The Washington times., 1938-01-04
JAP PANESE BOMB.
HEADQUARTERS.
OF GEN. CHANG.
Air Force Is Target.
At HankoW

Japan SUI uCh 41dLA OONnJ W. SSHSA
a death.blow against allege d
Soviet Russian aid to China.
A Nipponese naval spokesman
announced that 40 Japanese
planes bombed Hankow, General
issimo Chang Kai.Shek's provi-
sional headquarters with the OBJ
ject Of crushing the reorganized
Chinese air force, in which Soviet
airmen are playing a prominent
part"
This was the most direct charge
yet made by Japan that Russian
electives are actively aiding China
in combating the japanese cam
paign. It Immediately raised
keen speculation among observers
here as to whether it might lead
to further sharp diplomatic ex-
changes between Tokyo and
Moscow.
1t was learned that three per
sons were killed and 16 wounded
during the Japanese air attack on
Hankow. The entire population
of the city too: refuge under
ground.
The charge regarding alleged
Russian aid to China. and the
belligerent admission that Nippon
intends to crush" it, came on
the heels of repeated reports
that Soviet-manufactured fighting
planes and Russian pilots are now
actively engaged in the conflict.
NANKING BOMBED
The reports reached a crescendo
early this morning. stating the
Soviet planes, pilots and other mill
tary machines had plugged into
two separate battles against the
Japanese.
The advices said the Chinese
war planes, built in Russia and
manned by Soviet airmen, had
bombed the Japanese-occupied for
mer capital of China.
Furthermore, it was stated, the
Chinese counteroffensive against
Hangchow. to the southwest, was
strengthened materially by new
Russian tanks and guns.
AIRDROME RAIDED
That these reports were taken
with intense seriousness by the
Japanese was proved by their
fighting rejoinder this afternoon.
The Nipponese planes, the an
uouncement said, concentrated on
the Hanmow Airdrome to do as
11uch damage as possible to the
Chinese air fleet.
The Chinese aerial attack on
Nanking, aimed at Japan's mill
tary airdromes, struck with the
precision and speed of a highly
trained unit and caused much
damage before the planes escaped
to the west. This gave rise to
conviction here that the planes
were manned by Soviet pilots.
Meanwhile, Chinese press dis
patches claiming Hangchow, capi-
tai of Chekiang Province, 100
miles southwest of Shanghai, had
been captured by China's counter
drive were hotly denied by
Japan's army spokesman.
CLAIMS CONFLICT
Nipponese troops which cap
tured the strategic city several
weeks ago are still in possession,
the spokesman asserted, and are
holding off a desperate Chinese
attempt to reoccupy the town.
Other adviceS here said severe
fighting was in progress for
Hangchow and that Chinese
troops, led by the famous Iron
sides" General, Chang Fah-Kwei,
were hammering Nipponese Ie-
gions along the shores of West
Lake, near the city.
General Chang claimed he was
con the point" o. completely
seizing Hangchow and that guer-
lila columns under the Commun.
list leader, General Hang Yin,
were cooperating with his Iron
sides" forces.
The Japanese, he asserted, were
In full retreat at an early hour
this morning.
FIGHTING IN SOUTH
To the north, Japanese officials
claimed, the Nipponese columns
in Shantung province were con-
tinuing their steady advance. The
main Japanese column was re-
ported IL miles from Crefoo. an.
important port north of TSingtao,
principal metropolis of the prov.
1nce and chief objective of the
Japanese drive.
In the south, marking another
step in preparation for Japan's
drive against Canton, four Japa-
nese warshipS brought the con
flict to a new area, bombarding
the Fukien province seaport of
ChahtSo.
The bombardment covered al
landing party of Nipponese blue
jackets who attempted to get a.
foothold on the mainland butt
were repulsed by Chinese forces,
according to advices relayed from
Hongkong.
i HONGKONG FEARFUL
IN the British crown colony of
Hongkong itself, authorities be-
came more worried as the prom
ised Japanese offensive against
nearby Canton drew nearer, fear
ing large scale military operations