Evening star., 1938-07-25
JAPANESE ATTACK
K|UK|ANG IN FORCE
Air, Land and Naval Forces
Combine Assaults on
Yangtze Port.
BACKGROUND

Japanese offensive against Ham
Eop. former provisional capital
OF peripdtettc Chinese government,
has stalled north OF the objective
as result OF Yello,D Riper floods
pouring through breaks in dikes,
while attack up the Yangtze has
stalled before heroic Chinese de-
tense around Kiukiang, 1875 miles
beloD Hdnko1C. American Em-
bdsSy moUe from Hdnkom to
Chungking has been authorized.
Ey the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI. July 25.-Japan's air,
land and naval forces combined their
power today in an intensified drive on
Kiukiang, key Yangtze River port, but
Chinese defenders of the battered city
were reported holding firm.
japanese spokesmen here refused to
reveal details of the battle, but for
eign sources in the vicinity of Kill
kiang said the invaders were using all
available power to gain the river gate
way to Hankow, 135 miles upriver.
Land forces fought on toward Kiu-
kiang from Kutang 7 miles away on the
shore of Lake Potan2. but met stub
born opposition. They were aided by
aircraft and warships in the Yangtze.
which continued to pound Chinese de-
fenses around Kiukiang. 1t was be-
lleved, however. they had not yet at
tackled the city itself and were disin-
clined to endanger foreign property
there
Oil Properties Reported Hit.
Reports that japanese bombers had
hit Anglo-American oil distributing
properties on the outskirts of Kiu-
kiang Sunday still were unconfirmed.
One japanese force was reported
to have reached the foot of Kuline
Mountain, where so Americans and
100 other foreigners were taking
refuge in the summer resort of
Kuling, IA miles southeast OF Kiu-
kiang.
Chinese communioues said vigorous
defense fire had thwarted repeated
Japanese attempts to take Kiukang
by direct naval action and had forced
the invaders to depend upon aerial
alta cks
official Chinese reports in
Hankow said japanese planes yester-
day dropped more than 800 bombs
In the Kiukiang area
Gunboats Standby.
The United States cunooat Mo-
nocacy and the British gun3oat
Cockchafer still we're standing by
off the Kiukiane water front to aid
American and British citizens and
protect their property.
Meanwhile. Chinese guerrilla bands
continued to harrass japanese gar
risons in widely separated parts of
China.
The Chinese reported mobile band
ambushed and cut to pieces" 300
japanese so miles southeast OF Wuhu,
Yangtze River port south Of Nam
king.
Chinese Planes Badly Hit.
By Gable to The Star.
CHANGSHA, Human. July 25.-1n
the air over China the japanese Army
eXacted partial revenge during the
past week for alleged Russian en-
croachment on the Manchukuan from
tier. Punching audaciously with its
air arm at the import bases of the
Russianized Chinese air fleet, the jap
anese wiped out hundreds of thousands
of dollars worth of Russian made air.
planes and probably few Russian
lives. An undetermined number of
American and other foreign manufac-
tured varplanes also we're wrecked.
1t was the most damaging week
that the Chinese air force has expert
enced since its recent rejuvenation.
In two OF the weeks raids on Hankow,
the Japanese destroyed at least six of
the costly two-engined Russian bon-
bers with which Russian and Chinese
alrmen had been raining daily havoc
on the japanese YangtZe River fleet
The Chinese also lost heavily when
the japanese staged surprise attack
on the great Russianized airport at
Nanchang in Kiangsi Province. catch
ing a number of planes before they
were able to leave the ground.
In one disastrous visitation a squad
ron OF unprotected Russian bombers,
returning to its base after an attack
on the Japanese Navy. had the mis-
fortune to reach Hankow simultane-
ously with the japanese air raiders.
Two Russian planes were DESTROYED
on the ground, another, winging low.
crashed when bomb exploded under
1t, and still another was overtaken
and brought down as it attempted a
getaway.
Copyrisht 1888, by CHICAGO Daily News 1nc
Canton Bombed Again.
CANTON, July 25 CP,.-Continuine
daily routine bombing along the Can
ton Railway, is Japanese planes ap-
peared over Canton this morning and
cropped about 20 bombs in the
Saichuen area, where are located
modern cement works.
unCn1TAI q IA1AnRIrn