Evening star., 1933-04-17
JAPAN LAUNCHES
OFFENSIVE
IN NORTHERN CHINA
Bombing Planes and Heavy
Artillery Go Into Action
on Large Scale.
TOWNS IN COAST AREA
FALL IN RAPID ORDER
Defenders Charge Air Raiders At
tackled Red Cross Unit, Kill
ing Several Workers.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PEIPING, China, April 17.-Bombing
planes and heavy artillery went into
action on a large scale today as Japa-
nese troops sent the entire Chinese
army In the coast region of North
China proper fleeing to the south bank
of the Lwan River.
It was the first extensive Japanese
advance into the Peiping- -Tientsin in
ternational treaty area, where there
are considerable American and other
foreign interests. The Lwan River is
IS miles southwest Of Shanhaikwan
and only 100 miles from Tientsin.
Changli, where an American Meth
odist mission is situated, and numer-
GUS other towns to the north and
northeast, fell in rapid order to the
japanese and a Manchukuan army.
The Chinese had predicted this sweep
over Peiping's route to the sea since
the fall of Shanhaikwan January 3.
Chinese Garrison Flees.
Japanese airplanes dropped about 100
bombs between l and miles from
Chinwangtao early Saturday to begin
the real offensive, it was learned TO-
day. Chinwangtao, 10 miles southwest
of Shanhaikwan, was occupied Satur-
day. . 49,,
Manchukuan troops attacked the Chi
nese lines with field guns, aided py
range finding airplanes. The first de-
tails of the battle reaching here todaj
said the Chinese garrison fed at pm.
Saturday and that Chinese police then
handed over the city to the Mancnu-
kuanS.
refugees In the area were reported
streaming to Kailan mining COMPOUND,
which is a British holding. British
MARINES previously were reported landed
in the city. The Summer camp OF the
18th United States Infantry, now oc-
cupied by a small guard, is nearby.
japanese then stationed guards In the
Chinwangtao railway station.
Allegiance Pledge Reported.
Residents Of Changli, which was cap
tured to-day, were reported pledging
allegiance TO the japanese sponsoreu
Manchukuo government In Manchuria.
A partv of foreigners was In Pehtaiho.
one of the towns between Chinwangtao
and Changli, when the troops advanced
on that place and they hurriedly re-
turned to Peiping. Buildings through.
out the area were reported being leveleo
by japanese bombers and artillery.
The japanese were reported TO nave
encountered considerable resistance In
the region between Pehtaiho ana
Changn.
The capture Of the towns OF Funing:
a seaport, and Yunting, both north OF
Changli, was reported in Toxic dis
patches. They were both taken yester-
day. Funing was captured after four
hour battle by the japanese infantry
brigades under Maj. Gems. Yoshlaki
Takata and Kaoru Nakamura. Then
Yunting was occupied after seven
hours severe fighting by japanese cav
airy under Gen. Kojiro.
The Chinese military command here
charged today that japanese f1iers
bombed a Chinese Red Cross unit in
the neighborhood of Kupeikow. Great
Wall pass 65 miles northeast of Peiping.
Several Red Cross workers were reported
killed.
The japanese launched an offensive
at that pass, near the western ex-
tremity of the Jehol border. at the
same time that troops swept into the
Ivan River area from Chiehlingkow
and other eastern passes.
TIENTSIN FEARS GROWING.