The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-11
SEEKSSAFETY..
IS HEMMED IN
BY RIVER Mines
Moncacy Steams Three
Miles From Kiukiang,
Scene of Attack
JAPANESE ARE us
MILES FROM HANKOW

CUP - The United States
gunboat Moncacy today lay
in the path of japanese
bombing planes as Japanese
infantry drove within l25
miles of Hankow. Chima'S in
terror capital.
With 46 officers and sea-
men aboard, the Moncacy is
stationed about three miles
above kiukiang, which the
Japanese are Smelling in
preparation for 4 siege.
Japanese authorities said
the gunboat had attempted
to move out of the danger
zone but had met Chinese
mines in the YangtZe and
was forced to turn back.
A Chinese communique said
three Japanese warShipS SheIled
kuikang this morning and that
Chinese bom6ers attacked them,
sinking two and causing the third
u retreat down the river. The
communique said that the British
gunJoat Cockchafer and the L.
s. s. Moncacy steamed three miles
up the river to avoid the lombard
meut during the engagement.
Chinese guerilla bands. swarm
ing down from the rugged noun
tains north of the IangtZe river.
were today reported 10 have stall
ed the Japanese drive around HUI
kow. Kidding isolated Japanese
attachments and threatening the
Japanese rear line.
Japanese military spokesman
confirmed the reports that the
drive on Hankow had been slowed
down by severe Chinese counter
attacks along the broad muddy
plains Of the river.
A Japanese communique indl-
Gated fighting had broken out
along the Japanese rear, where
only skeleton garriSonS were left
as the Japanese concentrated on
the push toward the provisional
Chinese capital at Hankow.
Chinese authorities also SAID
that their bomberS sank one Jap
anese ship and damaged another
at Anking.
In one battle, Is miles from
Ankirg, the Chinese were report
edly driven back by combined land
and air attack.
The Japanese reports indicated
the heavy Yaugtse floods had
raised the river level beyond HUI
kOw to a point where the adyanc-
ing Japanese columns were forced
To wade through cheSt-deep water
along the roads above the normal
river level.
Around Kiukiang the going was
so bad that any direct drive on
Kiukiang is impossible at present,
foreign observers said.
Chinese flying columns, taking
advantage of the confusion in the
japanese lines caused by the
floods, swept down from adjacent
hills, attacking the mired columns.
while a major force moved toward
Pengtseh. north Of the YangtSe,
in an effort to drive the japanese
lines toward the river.
Japanese military sources ad-
mitted the Chinese were ACTIVE
an the Pengtseh sector, and also
between Niangkiang and Hukow,
the latter at the turn of the
Yangtse where il bends due west
toward Kiukiang and Hankow.
Meanwhile the river had swell
ed to dangerous proportions. For
eign reports said at least 100 Chi
nese farmers, trapped by the
flood. were drowned near. kiu&l-
ang, and thousands were eVacuat-
ing the area.
At Kiukiang force of more
than 100000 Chinese was drawn
up, digging entertainments for de-
tense of that city. Within the city
Chinese military engineers were
perfOrating walls of shops and
houses and placing machine guns
in position for street fighting.
Japanese bombing raids on
Yangtse valley points continued,
a squadron roaring over Nanchang
late Saturday and destroying
buildings and runways of the big
military airdrome there, although
no Chinese planes were sighted.
japanese reports said an air
drome at Hengchow also was raid
ed and a dozen Chinese airplanes
disabled japanese experts regard
ed the lack of Chinese aerial re
sistanee as proof of their claim
that the first line of Chinese aerial
defense had been destroyed.