WOOSUNG RESISTANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 9

WOOSUNG RESISTANCE

LONG SHELLING DUEL CABLE COMMUNICATIONS CUT The following telegram was received by the Chinese Consulfrom Nanking last night:— According to foreign observers at Shanghai, the Japanese plan for a major offensive from the Woosung area has suffered a decisive setback, as the Japanese so far have made no appreciable gain, owing to the stiff resistance of the Chinese troops. Japanese attempts to land at several points at Pootung under a heavy, naval barrage from the, Whangpoo River were successfully, repulsed yesterday. • A prolonged artillery duel between the Japanese warships in the Whangpoo River and the Chinese batteries' in the Pootung again brought the wsr close to Shanghai, where the gunfire was plainly visible from the Bund. The Japanese warships directed their fire against the Chinese positions at Pootung, from where the Chinese batteries returned the fire, hitting the Japanese destroyer No. 16 and one transport. The battle started when the Japanese destroyer machine-gunned and sank a sampan containing' one Chinese woman and four men. As a result of thi- battle the Japanese threatened to disregard their earlier promise not to fire their guns near the foreign warships and also threatened indiscriminate shelling and bombing o.f Nantao. / • '• One division of Manchukuo troops revolted in northern Chahar, where contact has already been made with the Chinese troops eastwards of Shangtu. ' • ' The National Tungchi University fit Woosung has been destroyed as a result of repeated bombings during the last few days by Japanese planes. The university's main buildings, including the science hall, the auditorium, the. workshop, and the students' dormitories have all been razed. CHINESE COUNTER-ATTACKS. Launching a series of fierce counterattacks, the Chinese defenders hitherto have prevented the Japanese forces from the Woosung sector establishing a junction with those at Lotien The Japanese suffered heavy casualties following unsuccessful .attempts made yesWday to break through the Chinese., lines, and retired towards the coast. The Japanese i admitted that their previous claim of the .capture of the walled city of Paoshan was prema-

ture. The Chinese lines in the Chapej and Yangtzepoo sectors remain intact in spite of determined Japanese attacks. Japan is sending two more divisions on a full war basis to Shanghai. Japanese incendiary bombs caused several -huge fires at Chapei, which are still raging early this morning, and hundreds of workers' houses have been completely destroyed. ■ The cable communication ' between China and the Western world is entirely disrupted, as the cable lines of the Great Northern, Eastern Extension, and Commercial Pacific Companies have been cut by the Japanese navy. This wanton act of destruction not only inconveniences thousands of foreigners in China, but also constitutes a direct attack on the vested interests of third parties.