CHINESE COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AT SHANGHAI

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 9

CHINESE COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AT SHANGHAI

Reported Recovery of Ground Lost To Japanese OPERATIONS SUSPENDED IN LOTIEN SECTOR Strategic Retreat to Avoid Fire From Warships

(IWITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTIUOnT.) (Received September 13, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. After a month's fighting the Japanese on the Shanghai front have nowhere penetrated more than five miles from the coast. Their aeroplanes are still unable to locate the Chinese batteries, ■which are hidden in bamboo groves at Pootung. Communications are still open between Shanghai, Nanking, and Hangchow, in spite of constant bombing. The Shanghai correspondent of "The Times" says the Chinese counter-offensives have apparently recovered the ground lost in the last Japanese attack. Both sides, exhausted after 30 hours' fighting, have suspended operations on the Lotien sector. A superior number of Chinese surrounded the Japanese in an area bounded by Lotien, Yang-chang, Woosung, and Yangtscpoo, amid a network of muddy creeks, where every village is a natural fortress. Experts consider that the Japanese can force an issue when their preparations are complete, but the question whether more men can help them is being considered. Adverse conditions so far have prevented them from taking the initiative. They can buy > nothing on the spot and must bring all their food and labour from Japan. New Japanese reinforcements have been landed at Liulio, Faoshan, and Woosung with the object of retaking Lotien. The Japanese at dawn consolidated a 20-mile line stretching along the Yangtse Kiang to Woosung, where they have penetrated seven miles inland. A Chinese spokesman, admitting a retreat from Woosung and Lotien, explained that it was a strategic move to escape from the range of the Japanese warships. It was all in accordance wit' a plan to harass the Japanese landings and dislocate the Japanese lines. The British United Press reports that the present retirement was said to have been counselled by German military advisers. The withdrawal coincided with the bipgest battle of the campaign, resulting in a chain of conflagrations along a 10mile front from* Yangtse-poo. „ The Chinese claim that their bombers hit five Japanese warships and set fire to two cruisers.

FIERCE JAPANESE ONSLAUGHT CAPTURE OF PAOSHAN ADMITTED CHINESE OFFICIAL REPORT ON HOSTILITIES (I'EESS ASSOCIiTIOH TELBGEAH.) WELLINGTON, September 13. The Chinese Consul has received the following cablegram from Nanking:— "In spite of fierce Japanese onslaughts, the Chinese positions in the Yangtse-poo and Woosune areas continue unchanged. Yesterday the severest engagement took place at the Jukong wharf. The Chinese recorded further gains in the Lotien sector, while Luehpo continues in Chinese hands. "An entire battalion of Chinese troops which was defending Paoshan against overwhelming odds, a devastating bombardment by Japanese warships and aeroplanes, fell on September 7 with the city. Only two or three wounded soldiers survived. It is now known that the Japanese concentrated gunfire from 30 warships, and used more than 20 tanks, and a number of aeroplanes, besides a large infantry force, to capture the city, in which the Chinese battalion held out for two days. "The Chinese Air Force yesterday bombed the Japanese warships on the Whangpoo river and the Japanese airfield at Yangtse-poo. About 10 Japanese aeroplanes are believed to have been destroyed. Retaliating, the Japanese bombed Nantao, demolishing a large number of Chinese houses and killing a considerable number of civilians." WOUNDING OF BRITISH AMBASSADOR CHINESE AIR FORCE DENIES RESPONSIBILITY SHANGHAI, September 12. The Chinese Air Force has notified the British authorities that no Chinese aeroplanes were flying at the time when the British Ambassador (Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Huges-sen) was attacked. Oh, Make Me Happy! —Browning The first step to happiness is perfect health Get ride of coughs, co.ds, sore throats, bronchial ailments by taking Baxters Lung Preserver "Baxters' is surest, safest, and most pleasant for children, and adults. "Baxters" has unique soothing and penetrating properties, and a valuable tome action. Chemists and Mores. 1/6, 2/6 and 4/6.

CHINA'S APPEAL | TO LEAGUE j i •'JAPAN'S INTOLERABLE AGGRESSION" i i COVENANT INVOKED AGAINST J ATTACKERS GENEVA, September 12. The Chinese delegation to-night appealed to the League to take immediate action to stop what the delegation described as "Japan's intolerable aggression in China." ' The delegation stated: "The Far Eastern crisis has developed into a \ world crisis. Japanese aggression is threatening not only China's inde- J pendence and territorial integrity, ■ but is menacing the general peace of the world." The delegation added: "We hope* ' that the United States will associate itself with the League's action in the 1 future as in the past." China, in lodging her appeal ; against the Japanese to the League, has invoked Article XVII of the , Covenant. ' !

"A REVERSION TO SAVAGERY" MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S APPEAL TO POWERS NANKING, September 12. '• Madame Chiang Kai-shek, in a broadcast address on the situation in China, expressed bewilderment at the silence of the Western nations. .'"lf the Western world deliberately abandons her treaties, the Chinese, who for years have been stigmatised as cowards, will fight until they win or are beaten to their broken knees, even if their good earth is steeped in blood, trenched with fire, and destroyed," she declared. "Ali the treaties outlawing war and regulating its conduct seem to have crumbled. We have a reversion to savagery. The Japanese militarists are determined to wreck or eradicate all foreign influences in China. They must regard the Occidental reception of the situation a s delightfully encouraging, deduces from it that they at last have oeen able to make a clean sweep of w f ( 3tern prestige. The massacres are bound to extend because the Japanese have prepared aerodromes at Shanghai. We d fPend on the wisdom and justice J* the nations to save the world and China from the consequence of daily Japanese falsehoods."