SHANGHAI BATTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 9

SHANGHAI BATTLE

JAPANESE USE TANKS

FIRST OCCASION

CHINESE AIR OFFENSIVE FORESHADOWED

(United rreis Association—By Electric Tclecrapli—CopyrigiiU (Received September 9, 9.55 a.m.) SHANGHAI, September 8. A Chinese air offensive against the Japanese blockade is foreshadowed by an official warning to shipping to keep clear of Japanese warships and transports and also to paint the national colours on the decks. Chinese bombing of warships in the Shanghai area resulted negligibly. The British cruisers Danae and Falmouth and the American cruiser Augusta were sprinkled with shrapnel. Japanese planes killed 300 and wounded 400 Chinese refugees on a train entering Sungkiang. Japanese, with the aid of heavy tanks, claim to have advanced along a continuous line from Yangtzepoo and Chapei to Liuho, threatening encirclement of the Chinese. In the advance in the Yangtzepoo sector the Japanese used tanks for the first time, and destroyed five Chinese steel and concrete pill boxes buttressing the infantry lines. The Japanese are consolidating their positions prior to resuming the offensive. RED AKMY ASSISTS CHIANG. ■ The Red army of Chu Teh, hitherto General Chiang Kai-shek's bane, has now pledged loyalty to him and has thrown itself into the fighting on the Japanese flank at Hankow. Japan has not yet cleared the northern fronts at Nankow and Chahar, and is finding her difficulties greatly increased owing to Chu Teh's compliance with orders from Nanking. The Japanese admit heavy casualties, precluding an effective advance south from Machang. A wealthy business man. Lee Antung, has been arrested for. alleged espionage on behalf of Japan. Chu Teh's Communist army has operated in Northern Szcchwan. It is estimated to be about. 8000 or 9000 strong, with an equal number of unarmed followers.