Hello, and thank you for listening to The History of World War II podcast, Episode

209, Dark Days for Chiang Kai Shek.

The Battle of Chiang Hai, which had been going on since August 13, 1937, had become a war

of attrition, as Chiang Kai Shek refused to abandon the city, while General Matsui,

Commander of the Japanese Exhibitionary Force, was obsessed with teaching the upstart and

inferior Chinese who was the greater race.

The Japanese had superior weapons, the Chinese defenders, more men, but from August to the

1st of October, the invaders had been able to push out from the coast, just north of

the great city, while the defenders continued to backpattle in order to maintain cohesion.

But now that Matsui had his reinforcements from the homeland of Taiwan, it was time to

push south from Lodian and take Chiang Hai proper.

The offensive commenced on October 1st, with the from west to east, Japanese 9th, 3rd,

and 101st divisions.

Their goal was the Sujou Creek, which if reached, would bring the attackers just west of Chiang

Hai.

As for the defenders still within the city, they would then be cut off from help by the

Nationalist Army and forced to retreat south, in order not to be captured.

After the attack, the Japanese defended the Japanese and the Japanese were able to

retreat south of Lodian, the town of Liahong was the Japanese 1st victim.

The town could not be held, so Chiang wisely decided to abandon it, to maintain a solid

defensive line.

The defenders moved back to the Wu-Song River, another 3 miles to the south.

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