Evening star., 1938-05-30


at 1880 pm. $3.50 am, E. S. T).
One Fukuoka source said the
planes were over the island about
9p.m.
By tie Associated Press.
SHANGHAI. May 30-Japanese
relnforcements battled furiously today
in an effort to reach 1t. Gen. Kenji
Doihara's trapped division, virtually
surrounded by Chinese northwest Of
Lanfeng.
Chinese dispatches said the REIN
forcementS were still miles east of
Lanfeng, however and blocked of by
masses of Chinese troops.
The predicament of Doihara's di-
vision seemed likely to become an
other face pidgin" incident. so not
able from a psychological standpoint
in China's war to save herself from
the japanese invaders.
Doihara's reputation as an out
standing army leader and the chief
Japanese political manipulation. which
gained him the fiowery title of Law
renee of Manchuria," would make
his defeat by the Chinese of tre-
mendous Importance. The "loss of
face" would be akin to that suf-
fered by the Japanese In their re-
cent defeat at Taierhchwang.
The Chinese-with Generalissimo
Chang kai-shek reported personally
commanding operations from field
headquarters at Chengchow-have
thrown mighty barrier of fighting
men in front of the japanese forces
and are fighting desperately to stop
the offensive westward along the
Lunghai Railway.
Heavy Fighting.
Doihara's 14th Division, the ad-
vance element of japanese Army
which aimed eventually at reaching
the provisional Chinese capital at
Hankow. was cut off in some Of the
bloodiest fighting of the war.
japanese leaders reported all at
tacks thus far repulsed by Do.hara s
men. who were entrenched in three
villages near Lanfeng
Meanwhile. Japanese forces south
of the Lunghai Railway advanced
along q Central China highway lead
ing directly to the Peiping- -Hankow
Railway. which crosses the Lunghai
at Chengchow. These forces were said
to have penetrated Pohsien and en-
gagged Chinese defenders in hand-:o-
hand combat inside the walled city.
These forces started off to the
southwest from the Lunghai. intend
ing to cut the Peiping- -Hankow line
below Chengchow, but the Chinese
contend it will be necessary for them
to swing north to help Doihara's di-
vision out of its perilous position.
To explain the halting of their drive
on Kaifeng-the immediate objective
of the Japanese in their drive toward
| Chengchow-the Japanese asserted
that for sheer manpower the army
concentrated by the Chinese exceeded
any force hitherto encountered. kai-
/ feng Is 80 miles west of Lanfeng on
the Lunghai line.
Destructive air raids on Canton In
the past few days have fostered re-
ports that a japanese expeditionary
force is en- route to South China
preparatory to landing under strong
naval protection. Foreign military
observers, however, are dubious about
such an operation developing.
Canton Raids Continue.
japanese bombing planes continued
raids on Canton. apparently seeking to
destroy the city's morale. Canton S
principal railway depot, Taishatau.
was bombed again this morning. 1t
was estimated that 1000 civilians
have been killed and about $500
wounded in the series of raids.
Canton refugees were flooding into
Hong Kong, seeking to escape the air
menace, but, generally, the Chinese
seemed to have maintained their
spirit.
British colonial authorities at Hong
Kong said that due to congested con-
ditions brought about by the influx
of refugees from Canton, Annoy and
Swatow, 1t might be necessary to close
the frontier to safeguard refugees and
residents already there.