CHINESE MAKE ORDERLY RETREAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 7

CHINESE MAKE ORDERLY RETREAT.

"DIEHARDS" FIGHT.

Reforming Lines on 60-

Mile Front.

JAP. PINCERS OPERATION. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) SHANGHAI, November 1). Beginning with an orderly withdrawal at midnight the Chinese retreat from Shanghai was accelerated all day long. Handful* of "diehards" were left to fight delaying actions, including a »keleton force holding on to I'ootung iind covering the withdrawal from the Hin it 11 Sahhwei Creek, which flows into Sieeawei Creek south-West of the French Concessions. These forces did not exceed .">OOO. The pincers were incompletely closed, but isolated Chinese, endeavouring to flip through, must cross the Whangpoo and move south, then west, reerossing the river between Lungliwa and Minimi,g, both of which the Japanese occupy. The main Chinese defences are reforming I"> to 20 miles west of the International Settlement on a (Mt-mile front, extending west from Liuho southward through Kiating and Thingpn to Kanpu, on Mangchow Bay. While one Japanese force swept round the British and French Concessions perimeters another advanced meet units filing northward from Minhong iind from Suiikiang, while Nanhsiang. further north and adjacent, to the •Shanghai-Nanking railway is expected •hortly to fall into Japanese hands. This point is only 10 miles from Tsipao, the pivot of the new Chinese lines near Liuho, Sea of Flame and Banting Sheila. 11l the wake of tile Chinese retreat is «• sea of flame and bursting shells. French troops all the afternoon dragged Wounded Chinese soldiers and refugees to safety from the south bank of Sie--I'iiwei Creek into the French Concession, which 00.000 refugee** entered during 'lie (lav. Thotfiinils more wait outside 'lie closed gates for admission at dawn. ifnpiinese report that no Chinese surrendered. The v have completely encircled Shanghai two days ahead of f toner til Matsui's prediction. Ihe Norwegian Consul-General, doven of the • 1 i]• I<• 111 at i<• body, called a meeting of his colleague* to discuss measures to rope with tile new crisis, which is accentiinted bv the Chinese decision to defend to the last the N'antao area of 3J H, pm re miles, closely adjoining the foreign settlements. If this force does not surrender, the 'liijiiiucxe will probably bomb N'antao •Hid en use disastrous loss of Chinese life •*"< l property, but apart from this de- ' 'lopinent. anxiety of foreign residents linn been greatly allayed owing to the removal of Hie general battle front, l'he "id of the war must be awaited, how■"•it, before their losses can be couil'Uted.