POISON GAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 88, 11 October 1937, Page 9

POISON GAS

USE BY JAPANESE

CHINESE ALLEGATION

(Received October 11, 12.45 p.m.)

SHANGHAI, October 10,

The Chinese spokesman declares that the Japanese used gas to cross Woosung Creek. The Ministry of Health at Nanking announces that over 1500 Chinese were affected' by Japanese gas, which is believed to have been mustard gas, in the fighting at Woosung Creek. The Ministry also informed the Embassies of the alleged use of gas on a large scale in Shanghai, adding that the Chinese respirators are useless. An official announcement asserts that the gas was in liquid form and remained effective for a long time. The Japanese spokesman has denied the use of gas shells, but has admitted that the most powerful types of Japanese high explosive shells possess an "apparently similar effect to gas. burning the nearest of the victims and exuding carbon monoxide, often fatally." (Received October 11, 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 10. The Chinese Embassy states that the use of gas caused 24 deaths but that the Chinese line is intact. It adds that 200 Japanese approached the Chinese wire entanglements at Lotien but that all were killed before the task of cutting the wire was accomplished. SEVERANCE OF RELATIONS SOUGHT

(Received October 11, 1.10 p.m.) SHANGHAI, October 10. A business and financial organisation has sent a petition to the Nanking Government asking it to sever diplomatic relations with Japan and recall the Ambassador. A Japanese boycott has heen formally opened.