QUICKLY CHANGING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 9

QUICKLY CHANGING

SHANGHAI WAR SITUATION

JAPANESE HINT OF ARMISTICE

CHINESE RESISTANCE RAPIDLY CRUMBLING

(United Press Asaoclatlon^-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received November 16, 11 a.m,) ■ LONDON, November 15,

The Tokio correspondent of "The! Times" states that the Foreign Office spokesman announced that the Shanghai military situation is changing so rapidly that offers of good offices to arrange an armistice may shortly be expected, but he added that foreign Powers desiring a restoration of peace should advise China to negotiate with Japan. Everything would depend on the actual character of the proposals. General Matsui, commander-in-chief of Shanghai, he said, would not be likely to. mention armistice terms to Admiral Little, the British commander-in-chief in China Waters, without consulting Tokio.

Reports to Tokio indicate th.3 rapid crumbling of the Chinese resistance. The Japanese, having traversed with ' unexpected rapidity the lakes and canals of the great plain west of Shanghai, are employing motbrised sampans brought from Japan, complete with civilian boatmen, and are augmenting these with abandoned Chinese junks. Part of the Japanese landing force from Hangchbw Bay has made surprising progress by water from Sunking, 35 mil.es west of Pingwang, where they have cut the vital Soochow-Kashing railway. Hundreds of Chinese boatmen waving home-made Japanese flags approached the advancing Japanese offering to sell or hire their craft to the ihvaders.