The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-26

Three Chinese planes were
shot down during the sensa-
tional air battle over the
Hangchow airport, the Jap
anese claimed. Eleven other
Chinese planes were destroyed
by bombs, they claimed.
The airport, southwest of Shang-
hal, is the Chinese air base. and
the Japanese claimed they had
destroyed the entire Chinese con-
centration of fighting planes.
Americans May Be Dead
The personnel casualties among
the Chinese airmen we're not known.
If other Americans, such as Robert
Short, shot down in a sensational
air battle a few days ago, we're
among the Chinese at Hangchow.
they may be among the latest
victims of the Japanese air force.
The Japanese claimed their one
disabled plane, forced down be-
tween Shanghai and Hangchow, was
the only Japanese casualty. The
plane vas believed to have fallen
in Hangchow bay and a Japanese
destroyer, with eight airplanes
circling overhead, was sent to the
rescue.
The japanese planes took off with
their bomb racks loaded to capacity.
The fact that only three Chinese
planes were reported in action in
dicated that the attackers took the
enemy by surprise.
Visibility FavOrs Attack
The Nipponese airmen circled over
the airdrome, with visibility condi-
tons in their favor, swooped low,
and cut loose with their bomb car
goes.
The war birds then gained alti-
tude to escape possible anti-aircraft
fire and returned to their Shanghai
base. The japanese command con-
Sldered the raid highly successful.
The japanese. announced later
that the three occupants of their
plane had been rescued from Hang
chow bay by a destroyer.
The Chinese Kuo-Min News
agency said Chinese officials ex-
pected the Japanese to launch the
greatest military offensive since the
World war, with half of the jap
anese national air force, approx
mately 200 airplanes, concentrated
at Shanghai.
Supreme Effort Planned
The agency said the Japanese ap-
parently intended to make a Sill
preme effort to dislodge the Chi
nese before the League of Nations
commission, appointed to report on
Manchurian situation, reaches
Shanghai March 4.
Inc Chinese were ready to offer
their utmost resistance, and EXPECT
ed a new japanese offensive late
tonight, Kuo-Min said.
While victory was claimed for the
japanese aerial forces, their infan-
try and artillery we're having a
more difficult time beating back the
Chinese before Tazang. The grim
Japanese advance was renewed a.
II a. m. after a smashing artillery
.barrage.
The japanese appeared to be
gaining a few yards at a time. hut
there were no decisive gains for
either side early in the dav.
Inc Chinese made FREQUENT
counter-attacks in the face of His
tering japanese fire. The troonz
OF the Nineteenth Chinese route
army were well intrenched and had
spent days preparing the sector
against the ine table Japanese
push.
Many Chinese Slain
The sector in which the Jauanese
continued to hammer at the Chinese
lines was the scene Of the most Sc
we're fighting in the campaign on
Thursday. Foreign military ar
taches estimated that 1000 Chinese
killed or wounded.
The japanese announced their
in Thursdays fighting at
40 dead and wounded. They
claimed to have counted 100 Chinese
dead left on the field.
No Japanese reinforcements had
arrived here today. though addi-
tionai troops were expected
Plans Of the Chinese to block
transports at Woosunp forts
manned IN doubt. It was not be-
lieyed likely that the Japanese
would have difficulty in getting past
the ancient Notifications, for SONS
forty japanese war craft we're avaiI-
able to protect the transports.