Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Monday 29 February 1932, page 1


JAP. CAPTURE OF KIANG-WAN

Y

Cantonese Defenders Die to Last Man

WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER FOR DAYS

FIERCEST FIGHTING DURING THE CAMPAIGN

SHANGHAI, Sunday Afternoon (5 p.m.)

The battle of Kiang-Wan has ended as the most sanguinary encounter during the Sino-Japanese hostilities.

Surrounded by a fierce horde, a small band of Chinese, numbering a few hun-dred, and lacking food and water, withstood incessant bombardment for over a week, and fought practically to the last man behind the ancient Chinese village wall, inflict-ing heavy casualties on the Japanese before annihilation.

The Japanese flag is now floating over the ruins of Kiang-Wan village, where the dead lie in hundreds after the fiercest hand-to-hand fighting during the present

campaign.

The stubborn resistance of the Cantonese defenders had stayed the Japanese ad-vance for three days, preventing strengthening of the line, while the'flanking move-

ments eventually hemmed the village.

Japanese official casualties during the capture of the village were 84 dead, 109 wounded, while the Chines defenders, numbering approximately 500, are lying dead

amid indescribable shambles.

THE FALL OF KIANG-WAN

Yesterday afternoon, after a week's guerilla warfare and terrific artillery pounding, three Japanese companies ot picked men rushed the remnants of the Chinese defenders.

Th Chinese fought with extreme cour-age, withstanding the bayonet charges, and inflicting severe casualties with machine guns. They faced the Japan-ese in a hand-to-hand battle, realising that all retreat was severed and that their lives must be forfelted.

Attacking on three sides, the Japan-ese followed the heavy artillery bom-bardment, charging the walled village, leaping on each other's backs, and scal-ing the ruined fortifications.

Japanese tanks led the advance, smashing their way through the ancient walls and pouring a deadly hail into the ruined houses where the Chinese de

fenders were hidden.

Weakened by thirst and hunger, the Chinese fought with the ferocity of tigers, hurling hand grenades and pour ing machine gun and rifle fire into the advancing Japanese.

The hagged, desperate men faced the Japanese onslaught, wilting gradualiy under the terrific bombardment.

The picturesque Japanese charge was led by Colonel Huyashi, who followed the standard bearer. Leaping the Chinese entrenchments outside the walls through which the Japanese tanks moved ponderously, the infantry fought

their way through the blackened ruins, ' meeting the Chinese in ferocious com-bat. Flinging themselves against the

ruined walls, the Japanese clambered across piles of dead, winning their way

to the main compound, where the last

stand was made by the Chinese.

A few minutes later the Japanese flag floated over the village, ending the battle of Kiang-Wan, the bloodiest en-counter in the present campaign.

A few prisoners who were taken, told a story of the miseries endured during tlio last few days. Water was prac-tically finished and ammunition sup-plies were meagre. They realised that It was a light to a finish when they

were surrounded.

The Japauese paid a tribute to the defenders. "As fighters, they were equal to anything, but our artillery, a superior organisation, eventually told." stated General Uyeda.

The Japanese officially stated that the casualties since the commencement of the campaign are 210 dead, 1,500

wounded.

The Chinese casualties are unknown,

but they are infinitely more.