1939, the Chungking Government has laid thousands of mines not only in the Yangtze River, but in Lake Tungting and the Siang River. In addition, the waterways were blocked with booms and other obstructions, while all nautical marks were removed. Both banks on the Yangtze and Siang Rivers were strongly fortified.

Information received by the Japanese navy showed that many mine-fields were laid in Lake Tungting and the Siang River, especially above Lukio,—more than 2,000 mines had been used for this purpose. The Chinese military authorities boastfully declared that not a single Japanese warship should be allowed to pass through these mine-fields and booms.

To do justice to the Chinese military authorities mention should be made of their strenuous efforts to block the waterways with booms, mines and other obstructions and also to fortify the shore of Lake Tungting and the banks of the Siang River. Such obstructions and fortifications, however, failed to check the advance of the Japanese naval forces, which had already pushed up the Yangtze River from Shanghai to Yochow, a distance of 740 miles, by sweeping mine-fields and removing booms. Within a week of the start of its operations, the Japanese succeeded in reaching Yingtien, 40 miles upstream from Yochow, by breaking through six mine-fields, and silencing a large number of pill-boxes on the eastern shore of Lake Tungting.

The Japanese naval force was mustered near Chenglingchi below Yochow on September 21st to cooperate with the military forces in their clean-up campaign in Northern Hunan Province. The naval force, which was divided into the vanguard and main units, started operations on the following day. The naval vanguard, leading a flotilla of boats containing the Japanese Kamimura detachment, took the enemy by surprise, and, under cover of darkness, successfully passed through the "long waterway" on Lake Tungting, which was believed by the Chinese authorities to be good only for small-sized junks. This unit led the Japanese military boats to Yingtien, via Tsingshan, on Lake Hoyeh and enabled the Kamimura detachment to effect a surprise landing at Yingtien at 6 o'clock on the morning of September 23rd.

The Kamimura detachment immediately drove eastward along the Mi River to Sinshih, where it succeeded in dealing a crushing blow to the Chinese troops which had been fleeing southward from the River Tsiang before the southern onslaught of the Japanese military forces. The splendid success achieved by the Kamimura detachment was certainly due to its daring, swift drive eastward along the Mi River, immediately following its landing at Yingtien, but it also owes much to carefully laid plans, the successful landing at Yingtien, and the passing through of the "long waterway" at night by taking advantage of the valuable reconnaissance work previously carried out by the naval force.

At 9:30 a.m. on September 23rd, the main naval unit reached a point off Chiumatsui. This unit, together with naval air-units covered the operations of Japanese blue-jackets at Chiumatsui. An attack was immediately started on the enemy positions near Lukio. Cliffs 3 to 4 metres high, standing along the shore of Tungting Lake, where the Japanese forces landed, and a creek running in front of Lukio, added to the

difficulty of the Japanese advance. The Japanese landing party, however, covered by air-units and naval boats operating freely off Lukio, took the pill-boxes which formed the outpost of Lukio. By nightfall, September 23rd, the landing party reached a hill north of Lukio, which town it completely occupied at 9:30 o'clock, the next morning.

Following the occupation of Lukio, the Japanese naval unit successfully swept two mine-fields off the town of Lukio at 2:30 p.m., September 24th, and reached a point below Leishihshan, a strategically important place, the same evening. A landing-party from the main body of the naval force went ashore at Leishihshan at 9 a. m., September 25th. Following the capture of Leishihshan, the naval force swept the mine-fields off Leishihshan and disposed of more than 400 mines. After clearing mine-fields off Shenshachiang and Pohwachow and removing booms at Paiyuchih, the Japanese arrived off Yingtien at 4:15 p.m., September 29th, when it effected a junction with the vanguard. Thus the waterway from Yochow to Yingtien, a distance of 40 miles, was re-opened.

In this campaign, the Japanese naval force disposed of over 500 mines, destroyed 35 Chinese military boats and 31 mines and disposed of 5 ground mines. A fairly large number of embedded mines, were located on Tungting Lake.

Except for the large number of mines discovered and disposed of, the Japanese naval force, in its operations on Lake Tungting, has inflicted no heavy material losses on the Chinese forces. But there is no denying that the successful 40-mile advance upstream from Yochow has dealt a severe blow to the morale of the Chinese forces, particularly as this brilliant thrust was accomplished in the face of the Chinese boast that mine-fields, other obstructions and fortifications would frustrate any Japanese attempt to sail upstream beyond Yochow. This Japanese naval success provides excellent proof of the determination and ability of the Japanese Navy to proceed upstream, if necessary even to Changsha or other Szechwan towns, despite seemingly insurmountable difficulties.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

A Fresh Campaign Near Pakhoi

At noon, November 15th, the Imperial Headquarters issued a communique announcing that "The crack units of the Japanese military and naval forces in close co-operation carried out a surprise landing near Pakhoi early the same morning despite inclement weather conditions and are now vigorously advancing inland."

The fresh campaign had been directed not only against Pakhoi, which was the one sea-port left to the Chiang Kai-shek Government communicating with the outside world through which war supplies were obtained, but also against Kwangsi Province, and the route thereto from French Indo-China over which came large quantities of arms and munitions. How much the Chungking Government suffers from the successful Japanese operations in Western Kwangtung and Southern Kwangsi Province may be easily imagined.

Movements of the Chinese Troops

West Kwangtung and South Kwangsi, where the latest operations have been taking place are held by troops under General Chang Fa-kuei, who is responsible for the defence of the so-called 4th war zone. Several divisions of the Kwangsi army are also garrisoning various towns. The people as well as the troops in these two districts never having been in contact with our army, have been carrying on an anti-Japanese agitation of the most virulent form, misled by Chungking's false propaganda.

The topography of Western Kwangtung and Southern Kwangsi Province is mostly mountainous, with cliffs along a greater part of the coast, thus adding to the difficulties of landing operations.

An Outline of the Development of Operations

A strong body of troops, in close cooperation with the Navy, effected a surprise landing at a point on the Gulf of Tongking at 5 a.m., November 15th, by defying the inclement weather which had prevailed for a few days with an 18-metre wind and correspondingly high seas. After routing the enemy near the point of landing, this unit immediately struck inland and took Fangcheng that same evening. Continuing their drive northwards along roads which were veritable quagmires, Lungtowshihtsun was reached on the evening of November 17th, the advance to Tachihhan and Wanghaichang being completed on November 19th.

Another powerful body had meanwhile sailed up the River Lungmen, braving the tempest and effected a landing near Lungmen Island towards dusk on the 15th. The following morning, this body reached the mouth of the Yuhung River. After dispersing the enemy who offered stiff resistance in the adjoining rice fields, this force advanced to and occupied Taitze on the 17th.

A second column successfully set foot near the mouth of the River Yam late on the 16th and immediately drove upon Yamchow, the capital of the prefecture of that name, which city was occupied the following day. Three days later it reduced Chiulunghsu, Taikanhsu and Naling, one detachment advancing to Hsiaotung. The Chinese troops confronted in the sector numbered more than three divisions.

Those Chinese that attempted to hold out at Tachihhan, some half-a-dozen battalions all told, were virtually wiped out by the Japanese forces which, keeping up their drive in a northern direction, captured Tatangshu on the afternoon of November 19th. A section reached a point near Tangpaohsu, some 30 kilometres from Nanning, former capital of Kwangsi Province.

Exerting concerted pressure along all sectors in a converging movement on Nanning and steadily reducing the enemy resistance, the Yu River was reached between November 22nd and 23rd. The Chinese troops had taken up positions along the banks and put up desperate opposition, but could not prevent the capture of Nanning which occurred at 2 p.m., November 24th, within ten days of the landing at Yamchow Bay.

The occupation of that important centre spelt the loss to the Chungking Government of the main artery of its arms supply.

Results of the Campaign

From the date of the Pakhoi landing and up to November 18th,

the Chinese forces left 1,108 dead on the field, losing 508 prisoners. Booty included 7 heavy machine-guns, 8 light machine-guns, a large number of rifles and an enormous quantity of ammunition.

The Japanese losses were 49 killed and about 100 wounded.

II

ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVAL FORCES

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

Surprise Landing Near Pakhoi

A similar communique to the one emanating from the Military Information Bureau was issued by the Publicity Bureau of the Navy regarding the landing near Pakhoi.

This was followed by an announcement of the Naval Information Section of the Imperial Headquarters, that "Warships under command of Vice-Admiral Shiro Takasu, Supreme Commander of the Japanese Naval forces in South China waters, sailed from some port on an undisclosed day of November, escorting a group of military transports and arrived off Pakhoi early in the morning of November 15th, despite the heavy seas, high winds and darkness. The military detachments succeeded in landing near Pakhoi under cover of the warships and are now striking inland."

At 6 p.m., the same day, another communique from the same source followed. It read:

"A naval detachment this morning landed near the point where the military forces had previously obtained footing. After wiping out the remnants of Chinese troops in the locality, the landing party promptly completed construction of a base for sea-planes, which planes are now cooperating with the ground forces notwithstanding the rain and wind."

As stated in these communiques, the naval forces, which had been blockading the South China coast, succeeded in carrying out surprise landing operations near Pakhoi, a strategically important port in South China, in close co-operation with the military forces, despite inclement weather conditions.

Pakhoi, a treaty port in Western Kwangtung Province, was opened to foreign commerce in 1877 under the terms of the Chefoo treaty of 1876 between England and China. There is no good port in South China west of Luichow (Leichou) Peninsula outside of Pakhoi and Hoihow (Haikow) on Hainan Island.

Pakhoi forms a distributing centre for Western Kwangtung Province, being fed by Limchow, Yamchow, Lingshan and other

towns in the hinterland to which it is connected by motor roads, and was the last sea-port in the control of the Chiang Kai-shek régime. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and petroleum had been imported into China through Pakhoi previous to the commencement of the operations cited. Pakhoi is known as a "white town," because the roofs and walls of buildings are painted white. The population is estimated at some 65,000.

Following the tightening of the blockade of the Central and South China coast, Pakhoi became the centre of much smuggling. Especially remarkable was the increase in its foreign trade, both incoming and outgoing, from June, 1939, after the fall of Swatow.

The Pakhoi Incident Recalled

Pakhoi, it may be recollected, was the scene of an incident which occurred in 1936. Anti-Japanese agitation was then rampant in the whole district, instigated by detachments of the old 19th route army commanded by General Wen Chao-Yuan, to which movement a Japanese resident became victim. On the evening of September 3rd, several Chinese broke into a drug-store, Maruichi, kept by a certain Japanese, Junzo Nonaka, and butchered him as he was at supper.

Mr. Junzo Nonaka had been a resident of the town for many years, his wife being Chinese. He had devoted himself to the cause of promoting friendly relations between Japan and China, yet he was murdered by agitators without provocation or justification. This insensed Japanese feelings and resulted in a concentration of warships at Hoihow (Haikow), on Hainan Island, whilst a full investigation was carried out.

The sea off Pakhoi is at most times rough, being subject to monsoons, and the region itself is an unhealthy one. The difficulties experienced by the invaders on this account may well be imagined.

At noon, November 16th, the Imperial Headquarters gave out the following Communique:

"1. The Japanese military detachment operated so smoothly that the bulk of the force was completely landed by noon, November 15th. The main body of the detachment started an advance inland in wet and stormy weather. By evening it reached within striking distance of a strategically important place.

"2. The Japanese Yamagata detachment, which sailed to an undisclosed place, succeeded in effecting a heroic landing, battling the raging elements for fully ten hours and threading a way through reefs in the face of stiff resistance from the Chinese defenders on shore. These were completely routed.

"3. The weather conditions continued to be very bad and threatening last evening, with no decrease in wind velocity."

Surprise was a great factor in the signal success achieved by the Japanese. The operations near Pakhoi mean the complete blockade of the South China coast, while the occupation of Western Kwangtung Province, including strategically important points, has resulted in cutting-off the last sea-route for arms supply to the Chungking Government. Another glorious page has thus been added to the annals of the Navy, which has been blockading 2800 miles of China coast, and the recent success will be an important factor in the establishment of a new central government of China, which is now under way with Wang Ching-wei as central figure.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

The Chinese "Winter Offensive"

The so-called Chinese April and September offensives ended in miserable failures before our vigorous counter-attacks. In December, 1939, the Chinese forces launched their "winter offensive," which kept our troops busy.

Generally speaking, it must be noted that the European War has exercised adverse effects on the Chiang Kai-shek régime, while our campaign near Pakhoi has added to the difficulty of the Chungking Government in securing war supplies from abroad. In addition to which, the movement by Wang Ching-wei and his followers for the establishment of a new Central Government in China, which has been achieving steady progress during 1939, has induced, not only leaders of the Chungking Government, but the Chinese masses, to pay more attention to peace. This serious turn of the situation, both at home and abroad, made Chiang Kai-shek resort to a "winter offensive" for the benefit of home and foreign consumption. The new operations, apparently, were planned systematically, with the Yangtze front as the main centre of activities and with a considerable force mobilized.

1. The Front North of the Yangtze

In the Singyang sector, fighting became very brisk around December 10. Two divisions of the Chinese forces were routed near Yanghaochen on December 14, while a force of similar strength was driven north by our troops near Changtaikwan three days later.

In the Suehsin, Anlu, Kiukowchen, Sientaochen and Anking sectors, fairly strong forces attacked us between the 12 and 22 December but were in every case repulsed despite heavy reinforcements which they had summoned.

2. The Front South of the Yangtze

In the Yochow, Tungcheng, Tsingyang and Wuning sectors, all Chinese moves between the 16 and 24 December ended in failure, requiring their immediate withdrawal before our counter-attacks, while heavy losses were inflicted on them in the Tsingan, Fengsin, Nanchang and Tsingyang sectors.

3. The North China Front

That section of the Peking-Hankow Railway between Sinsiang and Changte, in Northern Honan Province, was tampered with by Chinese troops, but the damage was slight. Necessary repairs were immediately made by our railway corps so that the train service was not interrupted.

In the South Shansi sector, along the Tatung-Puchow railway, a severe blow was dealt the Chinese at Kianghsien and Hotsin resulting in their fleeing to the Tahsing Mountains, dividing Shansi from Honan Province. At Luan, in South-East Shansi, no activity was recorded.

4. The Inner Mongolia Front

Chinese troops, about one division strong, attacked Paotow, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway on the morning of December 20, but were driven away with heavy losses on the afternoon of December 23.

5. The South China Front

The Chinese armies in South China had been preparing a winter offensive since the end of November, but met with a large-scale counter-attack by our troops and were dislodged from their positions in the mountainous area east of the North River. We made a sweeping drive northward and destroyed the enemy bases at Yungyun, Sanhwachen and Yingtak, thus dealing the armies under General Yu Han-mou a crushing blow. Mopping-up operations succeeded this gain.

It is ascertained that the Chinese troops confronting us in that region, up to January 1, numbered some 100,000 strong. They lost about 15,000 killed and 2,000 prisoners. Japanese booty included 8 trench-mortars, 20 heavy machine-guns, 95 light machine-guns, 3 anti-aircraft guns, 2,600 rifles, 9,000,000 rounds of ammunition and 4,000,000 shells.

A push along the Canton-Hankow Railway succeeded in driving the enemy from Yinchanyao and Yuntam, some 60 kilometres north of Canton, between December 1 and 21 and in capturing Yintak late December 30.

A detachment, moving from Tsungfa, routed a division of Chinese troops to the northeast of that town on December 22, reaching Leungkowhu on December 25 and Lutienhu on December 27.

Another column from Tsengshing dislodged two divisions of Chinese troops from Yunghanhu on December 17 and advanced to Meikang late December 26. Reducing Yungyun, this column, on December 31, occupied Sanhwachen, headquarters of General Yu Han-mou, Commander-in-chief of the Chinese armies in Kwangtung Province for the past year.

The Kwangsi Campaign

Nanning, the former capital of Kwangsi Province, was cleared of Chinese troops on November 26, 1939, entry having been effected two days previous to that. Out of a garrison of 6,000 men 2,200 were killed. Our casualties were about 200 killed and wounded, and our booty included 4 artillery pieces, 6 machine-guns, 48 light machine-guns and 264 rifles.

Part of these retreating troops massed along the line connecting Pinyang, Yungshun and Luowhan, some 60 kilometres east of Nanning, and part concentrated in a mountainous area near Wuming. Here they reorganized themselves for a counter-attack. Mopping-up operations against Chinese regular forces and guerillas took place in Western Kwangtung and Southern Kwangsi Provinces.

1. The Nanning Sector

A strong position on a height near Patang, about 40 kilometres northeast of Nanning, was taken by us on December 3, the enemy leaving behind some 500 dead, 1 heavy machine-gun and 75 rifles. We made 5 prisoners. Our losses were 9 killed and 61 injured.

Another detachment operated from the night of November 30 against Takaofeng, and dealt 3,000 enemy troops a crushing blow. They lost 1,062 killed and 8 prisoners. Booty included 7 howitzers, 5 heavy machine-guns, 7 light machine-guns, 285 rifles and 8 telephones. Our casualties were 12 killed and 47 injured.

The defeated Chinese troops, on December 4, massed along a line north of Chiutang, some 45 kilometres northeast of Nanning. With the arrival of reinforcements, they started another attack, on December 18, along the Pinyang-Nanning highway. They were some seven divisions strong and well-equipped with artillery and tanks. On the evening of December 21, several enemy planes appeared near Chiutang and attacked our positions but did no damage. Japanese detachments dashed from Nanning to Chiutang to encircle the Chinese forces.

Chinese guerillas were active at Wutsunhu, Tangpaohu, Tatanghu and other places, between 30 and 40 kilometres south of Nanning.

In the morning of December 25, three Chinese planes bombed Nanning airfield but did no damage.

The Chinese troops engaged around Nanning were 10 divisions strong.

2. The Yamchow Sector

At noon, December 7, a detachment advanced to Niukanghsu, about 20 kilometres northeast of Yamchow, and dislodged the enemy from along the line between Pingkihsu and Tsingtanghsu, besides defeating them at Hsiaotunghsu. The Chinese left some 400 dead. Our casualties were 10 killed and 12 wounded.

3. The Lungchow Sector

After their occupation of Nanning, our forces drove upon Lungchow, the southwestern extremity of Kwangsi Province, in order to cut off the arms supply route from French Indo-China. Dislodging a small number of Chinese troops holding Tunhsu and Ningming, and repairing the roads and bridges which had been destroyed, they occupied Lungchow and Chennankwan on the evening of December 21.

Japanese booty at Lungchow included 27,000 gallons of gasoline, 6,500 gallons of heavy oil, 16,000 kilogrammes of lead, 5,000 brass bars, and

large quantities of arms and ammunition. That taken at Chennankwan, awaits further investigation. From this, it is evident that Lungchow and Chennankwan were important centres on the route of arms-supply to the Chiang Kai-shek Government from French Indo-China.

II

JAPANESE NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE CHINA AFFAIR

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

CONTENDING against very inclement weather, our warships carried out a blockade of the China coast including Shantung, Kiangsu, Chekiang, Fukien and Kwangtung Provinces, thus cutting off the sea-routes of arms supply to the Chiang Kai-shek régime. Key points on the China coast have been occupied by our naval forces, while fleets of troop transports have been successfully escorted by our warships, which also covered landing operations of military units effectively.

Inland waters in China, including the Yangtze, Pearl, Kwan, Sheyang and other rivers, and Poyang and other lakes, have been put under our control, mines swept, booms and other obstructions removed, while remnants of the Chinese troops and guerillas which infested the shores have been suppressed. Our lines of communication along these channels have been thus efficiently maintained.

The naval air force has effectively co-operated in, and made substantial contributions to the success of, operations started by warships, landing-parties and military units. It is also helping to break the enemy's resistance by daring attacks on military works and air bases in the rear of the Chinese lines.

Tightening of the Blockade: Our Navy has succeeded in effectively suspending Chinese shipping within the past two years with the avowed object of cutting off the arms supply to the Chiang Kai-shek régime from abroad by way of the sea. In view of the fact, however, that third-Power vessels provided the Chungking Government with war supplies by plying between foreign ports and Chinese ports not yet in our occupation, our Navy completely blockaded the following twelve ports from late in June to the middle of September: Wenchow, Foochow, Chuanchow, Tungshan, Chaoan, Swabue, Hinghwa, Santuao, Loyuan, Shating, Haimen and Meichow.

Hainan Campaign: On February 10, 1939, the Japanese Navy not only covered the landing of military units on the shore of Tengmai Bay, in the north of Hainan Island, but co-operated with the troops in occupying Hoihow (Haikow) and Kiungchow. On February 14, a naval force landed near Samah Port and occupied the area adjoining. Order has been restored over the island, all enemy troops and guerillas having been driven out.

The Clean-up Campaign in Haichow and Hwaiyin Districts: In co-operation with the military clean-up campaign in Haichow and Hwaiyin areas, our naval force covered the landing operations and, on February 28, opened up

the Kwan River which flows into Siangshui Port; while the Sheyang River, which empties into Fowning, and the Linhung River, which flows into Haichow, were opened to traffic on March 8 and 11 respectively.

Nanchang Campaign: In concert with the military drive on Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi Province, naval detachments sailed up Lake Poyang and the Siushui and Wushui Rivers. Despite the inclement weather, they succeeded in opening a waterway as far as Nanchang on April 3. Some warships reached Shengmeichieh.

Swatow Campaign: On June 21, 1939, a naval detachment covered the landing operations of military units at the mouth of the Siki River, opening up the port of Swatow the same day.

Occupation of the Chusan Islands: From May 21 to July 17, naval detachments occupied Taishan and other scores of islands belonging to this group.

The Siangkiang Campaign: On September 23, 1939, a naval detachment covered the military landing near Yingtien successfully, opening up the Siangkiang River for a distance of 40 miles, disposing of 560 mines and removing booms.

The Clean-up Campaign in the Kaoyu Lake District: In concert with the military clean-up campaign in Kaoyu and Paoying areas, the naval detachment succeeded in opening the waterway to Paoying on October 3, to Chiangchiapa on October 4 and to Tienchang on October 7.

The Drive on Chungshanhsien: In co-operation with military units, our men occupied Chungshanhsien on October 7, withdrawing 3 days later, after defeating the enemy.

Safeguarding of the Waterways on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers: The Japanese naval force is making strenuous efforts to safeguard the waterways on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers which form the major lines of communication for the operations in Central and South China.

Remnants of the Chinese troops are still active along the lower reaches of the Yangtze. Our shipping is bombarded by enemy artillery at one or two points at irregular intervals, but these attacks are invariably silenced.

The Nanning Campaign: On November 15, warships effectively covered the landing operations of military units on the shores of Yamchow Bay. A base for sea-planes was also established.

Activities of the Naval Air Force

Our naval air force has made close co-operation with the operations of warships, landing parties and military units, achieving signal successes. In the Nanning campaign, the naval-air units efficiently co-operated with the ground forces. In doing so, however, they strictly adhered to the principle of respecting the rights and interests of third Powers, frequently in the face of certain disadvantages and sacrifices.

Attacks on the Arms-supply Routes in Kwangsi Province: While attacking and destroying Chinese military establishments all over China, the naval air-units have been intensifying their attacks on the arms-supply routes from French Indo-China through Kwangsi Province via Nanning, Liuchow and Kweilin.

Attacks on Hinterland Points: Points in the hinterland, to which the

Japanese naval air force has paid special attention, are Mengtze on the Haiphong-Yunnanfu railway in Southeastern Yunnan Province, Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, Luchow in Southern Szechuan Province, Chengtu, capital of Szechuan Province, Suining in Central Szechuan Province, Sian, capital of Shensi Province, Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, and Chungking, seat of the Chiang Kai-shek Government. These points have been attacked by naval air-units from time to time in order to destroy the Chinese air force and to obliterate their military establishments. The naval air force has raided Chungking twenty times, destroying government buildings and military works.

Results of the Operations of the Naval Forces

Up to December 20, 1939, the naval forces, including the air arm, have inflicted the following losses on the Chinese:

1. Chinese Mines Discovered and Disposed of:

Comparative Losses in Japanese and Chinese Aeroplanes

1. Number of Chinese Aeroplanes Shot Down or Destroyed on the Ground

2. Japanese Losses

The Japanese losses in aeroplanes were 63 in 1937, 50 in 1938 and 29 in 1939, totalling 142.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

RESULTS OF THE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE FALL OF HANKOW

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

The Japanese expeditionary forces in North, Central and South China have achieved remarkable successes in cleaning up remnants of the Chinese troops and guerillas and maintaining peace and order along a fighting line extending over 4,000 kilometres, since the time of the capture in October, 1938, of the three Wuhan cities of Hankow, Wuchang and Hanyang. On December 28, 1939, the Army section of the General Headquarters gave out a communique reviewing the results of the major campaigns in the year following the fall of Hankow.

This may be summarized in the table below:

In the meantime, Chiang Kai-shek launched the so-called April, July and September offensives against our positions with the dual purpose of stimulating Chinese morale and demonstrating to the pro-Chiang foreign Powers that his armies still possessed good fighting spirit and ability. The offensives, however, were no more than large-scale guerilla warfare, and collapsed before vigorous Japanese counter-attacks.

In those three offensives, we engaged Chinese troops numerically 1,114,300 strong. They lost 94,358 dead in addition to 6,704 prisoners. Japanese booty included 7 mountain-guns, 553 native-made guns, 61 mortars, 1 rapid-firer, 37 trench-mortars, 120 heavy machine-guns 322 light machine-guns and 12,148 rifles.

From the beginning of the China affair, the Chinese forces have suffered casualties as follows:

(Investigated in December, 1939)

\* N.B. A conservative estimate of all losses of Chinese effectives places the number at about 3,000,000.

BOOTY TAKEN BY JAPANESE FORCES BETWEEN JULY, 1937 AND NOVEMBER, 1939

N.B. Only the major items are listed above. There were besides enormous quantities of ammunition, clothing and other war material.

The Japanese expeditionary forces in North, Central and South China suffered some 27,000 killed up to November, 1939.

Activities of the Military Air Force

A communique, issued on December 29, 1939, by the Army Section of General Headquarters gives the following information on the activities of the military air force:

(1) Our air force shot down 330 Chinese planes and destroyed another 160 on the ground since the outbreak of the China affair.

In the latter half of 1939, the Japanese military raiders have practically gone unchallenged by the enemy.

No official information was available up to time of going to press as to the results of the joint attacks by the Army and Navy air forces on Lanchow, capital of Kansu Province, on December 26, 27 and 28, 1939.

(2) In the Nomonhan incident, the Japanese military air force brought down 1,340 Soviet planes and destroyed another 520 on the ground.

(3) The Japanese military air force has lost 188 planes since the beginning of the China affair.

II

ACTIVITIES OF THE IMPERIAL NAVAL AIR FORCE

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

With the China affair entering its fourth year, the three arms of the Japanese forces, land, sea and air, are making further advance in China.

The Japanese Naval Air Force, on New Year's Day, conducted large-scale operations against the Chinese troops and military establishments, bombing Nanking, capital of Kwangsi Province and the south bank of the Yangtze River. A row of Chinese military depots was destroyed.

On January 2, Central Hunan Province was visited by naval air-units under Lieutenant-Commander Awano, which raided Paoking (Shaoyang) repeatedly, and Hengyang, destroying the air bases. The Chinese offered no resistance to these aerial attacks.

The same morning, another flight led by Lieutenant-Commander Shimada, visited Southern Hunan Province and accounted for a number of enemy planes.

In North China, our naval air-units on January 2 visited Chingchihchen, west of Kaomi, along the Shantung Railway, and Siangchow-chen, on the Wei River, acting in concert with the landing party. On January 3 and 7, sustained attacks were made on several enemy bases in Shantung Province.

A surprise attack on Kweilin, capital of Kwangsi Province, was delivered on January 10 and 23 Chinese planes destroyed.

An aerial battle with some 40 Chinese planes took place over Liuchow, after which the air-field at Kweilin was again bombed and nine planes burned.

In South China, the Japanese military and naval forces, in close co-operation, achieved remarkable results ever since the campaign near Pakhoi was opened. Enemy concentrations were attacked and the cutting of the Yunnan Railway, route of the arms supply to the Chungking Government from French Indo-China, became the main objective. Kweilin, Liuchow, Mengtze and other enemy bases likewise received the attention of our airmen.

In this campaign, our naval air force accounted for no less than 55 Chinese planes between December 22 and January 10, thus nullifying the efforts of the Chungking Government to reorganize their air force with Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, and Mengtze, to the southeast and a strategic point on the Yunnan Railway, as bases. This reorganization had been ordered by Chiang Kai-shek as part of that "winter offensive" which collapsed before our vigorous counter-attacks.

The Situation in China

I. Activities of the Japanese Military Forces

Bureau of Information, War Department

The Nanning Campaign

Movements of the Chinese troops and Topography of the Nanning area

The Chinese troops after being compelled to abandon Nanning on November 14 last, mostly retreated to the northeast of that city. With reinforcements from Kweilin and Hengyang, in Hunan Province, they resumed their offensive in December, and by the middle of the month were some twenty divisions strong with tanks and air units. They repeatedly attacked our lines of communication between Yamchow and Nanning, while exerting the greatest pressure on Nanning itself. The mountainous character of this part of Kwangsi Province however renders any counter-offensive extremely difficult.

Development of the Campaign

The Japanese forces entrenched themselves at Taikaoai and Chiutang, south of Pinyang, to lure the enemy and then surround them by a detour via the Yukiang River. They succeeded in outflanking the enemy from Wingshun (Yungshun), and from February 1, the encircling movement steadily tightened.

Meanwhile, certain Japanese units at Chiutang and Kunlunkwan were surrounded by Chinese troops and it was in coming to their aid that Major-General Nakamura met a heroic death on December 25.

February 2. The Miyamori, Wase, Nagakawa, Shiroki, Sumida, Miki and Hayashi detachments, operating in the sector near Chiutang to the south, pressed the enemy back to a mountainous district northwest of the town, and contacting the outflanking troops mentioned higher up, entrapped twenty divisions of the enemy who, in the ensuing confusion, stampeded to Tsienkiang, Lungshan and Wuming.

Results of the Campaign

The results of the campaign were as follows :

(a) The Chinese troops, some 35 divisions strong including 5 heavy and 10 field and mountain artillery battalions with one anti-tank unit, Lost 46,800 killed and 2,500 prisoners. The wounded were estimated at no less than 80,000.

(b) Japanese booty included 25 field and mountain guns, 16 rapid-firers, 68 trench-mortars, 125 grenade catapults, 110 heavy and 544 light machine-guns, 9,600 rifles, 19 tanks, 6 armoured cars, 63 motor-cars and

8 side-cars. We suffered 205 killed and 785 wounded.

Statement of the Chief of the Press Section of the Army Department of the Imperial Headquarters

With regard to the Nanning campaign, the chief of the Press Section of the Army Department of the Imperial Headquarters on February 3 gave out the following statement :

"A coup-de-grâce has been dealt the so-called 'winter offensive' of Chiang Kai-shek by a decisive battle fought near Nanning, a key point of the arms-supply route for the Chungking Government. This has further stimulated the peace desire among the Chinese masses, and furthered the proposed establishment of a new central Government of China under Wang Ching-wei."

He went on to describe the operations, details of which appear in the opening chapter.

The Clean-up Campaign West of Paotow

General Situation

The Chinese armies under General Ma Chan-shan, Han Hsi-how, and Fu Tso-i, together with the guerillas under General Ho Chu-kuo, were active in the area around Paotow, western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway. A clean-up campaign was launched against them on January 20 by the Japanese forces patrolling the district.

Progress of the Campaign

From January 21 to January 25, mopping-up operations were carried out in the Ordos desert, south of the Yellow River, against the enemy some 2,000 strong. Anpeh and Changyatien, both west of Paotow, were the starting-points of attacks directed upon Wuyuan and Wuchen, on January 31. Capturing Wanhochang, the Japanese advanced to Wuyuan on February 3.

Moving south, they took Tunghingtang, and heavily defeating troops under Generals Men Ping-yueh and Shin Yu-shan, they reached Linho and Shanpa on February 5.

In Shantung Peninsula

General Situation

The Tsingtao Campaign of 1904 and later, the Japanese expedition to Tsinan, had taught the people of Shantung Province the value of the Japanese military. This accounts for the latter's success in maintaining peace and order in the Shantung peninsula since the outbreak of the China Affair. However, the eastern extremity of the peninsula, which had not known Japanese occupation, had for long been used by Chinese Communist and Kuomintang troops as well as irregulars as bases for operations against the

law-abiding populace. Early in February military and naval forces were sent against them. Serious difficulties attended these operations because of the mountainous nature of the country, the muddy roads and cold and inclement weather.

Movements of the Chinese Troops

About 20,000 Chinese troops and irregulars overran Eastern Shantung. The Shantung column of the Communist 8th Route Army, some 2,000 strong, was moreover active, with Chaoyuan, south of Lungkow, as its base. There were regular troops or guerilla forces in Penglai prefecture and the Laiyang, Tsihsia and Tsimo districts ; also in the Fushan, Tengchow and Hwanghsien, Wenteng and Yungcheng districts.

Progress of the Campaign

The Japanese campaign was aimed at cornering these elements within the tip of the Shantung peninsula.

Our military forces drove from Lunghow and Piehshan on February 7, the Yamazaki, Akimoto, Ide and Oku detachments reaching the Chefoo-Haiyan line on February 13. Wenteng, the major base of enemy operations, was occupied on February 18, and Yungcheng three days later. Meanwhile the Japanese North China fleet tightened the blockade along the Shantung coast. On February 18, Shihtao, a strategically important port at the south-eastern extremity of the peninsula, was occupied by a naval detachment which captured Hwangshantsi, some 20 kilometres to the northwest, on February 19. This movement cut off the southern retreat of the enemy.

The mopping-up campaign in the peninsula was successfully concluded within a fortnight of its start.

Results of the Campaign

Between February 1 and February 21, 59 engagements with the enemy, whose numbers were estimated at 15,000, had taken place. They lost some 1,200 killed and 80 prisoners. Booty included about 400 rifles.

The Situation in China

II. Forces of the Imperial Navy in Action

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Activities of the Japanese naval air force in South China were seriously hampered by unfavourable weather since late in January. This allowed the Chungking Government time to repair the Yunnan Railway, its most important arms-supply route from abroad, which had been paralysed by successive aerial attacks.

On February 1, however, we carried out bombing operations against Mengtze, in Yunnan Province. Naval air-units led by Lieut.-Commander Mihara reached Mengtze, after a difficult passage. The Yunnan Railway was bombed at the bridge near Mengtze, and again its service paralysed. Much resistance however was encountered from the ground defences of the enemy.

Meanwhile other units visited Kwangsi Province and operated in concert with the ground forces.

The press section of the Japanese fleet in South China waters issued the following statement regarding the attack carried out by the naval air-units on the Yunnan Railway, on February 2 :

"On February 1, a big naval air detachment, in formation, commanded by Lieut.-Commander Mihara, carried out bombing operations against the Yunnan Railway, the only arms-supply route left to the Chungking Government, in the face of inclement weather and strong enemy opposition from the ground and air. The Chinese planes were easily repulsed. Heavy damage was inflicted on the railway. We suffered no losses."

Active Part Played by the Naval Force in the Clean-up Campaign in Eastern Shantung Province

The Japanese military and naval forces in North China started a mopping-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops in Eastern Shantung Province early in February.

On February 7, our military forces, from Langkow, Chaoyuan, Jihchwang, Lingshanchieh and Puchutientze closed in upon the remnants of the enemy, some 20,000 strong, which overran Eastern Shantung.

Taking advantage of the unique topography, these troops were steadily cornered into the extremity of the peninsula. In the meantime, the Japanese Navy enforced a ban on shipping including the junk traffic between Weihaiwei and Tsingtao. The blockade was in every way effective.

The mopping-up campaign, jointly carried out with the military forces, was participated in by the air-units. Much hardship was experienced, because of the extreme cold and the bad weather.

The press section of the Japanese fleet in North China waters on February 19 gave out the following communique :

"(1) Several naval planes early on the morning of February 18 participated in the attack on Shitao, covering the landing operations of our blue-jackets.

"(2) At the same time, our warships bombarded the enemy positions in the rear, cutting off their retreat.

"(3) The defeated enemy troops attempted to flee into the mountainous district north of Shihtao. The Chinese population in the port welcomed our men upon their entry.

Peace and order is fast returning in this region."

February 20, the Japanese resident naval officer Tanimoto at Tsingtao issued a statement :

"Since the morning of February 20, a clean-up campaign against the remnants of Chinese troops, is being undertaken and the coast districts carefully kept under surveillance.

"Midway between Weihaiwei and Chefoo was bombarded and heavy damage inflicted on the enemy.

"The main body of the Japanese fleet is anchored off Shihmen Port where mopping-up operations are being directed against all stragglers.

"We captured 41 rifles, 2 revolvers, and about 4,000 rounds of ammunition."

The Situation in China

Clean-up Campaign in the Wuyuan Sector

Bureau of Information, War Department

As a sequel to the Japanese mopping-up operations conducted from late in January till early in February this year, the Chinese troops under General Fu Tso-i abandoned Wuyuan, some 250 kilometres northwest of Paotow, western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway, and fled northwest into Mongolia where they reorganized themselves at Linho, Shanpa and points in the Ordos plain.

In an attempt to recapture Wuyuan, they launched another attack, with four divisions of the 35th Army, upon the town at dawn on March 21, likewise moving against Nanniupa, some 15 kilometres south of Wuyuan, and various points along the north bank of the Wuchiaho River.

The Wuyuan garrison was composed mostly of native troops of the Federated Autonomous Government of Mongolia, with a sprinkling of Japanese.

The defenders being greatly outnumbered, Japanese reinforcements from Paotow, western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway, were hurriedly dispatched to their relief. Cooperating with the Yamaguchi air detachment, the relief column reached Taineichiao, about 8 kilometres north of Wuyuan, on the evening of March 22, and 3 days later, effected a crossing of the Wuchiaho River some 10 kilometres northeast of Wuyuan. Defeated, the Chinese forces fled to the west and south.

The Chinese lost some 500 dead, and the material captured from them included 2 mountain guns, 30 heavy machine-guns of Czecho-Slovakian make, with large quantities of arms and ammunition. We suffered 10 killed and 80 wounded ; while 33 Japanese residents of Wuyuan lost their lives.

The Situation in China

I. The Han River Campaign

Bureau of Information, War Department

The so-called Chinese winter offensive collapsed on all fronts about the end of January despite Chiang Kai-shek's contention that the Japanese army had lost its striking power. Chinese troops were defeated near Pinyang in Kwangsi Province, and also at Wuyuan, 250 kilometres northwest of Paotow, the western terminus of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway. Meanwhile, a new Central Government had been inaugurated at Nanking under the leadership of Wang Ching-wei, to which Japan is extending every assistance.

On April 17, a clean-up campaign in southeast Shansi against the 60,000 Chinese troops under General Wei Li-huang, was undertaken. Other operations in that province, involving about 180,000 of Chiang's forces, ended in the occupation of Tsehchow and other strategic towns.

In the area south of the Yangtze River, between Wuhu and Hukow, a mopping-up campaign was commenced on April 20. In order to safeguard navigation on that river, it was necessary to drive the Chinese out of Tsingyang, which movement was successfully executed by the end of April. To the northwest of Hankow, a general offensive against the enemy in the fifth war-zone took place early in May. Through difficult terrain, our forces reached the Piyuan-Tsaoyang-Luyinchen line, to the northeast of Tsaoyang, on May 7. The Shansi campaign had been undertaken primarily to restore peace and order, while operations on the south bank of the Yangtze and east of the Han River were conducted in order to break Chinese resistance and give the lie to Chungking's propaganda. The South Honan and North Hupeh operations in May were the largest we conducted this year, some 20 divisions of Chinese troops being entrapped near the Tangho River. Those that had set up bases in the Tahung and Tapieh mountain ranges, and had been reinforced by men from the armies under Tang En-po and Sun Lien-chung in the north and west and Chang Tzu-chung in the south—in all some 12 divisions strong—were successfully dealt with.

On May 19, the Japanese forces in the regions around Tsaoyang launched an attack along the entire front, shattering the Chinese resistance and decimating their troops.

Investigations into the results of the campaign have not been completed, but it is known that the Chinese forces lost 19,837 dead in addition to 730 prisoners up to May 17. Japanese booty included 1 anti-aircraft gun, 6 trench-mortars, 165 heavy machine-guns, 2,858 rifles and 124 automatic rifles. The figures would be considerably increased were the casualties sustained after May 19 included. The Japanese suffered only 411 killed.

The Situation in China

II. Activities of the Japanese Naval Air Force in China

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Yunnan : Three Japanese naval air units, led by Lieut.-Commander Mihara, on April 4 raided Pingma on the Yukiang River in Kwangsi Province, destroying a munition dump and several fuel depots. Following repeated aerial attacks on the Yunnan Railway, main arms supply route of the Chungking Government, the traffic was directed to Kweichow and Szechwan Provinces via Pingma, so that this town acquired considerable military importance.

Japanese naval air detachments under Lieut.-Commander Mihara raided Paichai, 60 kilometres from the Indo-China border, on April 26, and damaged the Yunnan Railway bridge. This and previous attacks have resulted in a complete disruption of traffic by that route.

South China : On May 1, military establishments, some 150 motor-lorries, and an ammunition dump at Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, were destroyed. On May 9, Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, was bombed ; and on May 14, the important highway between that city and Kweiyang attacked.

Hunan : Japanese air units, commanded by Lieut.-Commander Shimada, on April 12 staged a surprise raid on the airfield at Chinkiang, on the western border of Hunan Province.

Chekiang : Three days later, the same group of fliers attacked Chinese air-bases at Lishui in Chekiang Province, Yushan and Shangjao (Kwangsin) in Kiangsi Province. Other air-units, led by Lieutenants Ikeda and Okuyama also visited Lishui and Shangjao (Kwangsin), severely damaging the railway. Lishui and Yushan were again raided on April 16, while the air-field and munition depots at Kian, in Central Kiangsi, were destroyed.

Szechwan : On April 2, air detachments made their appearance over Iping (Suchow), 110 kilometres west of Chungking, and effectively bombed the air-field, destroying a number of enemy planes.

At midnight, April 22, the Japanese naval air-force made its first large-scale attack on the Chinese air-bases around Chungking, particularly the one at Iping. On April 30, Kwangyangpa and Paishih were raided.

Crack units, under Lieut.-Commander Kurinohara, raided Chungking at midnight, April 24, The first unit, commanded by Lieutenant Ikeda, bombed military establishments at Suining, 90 miles northwest of that town, while the second and third units, under Lieutenants Nakamura and Okuyama raided Paishih, 10 miles southwest of Chungking. Chungking was again attacked on April 30, and the aerodrome at Siangshan bombed.

Our fliers visited Chengtu, capital of Szechwan Province, on the night of May 18 damaging the airfields at Wenkiang, and Taipingsze. A surprise raid was made on Suining. On the nights of May 19, 20 and 21, other attacks being delivered on Chengtu, Iping (Suchow) Liangshan and Kwangyangpa.

Three Japanese air units made the biggest raid so far over Chungking at 3:30 p.m., May 26. One unit, led by Lieutenant Kotani, attacked Paishih, destroying munitions depots and six planes. Another flight, commanded by Lieutenant Sato, bombed Hsiaolungkan. The cadets' school, military establishments and the Futan University were wrecked and the Central Telegraph and Telephone Office destroyed. This was followed by other attacks on the two succeeding days during which Peipehsitsum, Tzetsikow and Futukwan, in the western suburbs of Chungking, were visited and the military arsenals and establishments of strategic value destroyed.

Development and Results of the Operations of the Japanese Naval Forces since the Beginning of the Year

Reviewing the development and results of the operations undertaken by the Japanese naval forces in China since the beginning of the year, the naval section of the Imperial Headquarters on May 31 gave out the following communiqué :

"In concert with the military forces, the Japanese naval forces in China have undertaken and successfully carried out various operations since the beginning of the year. The morale of the officers and men is high.

"The Japanese Navy has steadily tightened the blockade of the China coast. Smuggling by junks has been suppressed ; supply routes have been interrupted.

"In North China, the air arm co-operated with the military in a mopping-up campaign in Shantung Peninsula.

"While water communications on the Yangtze River have been securely maintained and the roving Chinese troops along the banks disseminated, mine-sweeping operations have been carried out by our ships and the waterways cleared of obstacles. Chungking, Chengtu, and other air-bases have been repeatedly bombed by our airmen.

"Similar operations on the Pearl River were attended with every success.

"Hainan Island has been successfully cleared of all remnants of enemy troops. This was carried out in conjunction with our land forces.

"From January to May 31, this year, the Japanese naval forces on the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers have disposed of 299 mines, of which 210 were in the former. This brings the total of mines disposed of since the beginning of the China Affair to 5,058.

"64 Chinese planes, of which 12 were unconfirmed, have been destroyed on the ground, and 69 (13 unconfirmed) brought down raising the total of such planes destroyed to 1,776 (260 unconfirmed) since the opening of hostilities."

The Situation in China

I. Development of the Campaign West of the Han River

Bureau of Information, War Department

1. General Situation

Some 20 divisions of Chinese troops were defeated by the Japanese forces in a three-day battle on the Paiho River, starting May 19, and driven into Northern Hupeh Province. East of the Han River from the Sinyang-Suihsien-Anlu line a clean-up campaign was initiated on May 1.

Meanwhile, operations against enemy positions to the west of that river, held by 350,000 men, were undertaken.

2. Crossing of the Han River

The Japanese forces crossed to the west bank of the Han River in two formations, one at Wangchiachai and Shangwangchiatsi southeast of Siangyang on the night of May 31, the other near Kiukowchen and Kwantowchienshih.

3. Development of the Campaign

Siangyang was taken early on June 1, after which the column swung south and reached the Chuanwantow-Liki-Losiangkwan line 4 days later to occupy Kingmen on June 6 and Tangyang on June 10 respectively.

The second column, more to the south, had meanwhile captured Chienyang on June 7 and Kingchow and Shasi the following day. Pushing further west, they occupied Ichang on the evening of June 11.

4. Significance of the Campaign

Surprise was the principal characteristic of the above movement so that the Chinese retired in confusion, leaving enormous quantities of arms and ammunition behind.

Between June 1 and June 12 they had lost 18,000 dead and 3,531 prisoners. While the Japanese suffered about 50 killed up to June 6. Booty included 44 artillery pieces, 150 machine-guns, 2,895 rifles, large quantities of ammunition, provisions and fodder.

II. Activities of the Naval Air Force

Publicity Bureau, Navy Department

Sustained attacks are now being made on Chungking, seat of the Chiang Kai-shek Government, by the naval and military air forces, and on the Yunnan Railway, the new Southwestern highway connecting Kaobang in French Indo-China with Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, and other trunk roads.

1. Cooperation with the Ground Forces

The Han River campaign started on May 1. On May 16, Japanese naval air-units based upon Hankow, visited Icheng, Taokow and Lihokow, destroying munition depots, piers and military craft.

In concert with the ground forces, operations were undertaken against Laokokow, headquarters of Li Tsung-jen, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese forces, Siangyang and Hwanghotsi. The retreating enemy was pursued along the Paiho and Tangho rivers, and Neisiang, west of Nayang, and Maitsungchen were bombed. Siangyang was again raided on May 31.

A mopping-up campaign by our ground forces in which the naval air-unit participated was started east of Hukow, Kiangsi Province, late in May. Jaochow, Tsingyang and other places south of Hukow, enemy positions north of Hukow and bases east of Lake Panyang became targets of attack.

On May 27 several thousand Chinese troops which had surrounded the Japanese at Chihchow and Tuchang were dispersed.

Between June 1 and June 7 Wuanyen (west of Icheng), Kucheng (west of Siangyang), Nanchang, Kingmen, Shihkiaoyi, Kingchow, Ichang, Kiangkow and Shwanglienchang were visited in turn by our naval fliers and military objectives destroyed. Tanyang, Anfu and Tsikiho (east of Ichang) were also attacked. And strategic points including Tungshih, Kiangkow, Yuanshih, Chikkiang, Itu, Sungtze and Paiyang, between Ichang and Shasi, raided.

On June 9 and 10, Ichang and its neighbourhood was furiously bombed, and Chungking raided. On June 11 the Japanese military forces entered Ichang, but operations north and west of that city were continued.

2. Cooperation in the Blockade of the China Coast

On May 17, naval planes raided Wenchow, Santuao and Hinghwa and Foochow, and destroyed some of the highways out of these cities.

3. Attacks on the Yunnan Railway

At the end of the month Meilu, Suikai, Tinpak and Yangkiang on the

Luichow peninsula received the attentions of our flying-units and the Yunnan Railway's service again paralysed.

Military works at Pingma, Kweiyang and Poseh and strategic positions in Northwestern Kwangsi Province were raided, including Fengyi, Lungshan, Hwaiyuan, Ishan, Nantain, Tesheng, Hochih and Kweishun.

4. Large-Scale Bombing Operations Against Chungking

Following attacks on the Chinese airbases in Szechuan Province late in April, the Japanese naval air force carried out a night raid on Wenkiang and Tapingsze near Chengtu and also on Suining on May 18. Several grounded planes were accounted for. Since May 19, Chungking, Chengtu, Ipin, Liangshan, and Suining have been raided repeatedly, and enemy planes to the number of 90 destroyed. This has meant a fatal blow to the Chinese air force.

From May 26 to 30 Chungking was subjected to a series of bombings of the military establishments, including an arsenal, government buildings, the wireless station, and the telegraph office. Six days later these were renewed by combined naval and military planes.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I

COMPREHENSIVE RESULTS OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY OPERATIONS SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES (From July, 1937 to June, 1940)

BUREAU OF INFORMATION, WAR DEPARTMENT

1. Chinese Killed: 1,587,600.

This figure represents those counted by Japanese troops. If others are included, the losses sustained by the enemy, including casualties, desertions and surrenders are conservatively estimated at over 3,000,000.

2. Japanese Killed: 85,800.

3. Japanese Booty:

The booty listed above includes those major items. Enormous quantities of arms and ammunition, clothing and other materials captured are omitted.

4. Length of the War Front: 4,600 kilometres.

5. Japanese Occupied Area: 1,600,000 sq. kilometres.

Representing an area 2.4 times as large as the Japanese Empire, corresponds to one-sixth the surface of China.

6. Results of the Activities of the Military Air Force

(From July, 1937, to June, 1940)

(a) Losses dealt the Chinese air force

(b) Losses dealt the Soviet air force Manchoukuo-Outer Mongolia Border

Grand Total 1,934

(c) Japanese losses

II

TIGHTENING OF THE BLOCKADE AGAINST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CHINA

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

In accordance with tightening of the blockade against the Central China coast, as proclaimed by Vice-Admiral Shimada, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese fleet in China waters on July 15, a Japanese naval detachment started fresh operations in Hangchow Bay at dawn, July 16.

Reduction of the Paichi (Chenhai) and Changtiaotsui Forts: An attack on the Chenhai forts resulted in their complete occupation the same morning. The Changtiaotsui Fort was reduced the following day.

Occupation of Chenhai: These operations led to the occupation of Chenhai (outpost of Ningpo) on July 18, and of the islands which command the entrance.

Reduction of Chuanchow and Blockade of Hinghwa Bay: On July 17, a powerful Japanese fleet, in concert with the attack on Chuanchow, Fukien Province, moved in on Hinghwa Bay, 40 miles northeast of that town, and by sinking junks and placing obstructions in those waters, successfully closed the most important supply route in Fukien Province.

Attacks on Santuao and Shoutsun: On the morning of July 21, a landing-party gained a footing at Santuao against strong enemy resistance. The same afternoon, the Japanese entered Shoutsun, dismantled the Chinese military establishments and completely destroyed their lines of communication.

All these operations, which the Japanese Navy carried out in concert with the Naval air-units had for purpose the blockading of the outlet of the Chekiang-Kiangsi Railway, and the cutting-off of the supply route through these ports. Since the institution of the blockade more than ten foreign vessels were stopped and visited without incident. This tightening of the blockade against Central and South China ports has dealt a severe blow to the Chungking régime and the pro-Chiang foreign Powers.

III

AT SHANGHAI THREE YEARS AGO

PUBLICITY BUREAU, NAVY DEPARTMENT

August 13, is a day never to be forgotten by the Japanese nation, for that date three years ago, marked the opening of the Shanghai campaign, a

unique and most thrilling one in the annals of war, following the provocative challenge of the Chinese army.

In greeting this third anniversary of the outbreak of the campaign, we recall with gratitude the bitter fighting waged by the Japanese landing party in its earlier stages and the subsequent close cooperation between the Japanese military and naval forces around Shanghai for more than 70 days. At the same time we pay a glowing tribute to those who lost their lives and to the sick and wounded for the valour they manifested. We who live and are well take this occasion to pledge our renewed efforts for the construction of a new order in East Asia on the altar of their sacrifice.

The campaign was marked by a lightning landing of Japanese forces in the international city in face of strong enemy resistance, and the coordinated activities of Japan's land and sea forces, with the naval and military air arms. It provided the occasion for originating tactical moves of no little consequence and furnished by the peculiarities which surrounded it valuable instructions and suggestions on the disposal of the China Affair itself.

Movements of the Japanese Navy Before and After the Outbreak of the Shanghai Campaign

The China Affair was the outcome of the outrageous, anti-Japanese policy, assiduously and systematically pursued by the Chiang Kai-shek régime in defiance of international justice over a period of many years. Anti-Japanism was the instrument by which that régime attempted to bring the whole of China under its control. Hatred of Japan was the guiding principle in the moral training of young China and of the Chinese Army—a line of education which is against all the principles of humanity. For years previous to the outbreak of hostilities military service was enforced among the people with this country as the hypothetical enemy, while rapid rearmament was pursued under the guidance of Western military experts. This bolstered the growing conceit of the Chinese military and led the nation to over-estimate its strength. The belittling of Japan's resources, and the spread of the war sentiments through the length and breadth of China could not but bring about the regrettable situation which resulted in open hostilities. Following the incident at Sian, capital of Shensi Province in December, 1936, when Chiang Kai-shek was made prisoner by Chang Hsueh-liang and his Communist colleagues, Chiang concluded an arrangement for cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communists in offering resistance to Japan. And there and then a basic policy to carry on warfare against her neighbour was formulated by China's two opposing groups.

The rising storm of anti-Japanese hatred manifested itself in terroristic outbreaks in various parts of the republic.¹

Nevertheless the officers and men of our China fleet exercised the greatest self-restraint upon all occasions. But the tide of anti-Japanese surged on to its climax in the Marco Polo Bridge incident of July 7, 1937. This was the signal for an open break between the two countries. The

¹ For the full account of the outrageous incidents, see an article entitled "Significance of the North China Problem" in the August, 1937, issue of TOKYO GAZETTE.

cause for all this was so deep-rooted that the spread of hostilities to Shanghai was inevitable, despite every effort on Japan's part to localize this incident. In August, the situation in Shanghai was suddenly aggravated. The Chinese army assumed a definitely provocative attitude, by constructing military works in the demilitarized zone along the perimeter of Shanghai, thus violating the truce agreement of 1932.

Japanese residents along the Yangtze River were advised to evacuate, their withdrawal commencing on August 1. By August 9 over 2,800 of them, under the protection of the Japanese Navy, were safely escorted to Shanghai from stations as far distant as 1,400 miles up that river. That same afternoon Naval Lieutenant Oyama and Warrant Officer Saito were butchered by Chinese troops, which added to the strain already imposed.

A settlement was sought, the Japanese landing party demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Chinese constabulary force from the demilitarized zone around Shanghai and the dismantling forthwith of the military works established on the perimeter. Instead of manifesting any sincerity in their negotiations, the Chinese military authorities became openly provocative steadily reinforcing their troops in and around Shanghai. At dawn, August 12, the Chinese 88th division arrived at the North Station by train and by lorry. Strong pillboxes which had been constructed in the compounds of the Greater Shanghai Municipal Government offices at Kiangwanchen and Chapei just outside the International Settlement were immediately manned and preparations made for action. The Japanese landing party, some 3,000 strong, thus found itself surrounded by forces ten times greater numerically which opened fire on them as the funeral services for the late Lieutenant Oyama and Warrant Officer Saito were being conducted at headquarters. In honour of the victims to Chinese atrocity, the Chinese army was brutal enough to fire upon the Japanese landing party, raising the curtain on the Shanghai campaign. It was the declared intention of the Chinese to annihilate not only the Japanese troops but also the 30,000 Japanese nationals then residing in Shanghai.

Crack units of the Japanese Navy were immediately despatched to reinforce their comrades as Vice-Admiral Ohkochi, Commander of the Japanese landing party, issued the historic order to his command, "Stand by and start fighting!" This was at 4:55 p.m., on August 13 when the Chinese troops opened fire upon the headquarters of the Japanese landing party. On August 23, our troops landed at Woosung against heavy odds as the Chinese forces had by this time swelled to 200,000. Signal credit is due to the Japanese Navy for the lightning sea and air operations by which victory at Shanghai was made possible.

Peculiarity of the Shanghai Campaign and British Obstructions

Spread of hostilities to Shanghai was inevitable, as it was part of the Chinese plan to engage Japan on that ideal battlefield for China. Through such a move Chiang hoped to involve those other Powers interested in that city in the conflict thus bringing about international complications

which might result in intervention against Japan. Moreover, Nanking the seat of the Government and the military centre of the country, was but a few hours away with every water and land facility for concentrating large bodies of troops around China's principal port. The Chinese military likewise placed great reliance upon the costly fortifications which had been constructed in that vicinity during the preceding five years.

Our movements were greatly hampered by the peculiar conditions which obtained. In fact there were occasions when the Japanese defenders were exposed to most serious danger on this account. Some of these peculiarities we shall enumerate below:

1. Chinese Partisans or Plain-Clothes Soldiers

Chinese partisans or plain-clothes men were the ones who first fired on a sentry of the Japanese landing party on August 13, thus precipitating hostilities. Armed in every way, it was their mission to carry the conflict well into enemy lines and disturb peace in the rear. The international status of Shanghai, which allowed for the free movement of these irregulars who found the situation an ideal one for their activities, was one of the most serious problems with which our forces had to contend.

2. Street Fighting

Another difficulty was presented by street fighting with which the Japanese landing party was not unfamiliar and in which it had been carefully trained. Nonetheless that form of fighting which could be long-drawn and undecisive proved a considerable disadvantage to our troops, who found their actions greatly restricted. With heavy reserves to draw upon in case of need the Chinese could carry their defence from house to house, street to street, and to dislodge them necessitated the complete razing of all buildings in the town.

3. International Settlement and French Concession in Shanghai

Foreign Shanghai comprises an International Settlement and a French Concession, surrounded on all sides by Chinese territory—a condition which obtains nowhere else in the world, this afforded the Chinese troops tactical advantages of which they were not slow to make use. They took up strong positions for instance in Chapei (near the North Station), and attacks directed against them from the side were accompanied by the danger of shells falling within the International Settlement. Every inch of ground gained had to be bitterly contested and at the price of heavy sacrifice of Japanese lives.

The Chinese made the fullest use of the advantages provided them by the contiguity of their territory to the International Settlement and the French Concession, and ran their own defence lines right alongside those of the foreign troops guarding the Shanghai perimeter. This allowed for no inconsiderable assistance to them from across the border in devious ways, and instances of this aid, in which the British were directly concerned and which could not but prove obstructive to Japanese operations, are many.

In the opening aerial attack on the "Idzumo" Chinese bombs falling

off their mark, severely damaged British-owned property close by. The British authorities requested that the "Idzumo" move away from her berth under threat of opening the Settlement barricades to the surrounding Chinese troops. The Chinese too were not debarred from access to tall buildings in the Settlement from which they were able to reconnoitre the Japanese lines. Our planes were fired at by anti-aircraft and machine-guns from the British-patrolled area. The besieging of the Joint Savings' Bank warehouse in which several hundred troops had barricaded themselves was another occasion for assistance and obstructive tactics. Provisions and water were supplied these troops from across the Settlement border and when, to evade capture, these men decided to make good their escape, the Settlement barricades were opened to assist them.

What took place at Shanghai was but the commencement of what went on during the whole campaign in China—the Chiang-aiding Powers treating the Settlements, which were in truth under the sovereign rule of China, as if they were their colonial possessions.

Japan is now engaged in the gigantic task of constructing a new order in Greater East Asia, with the same ideal as caused her to embark on the China Affair, namely the peace of the Orient. In recalling the Shanghai campaign we must renew our grim determination to cope efficiently with the current changes in the world by recognizing the gravity of the situation and establishing an intensive national defence structure on the basis of a new political structure.

The Situation in China

Bureau of Information, War Department

The large-scale clean-up campaign launched by the Japanese expeditionary forces since last April has dealt a heavy blow to the Chinese armies, upsetting reorganization plans launched by the Chinese armies early in July in an attempt to regain their fighting power.

Fearing that the Japanese forces might start a big offensive along the entire front in September or October, the Chinese armies attempted to obstruct Japanese troop movements and preparations for such an offensive by mobilizing guerilla activity in the rear of the Japanese positions. Sporadic engagements took place in various parts of China, including a Communist sortie in North China in the middle of August and activities by Chungking troops in southern Shansi Proyince [sic]. Otherwise, the China front has been relatively quiet.

The Chinese armies now are estimated at some 250 divisions, or about 2,000,000 men. Numerically each Chinese division is believed to have been replenished to its normal basic strength, but the equipment is barely sufficient to supply 20 or 30 per cent of the complement. In addition, a decided deterioration in the quality of recruits is manifested in frequent desertions and irregularities among the soldiers, as well as by low morale and slack discipline. The Chinese fighting spirit has declined seriously, although offers of heavy prizes and threats of severe punishment seem to serve somewhat to maintain it and some Chinese staff officers are still inflamed with vigorous anti-Japanese sentiments. But even the latter are limited to those who have never engaged Japanese troops, for Chinese officers and men usually lose the will to fight once they have borne the brunt of a Japanese attack.

The supply of munitions is an important factor in the enemy's capacity for resistance, and the major foreign supply routes to the Chungking régime have been almost completely blocked by the Japanese armed forces. It is true that a small quantity of munitions still trickles into the Chungking area over such routes as remain intact, but in general they are wholly inadequate for the needs of the Chinese armies. The Burma road, which Great Britain reopened after October 18, is said to be capable of accommodating only 1,500 tons of goods a month.

Chinese arsenals in the unoccupied areas apparently are capable

of manufacturing ammunition in such quantity as to permit uninterrupted guerilla warfare on a small scale, but ordnance production is so poor that only small-calibre guns can be repaired.

In short, the fighting power of the Chinese armies has deteriorated remarkably, so that they are incapable of undertaking any offensive of the proportions of the battle of Hankow. It may be, however, that they will be capable of waging guerilla warfare for some time to come.

Activities of Chinese Communist Troops in North China

About 12,000 Chinese troops, comprising the 120th and 129th Divisions of the Eighth Route (Communist) Army and anti-Japanese university students, who established a base in the hinterlands of Shansi Province, attempted a sortie against the Tatung-Pukow Railway in northern Shansi Province, the railway between Shihkiachwang and Taiyuan, in Hopeh and Shansi Provinces, and the coal mines in Shansi Province on August 21. But the Japanese launched a counter-attack and they were completely repulsed with heavy losses by August 25. The Japanese forces also undertook a mopping-up campaign on October 11 against Chinese Communist troops which had been active in eastern Shansi Province and along the border of Hopeh Province.

The Central Front

In Central China, a punitive expedition was carried out against the newly organized Chinese 13th and 39th Divisions near Wuning, in Kiangsi Province, in August, while successful mopping-up campaigns were undertaken against the Chinese 76th Division near Hsiangan, in Anhwei Province, and also against Chinese troops which had been molesting the Hwainan Railway north of Luchow (Hofei), in central Anhwei Province. The biggest engagement during September took place in the lake region north of the Yangtze River, around Lake Kaoyu and Lake Hungtze, where the Japanese forces dealt the new Communist Fourth Army a severe blow after encircling them on September 5. In the lake region southeast of Tsienkiang, central Hupeh Province, mopping-up operations were started on October 13. Meanwhile a crushing attack was made against 20 Chinese divisions in an area extending from Wuhu to Hangchow and also south of Hangchow.

The South China Front

A portion of Chinese troops began activity in southwestern

Kwangsi Province, bordering on French Indo-China, as a demonstration during August for both domestic and foreign effect. The Japanese forces in South China started operations on August 17 and dispersed Chinese troops near Shangsze, southwestern Kwansgi [sic], after inflicting heavy losses. Also on August 17, combined army and naval air forces swooped down upon Paoki, a strategic point on the northwestern or Red route on the western border of Shensi Province and effectively bombed military targets there. On August 19, military and naval air forces began joint attacks on Chungking for two consecutive days, scoring direct hits on military targets.

In September, Japanese army and navy forces, in conjunction with the Chinese constabulary, undertook a successful clean-up campaign against about 1,000 Chinese, remnants of hostile forces, on Hainan Island. This campaign is being continued in the interior of the island.

Japanese operations have been facilitated greatly by an accord concluded on September 22 between Japan and France, permitting Japanese armed forces to enter French Indo-China and to establish military and aviation bases there. This has made it possible for Japanese troops to withdraw from Nanning, former capital of Kwangsi Province, which had been occupied primarily to cut off supplies to the Chungking régime by way of French Indo-China through Yunnan and Kwangsi Provinces. Crack units of the Japanese army and navy air forces entered the air field at Hanoi on October 5, thus establishing a position from which to bomb effectively the Burma-Yunnan road, which was reopened to traffic on October 18.

The Situation in China: Activities of the Imperial Naval Air Force

Board of Information

Before expiration of the three-month agreement between Japan and Great Britain, dating from July 17 and providing for the suspension of traffic in war materials along the Burma-Yunnan Road, Sir Robert Craigie, the British Ambassador, called on Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka on the morning of October 8 and informed him that the British Government could not see its way clear for a renewal of the agreement. The British communication appears to have been a manifest reaction to the conclusion of the Three-Power Agreement between Japan, Germany and Italy which was reached on September 27. It also may have been closely related to the 25,000,000 dollar loan granted to the Chiang Kai-shek régime by the United States Government on the eve of the conclusion of the Japan-Germany-Italy pact. These Anglo-American measures evidently had a common motive for assisting the Chungking régime and thwarting Japan's military operations in China. Be that as it may, Japan made a tacit reply to the reopening of the Burma Road by bombing and disrupting it.

The Burma Road Under Survey

The so-called Burma Road covers a distance of 1,146 kilometres from Rangoon, capital of Burma, to Kunming (Yunnan-fu), capital of Yunnan Province in China. About 85 per cent of the entire route lies within Yunnan Province and a one-way trip over the distance takes eight days. Construction of the road was started in 1937 and was completed eighteen months later, in 1938, at a cost of 200,000,000 yuan by 200,000 labourers.

That portion of the Burma Road lying within Yunnan Province is divided into two sections for administrative purposes, one extending from Kunming to Shengpei and the western section extending from Shengpei to Yenting. These two sections are subdivided into seven smaller sections. West of Siakwan, the road is generally impassable during the rainy season because of frequent landslides. In addition, there are more than 370 bridges along the entire route, of which only 10 are of modern type. East of Siakwan there are two big bridges, both old ones, and west of Siakwan there are six modern

bridges. The most noted are those at Nuchiang (Hweitung), Yungping and Shengpei.

The Hweitung Bridge spans the rapids of the Nuchiang (Nu River), near the town of Luchiang, consisting of some 300 houses. The bridge has been rebuilt and re-enforced so that it can uphold trucks carrying up to three tons. The Yungping span is a suspension bridge over a rapid tributary of the Mekong River. Broader than the Hweitung Bridge and rebuilt on a modern foundation, it can support trucks carrying a load of five and a half tons. The Chinese Communications Ministry spent an enormous sum of money in constructing a suspension draw-bridge of the most modern type and it is guarded by scores of soldiers and anti-aircraft batteries even in peace-time. The Shengpei Bridge is not a suspension bridge and is surfaced with wood.

The Burma Road has two large bridges east of Siakwan, one in the western suburb of Hsiangyun and the other outside the eastern gate of Tsuyung. There is a relatively large bridge half-way between Hsiangyun and Tsuyung, in addition to about 90 medium-sized bridges and 288 smaller ones. All important bridges are well guarded and armed with anti-aircraft guns. There are repair facilities at important points along the road.

Until September, 1940, less than 200 trucks plied the Burma Road. Wireless service between Kunming and Rangoon was inaugurated on August 15, 1940, and the Burma Road offices in Kunming are connected with sectional offices by wireless and telephone.

There is a large repair garage in Kunming and smaller ones at Tali and Yenting.

Japanese Naval Air Arm Cuts Off Burma Route

On October 18, 1940, the very day on which Great Britain reopened the Burma Route, crack units of the Japanese naval air force swooped down on the road near the border of Yunnan Province and scored direct hits on a bridge spanning a gorge, seriously damaging it. The same day another powerful detachment of planes visited Kokiu, about 10 kilometres west of Mengtze, and effectively bombed a tin refinery there. Dense clouds hovering over the border area that day offered difficulty to the Japanese raiders, obscuring their targets, but a second bombing of the Burma Road was carried out on October 20 with satisfactory results against important bridges. Kokiu was raided again the same day, when Japanese naval planes attacked a munitions factory there. All Japanese planes returned safely to their bases on both raids. A third bombing was conducted on

October 21, destroying many important bridges one after another. On October 25, a fourth raid was carried out, Japanese naval air units scoring direct hits on the important Kungkuo Bridge across the upper reaches of the Mekong River between Shanyang and Paoshan, completely destroying it. The Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Fleet in China Waters sent a message of congratulation to the commander of the naval air force on this splendid achievement.

On October 26, large Japanese naval air formations extended their flight to Lowing, in the western extremity of Yunnan Province near the Burma border, and attacked an airplane factory there, scoring direct hits which resulted in the complete destruction of the plant. Fires were started in several places within the factory compound and all Japanese planes returned safely to their bases. The raid was significant in that it was conducted by the naval air force over a long distance and over mountainous territory and also because the factory was one of the largest of its kind in China. Its loss must have been a severe blow to the Chungking régime.

Again on October 28 a naval air detachment visited the Salween River (Nuchiang) and effectively bombed the important bridge spanning it. Other crack units of the Japanese naval air force raided Kunming, bombing military targets there, including a powder magazine on the northeastern outskirts of the town. The next day another bombing expedition was carried out against the Burma Road. The Hweitung Bridge across the Salween River was bombed and completely destroyed, thus interrupting the Burma Route not only at the Mekong River but also on the Salween River. The same day another naval air unit made a surprise attack on Chanyi, key point on the highway between Kunming and Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, about 60 miles northeast of Kunming. In the ensuing air battle, the Japanese shot down one Chinese plane and destroyed another on the ground.

Messages of congratulation on its splendid achievements were sent to the naval air arm by H. I. H. Fleet-Admiral Prince Hiroyasu Fushimi, Chief of the Naval General Staff, Admiral Koshiro Oikawa, the Navy Minister, Admiral Shigetaro Shimada, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Fleet in China Waters, and General Gen Sugiyama, Chief of the Army General Staff.

Thus the Burma Route, on which the Chiang Kai-shek régime as well as Great Britain and the United States pinned their last hopes, has been smashed by the Japanese naval air arm. The Chungking régime apparently is making frantic efforts to repair the destroyed bridges, but the Japanese naval air force will repeat its bombings again and again whenever the route is reopened to traffic.

THE SITUATION IN CHINA

I. RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES

ARMY PRESS SECTION, IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS

Results of July Operations

Although four years have elapsed since the outbreak of the China Affair, there has been no slackening in Japanese military operations. Take July last for instance. During that month in North China alone, no less than 1,755 engagements occurred between the Japanese and Chinese troops, the total effectives involved being estimated at some 230,000. The Chinese side left about 85,000 dead behind in addition to some 2,600 taken prisoner. The Japanese lost about 700 in killed and wounded. During the same period Central China witnessed 540 encounters in which approximately 75,000 Chinese troops took part. Their casualties numbered 4,471 killed and 2,041 captives. On the other hand, our loss was only about 500 dead and injured. The total number of brushes in South China during the same month was 276, the Chinese side mustering some 4,000 soldiers. While the enemy left 855 in killed besides 131 taken prisoner, the Japanese dead and wounded numbered about 50. It will, therefore, be seen that during that single month the total number of battles fought throughout China came up to 2,295, with the aggregated numerical strength of the enemy estimated at about 316,000. The enemy left 13,849 dead behind in addition to 5,134 taken prisoner. As against this the Japanese, in all, suffered about 1,300 in killed and wounded. These figures clearly illustrate the activities of the Japanese expeditionary forces in China.

Rôle of War Plains

No less active parts are being played by our military and naval air forces. Their frequent bombing raids on the interior have undeniably alarmed the Chiang Kai-shek Government, its troops and

the people living in major towns in the hinterland. Such was the sustained intensity of the Japanese aerial attacks in August that Chungking, capital of the Chiang Kai-shek régime, suspended its activity for seventeen days of the month. As a result of Japanese air bombardments, military works, factories and government offices in unoccupied China have been seriously damaged and production of both munitions and essential merchandise has been considerably curtailed.

North China Front

From July 20 to August 24, the Japanese expeditionary forces in North China carried out a mopping-up campaign in and round Yencheng in Northern Kiangsu Province. As Yencheng is noted for salt production, it is obvious that the enemy should attach importance to it. With the Japanese occupation of the town, the enemy effectives under General Han Te-chin have been reduced to dire straits. In this connection, it is significant to note that frequent clashes have been occurring in Northern Kiangsu Province since January between Chungking soldiers and Communist forces, which had succeeded in forcing their way into the region.

The troops under General Yu Hsueh-chung, former warlord of Manchuria, and the forces under Admiral Shen Hung-lieh, former Mayor of Tsingtao, are at loggerheads in Shantung Province. Otherwise peace generally prevails in this area.

In Shansi and Hunan Provinces, the enemy is now concentrating its efforts to reinforce defence fortifications on the south bank of the Yellow River, as a sequel to the crushing blow dealt by our forces to the 200,000 strong army commanded by General Wei Li-huang in the so-called first war-zone during the Shansi campaign in May last.

Sian, capital of Shensi Province, and districts surrounding it are now guarded by Chinese troops under General Hu Tsung-nan belonging to the so-called 8th war-zone.

The hinterland of Inner Mongolia is still infested by Chinese troops under General Fu Tso-yi. A large-scale mopping-up campaign, launched by the Japanese contingents against the Chinese Communist troops on August 14, is still continuing along the

Peking-Hankow and Shihchiachwang-Taiyuan Railways and the outlying region of Chahar Province. The operation is aimed not only at dislodging the Communist troops from their bases but at rendering them hors de combat by inflicting a knock-out defeat. Consequently, it is developing in a thorough-going way, though not in a spectacular manner. Fighting as they do with Communist soldiers who are veritable denizens of mountains, the Japanese expeditionary forces are going through hardships and privations in climbing the rock-bound region for the Reds.

By September 4, the Japanese succeeded in dispersing the Communist forces, and have since been searching one district after another for Red remnants. Up to September 14, the enemy left 2,784 dead behind apart from 1,710, taken prisoner, while the Japanese suffered some 50 in killed.

Simultaneously with the launching of fresh operations in Hunan Province in Central China in the middle of September, a military drive in North China was begun for crossing the New Yellow River. Thanks, apparently, to a remarkable diminution in the enemy's resistance, our advance was more rapid than expected inasmuch as Chengchow, an important strategic point, fell into our hands on October 4. This locality is a junction of the Peking-Hankow and the Lunghai Railways.

Central China Front

The only noteworthy enemy briskness in Central China occurred from midnight of August 25 to the following morning, when Chinese troops under General Ku Chu-tung attempted a mass offensive against Japanese positions at more than 60 points along the Yangtze estuary, by detailing a battalion or regiment of soldiers to each point. In concert with this general onslaught, the Chinese guerillas commenced activities in the Japanese occupied area, but their efficiency was in such a low state that only two cases of terrorism and another two cases of tampering with railway tracks were reported.

Our contingents immediately responded to the Chinese general attack and repulsed the bulk of enemy troops by the morning of August 26. On September 27 and 28, they attempted small sorties at various points, but were immediately driven back. Supported by

air units, our forces made a counter-offensive against them along the entire front, which resumed calmness on September 29.

This Chinese general offensive testified to incompleteness of the reorganization, which the Chungking forces had been undergoing for some time in preparation for their so-called large-scale assault. The debacle which they had sustained in the campaign in Eastern Chekiang Province may have been to blame, but there is no gainsaying the fact that the abortive push, staged by them along the estuary of the Yangtze at midnight of August 25, does not rebound to the credit of Chungking's military authorities, who had been magnifying their armed preparedness regarding a general offensive.

Our forces which occupied some time ago Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, withdrew from that port city on September 3, following a considerable easing of the local situation.

In the Hankow sector, the Japanese expeditionary forces on September 18 launched most successful campaign against the Chinese troops in the so-called 9th war-zone under General Hsueh Yueh south of Yochow. To explain more fully, several Japanese divisions which had been massing south of Yochow opened attack on September 18. After dislodging some dozen Chinese battalions from their positions on the Sintsiang River, the Japanese moved south toward the Mi River. At this juncture, the Chinese 26th Army, part of the Chinese forces, attempted to outflank the Japanese from the direction of Tungcheng. Scenting this Chinese move, the extreme left column of our forces resorted to tactics for encircling the 26th Army, which consequently was annihilated. Meanwhile, other columns pushed forward, by contacting and crushing enemy resistance, which stood in their way. The result was that the Chinese 4th Army was destroyed, the 99th Army slipped away sidewise and the 37th Army was wiped out. The enemy had constructed quadruple defence lines between Yochow and Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. Such was the lightning speed of the Japanese assault that the enemy found it impossible to offer any stiff opposition, by falling back upon those defence lines. Thus, the Japanese Hayabuchi detachment entered Changsha on September 27, while on September 29 another Japanese column drove further south and entered Chuchow, junction of the Canton-Hankow Railway and the Chuchow-Pingsiang Railway and a town situated some 30 miles to the south of Changsha.

A Japanese naval detachment cooperated with the military effectives in the Changsha campaign, by operating on Lake Poyang so as to divert the enemy.

The Changsha campaign was concluded over ten days earlier than expected, thanks to a plan of operations carefully worked out on the basis of mature experience and also to full training of our combatants. The outcome of the expedition has demonstrated that the Chinese army in the 9th war-zone, reputed to be the best equipped and strongest of the Chinese forces, is not possessed of much fighting ability against the Japanese army. The enemy endured more than 80,000 in killed and wounded, while the loss sustained by our side was about 500 in killed. Having attained their objective of operations so rapidly, the Japanese expeditionary forces left Changsha on October 1 to return to their original positions.

Taking advantage of the departure of our troops from Changsha after a stay of four days, Chungking put out a fabricated claim that its army had driven out the Japanese from Changsha by inflicting heavy losses. This absurd story was accepted at its face value by the British and American public for a time. In this connection, it may be mentioned that the Japanese expeditionary forces in China, which have already captured key points essential for the disposal of the China Affair, are now conducting their military operations for the purpose of destroying the enemy's fighting strength, not for occupying any more territory.

During the Changsha campaign, which lasted almost ten days, eleven Chinese planes, all S. B. bombers, made their appearance for the first time in many months. One of them landed near Ichang on the Yangtze, the gateway to Chungking, and surrendered to the Japanese military authorities to their pleasant surprise.

South China Front

The Chinese soldiers in the 7th war-zone under command of General Yu Han-mou, namely in Northern Kwangtung Province, apparently are now endeavouring hard to reconnoiter the movements of the Japanese forces.

Indo-China and Burma Road

The Chinese troops in the so-called 4th war-zone, that is, along the border of French Indo-China, are making frantic efforts to

construct defence works against the Japanese drive, which they think will be inevitable, by setting up fresh fortifications along the border and sea-coast and by demolishing roads.

Various rumours are current regarding the reported joint defence between Great Britain, the United States and the Chungking régime in the two provinces of Yunnan and Kweichow. It is a well-known fact that the Chungking and Yunnan authorities are frantically pushing repair and defence works on the Burma road, which is the only aid-to-Chiang Kai-shek channel from abroad. A detachment of troops from Kweichow has been sent to guard the Burma highway.

II. NAVAL FORCES IN ACTION

NAVY PRESS SECTION, IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS

Naval Air Force

To facilitate the withdrawal of Japanese military and naval forces from Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, our naval air force, which had been assigned to the coast of Fukien Province visited Foochow, Santu and Fuching on September 1 and bombed and machine-gunned troop concentrations of the Chinese 7th and 80th divisions, inflicting severe losses, and on the following day renewed the attack in same vein. On September 3, it bombed and machine-gunned the enemy bases on the north bank of the Min River east of Foochow, and also key points on the sea coast while storming the enemy near Foochow and Mamoi. On September 4, it made reconnaissance flights over Foochow, Chwanshi Island and Santu Island and attacked troop congestions, which were sighted.

On September 18, when our military forces started their drive on Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, the naval air force, acting in collaboration, rained aerial missiles on positions at Yuanliaoshan, Yingtien and Leishihshan in Northern Hunan Province, causing heavy damages. On September 24, their positions near the mouth of the Sikiang River were effectively battered three times, while on September 25 and 26 enemy field artillery emplacements near Tumitse were repeatedly hit. Enemy bases at Tumitse and Wulungtse were bombed and destroyed on September 28.

Duties of Naval Craft

Every Japanese warship in China waters is in charge of a specified area. The naval craft, besides conducting blockade, inspection of vessels, survey of water routes, and sweeping of mines, are engaged in halting the supply of aid-to-Chiang Kai-shek materials. Landing parties are set on shore at various points of the coast or islands in case of necessity for maintaining peace and order. In the Chushan Group of islands off Hangchow Bay and also in Hainan Island, the landing parties are not only maintaining peace and order, but making substantial contributions to the development of industries, by looking after industrial rehabilitation.

In the meantime, the landing parties on September 2 suppressed bandits at Taiho north of Tsingtao. On September 7, they successfully attacked some 300 bandits at a point southwest of Wenchuancheng, which stands in the northern part of Shantung Peninsula. On September 9 and 10, a squad of our bluejackets landed at the southern base of Yuntai Hill north of Lienyunchiang, the eastern terminus of the Lunghai Railway, and restored peace and order there, by liquidating lawless elements.

While cooperating with the military forces in a mopping-up campaign, the Japanese gunboats on the Yangtze estuary were engaged in special patrol of Lake Tahu (Great Lake) from September 11 to September 14. On September 14, the Japanese gunboats opened fire on a strong body of Chinese troops and routed them with heavy losses. The landing parties in Hainan Island captured enormous quantities of arms and ammunition, by attacking Chinese troops about thirty times.

A powerful detachment of the Japanese squadron on the Yangtse River started action at midnight of September 17 and crossed Lake Tungting by escorting transports carrying Japanese troops. On September 18, at 7:20 a.m., the detachment landed a party of bluejackets at the base of Siahushan Hill and occupied it. Meanwhile, the Japanese warships on Lake Tungting in conjunction with the attack started by Japanese troops on enemy positions at Chingshan and Yuanliaoshan east of it bombarded retreating enemy forces. On September 19, the naval craft in concert with the military operations discovered and disposed of seven mines in the lower course of the Siangkiang River. The same afternoon, the naval

force occupied Leishishan. Part of the landing party in cooperation with the military force captured Luchiao and Chiumatse.

On September 20, the naval force devoted its attention mainly to an attack on the enemy positions in the direction of Wanglinghu. The following day, enemy mountain artillery positions at a point two kilometres downstream of Yingtien were bombarded and destroyed, while 57 mines were discovered and disposed of in front of Leishihshan. This, coupled with a successful blow-up of a big boom, resulted in opening a water-way. On the other hand, the landing party cooperated with the land force in attacking Lulintan and razed enemy positions nearby. A group of Japanese warships advanced off the southeastern shore of Lake Tungting and silenced enemy activities at the mouth of the Siangkiang River one after another, while a mine-sweeping unit on September 22 sailed up the Siangkiang River and made a forced reconnaissance of the water-way south of Leishihshan. On September 23, the water-way up to a point four kilometres upstream of Leishihshan was completely opened, while mine-sweeping operations were in full swing from the Pingkiang River to Hopotan via Shumaihu Lake. The naval force also collaborated with the land contingent in the latter's advance into Lulintan. Paiyuchi was occupied on the morning of September 24 and Yingtien on the same afternoon. On September 25, the Kiaokow channel was opened, and mine-sweeping operations off Yingtien were completed. The water-way up to a point 2 kilometres upstream of Yingtien was cleared on September 26, while that to a point 10 kilometres upstream of Yingtien was removed of hindrances on September 28.

Part of the Japanese naval force, operating in the waters near Canton started sailing up the West River. Another detachment early on the morning of September 20 covered landing of our troops on the shore of Kwonghoi in face of the enemy, and continued its protecting operations till the following day. The Japanese naval detachment, which sailed up the Hunkiang River, occupied Sunchong on September 23, while sweeping mines and removing obstructions. One more detachment, which went up the North River, succeeded in clearing the water-way to a point 10 miles downstream of Chingkuan on September 27 in cooperation with military forces. Another naval unit, which operated off Kwonghoi, effectively attacked nine armed junks as well as enemy troops.

The Blockade Squadron

The Japanese squadron, which was engaged in blockade operations in China waters, visited 23,178 junks and motor-boats on the Yangtze estuary and off Eastern Chekiang Province and 26,904 junks and motor-boats on the Whangpoo River. In North China waters, 3,400 junks were inspected. Out of them, 79 were dealt with as those of a hostile character. Thus the material supply to Chiang Kai-shek is being effectively suspended by our blockade.

The number of mines, discovered and disposed of during the month of September totalled 115 in the Siangkian River and 703 in South China waters, aggregating 818. In addition, there were 101 mines, discovered and disposed of during the Changsha campaign in the latter part of October.