Evening star., 1938-06-18
By the Associated Press.

% bnS AbSOCiAteQ FTeSS.
SHANGHAI, June 1s.-China's s
overfowing Yellow River, which ap-
parently has saved Hankow. the pro-
visional capital. from danger of .
northern attack for many months,
was declared by japanese today to
have trapped 7ol. 200 Chinese beyond
all hope of rescue.
The flood waters were declared by
japanese military authorities to have
extended over an additional area Of
900 square miles In the last "a hours.
The food zone covered 1000 square
miles. Two thousand villages and
hamlets in the rich agricultural Prov
ince of Honan were submerged and
1900 others invaded by the upsurging
currents.
With 100000 refugees fleeing before
the water as it reached out its long
arms, perhaps to join China's other
great river. the Yangtze. also rising
300 miles to the South, Japanese re-
ports said there was no indication
whatsoever Of the flood abating.
Caring for 100000.
japanese said they were caring for
200, 900 Of the refugees, but that the
plight Of thousands, their homes and
fields blanketed in mud and water,
was extreme.
Thousands. they said, were eating
the bark Of trees in desperate efforts TO
survive.
While the number of Chinese ac-
tually trapped in the fioodwaters was
regarded by neutral observers as ex-
tremely difncult to ascertain, tens of
thousands were believed to have been
caught by eddying currents and rap
idly rising streams. Water and thick
mud made roads almost impossible
The plight Of children was declared
especially tragic. They had to be
carried by older people. In many
cases they were lashed to pieces of
wood and floated through the rushing
currents.
While Japanese authorities were
silent concerning the military situa-
ton along the Lunghai Railway, in
the midst Of the flood zone where they
have been driving toward Chengchow,
it was believed the bulk Of their forces
had retreated eastward.
japanese Units Isolated.
Many japanese units were isolated,
but it was believed their situation in
most cases was not serious since they
were able to commander boats.
Some of the isolated units we're ex-
periencing food shortage, it was re-
ported, but japanese of1icial said
various forms of concentrated food
were being supplied by airplanes.
More important to the Japanese
Army was the extent to which mech
anized equipment has been mired,
temporarily lost and perhaps rendered
useless.
The full loss might not be known
untu SepIemper, as engineers SAID the
flood might continue and even grow
worse until then.
Chinese reports said the area di-
rectly east Of the north-south railway
from Hankow to Chengchow had been
cleared Of all japanese troops, and
that suefrillas were active in the
Lunghai area, adding further to the
japanese predicament.
Claim Tsienshan Captured.
The southern Japanese spearhead,
pointed TO Hankow along the Yangtze
River, however. reported advances.
japanese claimed occupation of the
walled town Of Tsienshan, 80 miles
northwest Of Anking, Anwei provincial
capital and near the Tapieh Noun
tains.
japanese declared Tsienshan the
FIRST line defense" Of Hankow in the
Yangtze sector.
From Tsienshan the japanese were
in position to attempt 1anking At
tack from the northeast on Kiukiang,
where Chinese have built boons across
the Yangtze. Kiukiang Is 1876 miles
southeast Of Hankow.