MASS ATTACK

Evening Star, Issue 22735, 24 August 1937, Page 9

MASS ATTACK

CONTEMPLATED BY JAPANESE STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL BY CHINESE DECISIVE BATTLE IMMINENT Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, August 23. (Received August 24, at 12.5 p.m.) The Japanese military spokesman announces that the Japanese are contemplating a mass attack. The Chinese determinedly withstood the Japanese after the landings at Liuho and Woosung, which the Japanese warships covered hy firing 500 heavy shells. The Chinese awaited the invaders at a dozen different points on the riverside and engaged them at close quarters, fighting for hours before falling hack. After this the Japanese established field headquarters at the Wenchaopang railway, station with the intention of relieving the hard-pressed sailers and marines in the front line. The Japanese suffered severely at Liuho and Woosung, but captured the terminus of the military highway from Woosung to Yangtsepoo. The Chinese announce a strategic retirement to defensive positions for a decisive battle to relieve the Japanese pressure on Shanghai. The Japanese pn the other hand hope to smash the Chinese before they can perform this strategic withdrawal. A large party of Chinese marines landed at Tsingtao and occupied positions in order to resist a possible Japanese landing. Mixed Chinese forces, estimated at 25,000, are enclosing the city and constructing fortifications. Incidents at Shanghai include a bomb striking the roof next door to Hamilton House, tho temporary headquarters of the British Consulate, tearing through three floors and starting a fire, which was extinguished. Passengers aboard tho Shanghai Maru saw Japanese soldiers on a riverside wharf shoot, bayonet, and toss into the Whangpoo River four trussed kneeling Chinese, probably captured snipers. SUCCESSFUL JAPANESE OPERATIONS DANGER TO RIGHT FLANK AVERTED LONDON, August 23. (Received August 24, ,at 2 p.m.) The Tokio correspondent of * The Times ’ says Japawese troops’ operations along the Suiyan railway northwest of Peking are now almost successful, and the menace from Kalgan to the Japanese right flank has been averted. The Japanese, who crossed the Great Wall, have occupied Wanchuan, a strategic town 10 miles west of Kalgan, and nold Nankow. INTENSE ARTILLERY DUEL JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS LANDED " CHANGE TO DEAL DECISIVE BLOW " Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, August 23. An intense artillery duel marked the successful landing of 50,000 Japanese reinforcements. The Japanese Spokesman said: “In view of the provocative Chinese attitude, we have a chance now to deal a decisive blow before any possibility, of • their strategic withdrawal. W© hope that tho Shanghai area will be cleared of hostilities shortly.” The Japanese assert that they faced seven Chinese divisions, four of which were first-liners, in this morning’s general attack, which has nob affected the Japanese lines anywhere. The Idzumo has returned from Woosung and taken up a new position half a mil© downstream from the Japanese Consulate. It is estimated that 250 people were killed when two shells of unknown origin struck a seven-story (British department store known as Sincere’s. There was terrible havoc, with mangled bodies everywhere. All the windows within a radius of a mile were shattered. Ambulances, police, troops, and Boy Scouts are recovering the dead and succouring the injured. A third shell struck the United States navy warehouse, bub fortunately did not explode. The injured included Messrs Bellingham and Abend, two correspondents of the ‘ New York Times.’ The Japanese reinforcements have already been in action, seizing tho terminus of the military highway from Woosung as a flanking move on Peiping. The Japanese throughout the day unavailingly attacked Hankow Pass. The Japanese claim to have captured all strategic points north of the Yungting River. CASUALTIES AT SINCERE'S * STORES SHANGHAI, August 23. (Received August 24, at 8 a.m.) Official: Sincere’s casualties were 300 killed and 500 injured. The total would have been worse but the shelling occurred in the luncheon spell. Another dud bomb fell close to the British Consulate.

BOMBS, HOT SHELLS CHINESE PLANES SUSPECTED. TOKIO, August 23. (Received August 24, at 10 a.m.) The Domei Agency quotes a Japanese naval communique as affirming that the disaster to Sincere’s was due to bombs from Chinese planes. Officials at the Shanghai Municipal Council also declare that tho damage was caused by bombs, not by shells. Three hundred bodies have been convoyed in 10 motor lorries. CHINESE RESISTANCE UNEXPECTEDLY STIFF SHANGHAI, August 23. The Japanese warships, including the Idzumo, moved to Woosung to cover the landing of reinforcements. Only two destroyers remain near the Bund. The Japanese Embassy Spokesman claims that more than 50,000 troops were landed in the Woosung and Shanghai districts during the night. The sound of heavy gunfire from two fronts which was heard this morning in Peking indicates that the Chinese resistance is unexpectedly stiff. The presence of irregulars led by the notorious Liu Kweitang is confirmed, but it is uncertain which side they are supporting. Latest reports state that fighting has occurred between the Japanese and the irregulars southward of Peking. EVACUATION OF CIVILIANS MEASURES TAKEN BY BRITAIN LONDON, August 22. Mr Neville Chamberlain, owing to the gravity of the Shanghai situation, will return to London to-morrow and will confer with Mr Anthony Eden and other members of the Cabinet. They will consider plans to evacuate the entire British civilian population, numbering 9,237, from' Shanghai. There are sufficient men-of-war and liners in Shanghai Harbour to accomplish this. The presence of civilians in the heart of the war zone seriously embarrasses the naval and military authorities in arranging to protect the British Settlement, with its £100,000,000 worth of property, from fires, shells, and bombs. Satisfactory replies have been received from other nations, except Japan, to the British proposals to form an international force to protect the settlement. Mr Chamberlain will report the situation fully to His Majesty at Balmoral during the next week-end. A Hongkong message states that 2,000 refugees arrived from Shanghai. All are quartered, some in private houses, others in public buildings, while some are in the racecourse grandstand. The confusion has ended, but food prices are rising, leading to a demand for Government control. Food hoarding is prevalent. A Shanghai message states that the Japanese landed 15,000 reinforcements in the Shanghai area.

CLAIM m DAMAGES UNDER CONSIDERATION BY TDKIO TOKIO, August 23. (Received August 24, at 8 a.m.) The Foreign Office Spokesman said the British indemnification memorandum was under consideration. Japanese nationals had withdrawn from Central and Southern China, with the exception of a force at Tsingtao, where there were nine Japanese cotton mills. Chinese troops were reported to ho closing in on Tsingtao. FIGHTING IN THE AIR CHINESE CLAIM VICTORY SHANGHAI, August 23. Three Japanese aircraft carriers with 106 warplanes, arrived off the coast of Chekiang. The Japanese are concentrating round Hungsing cotton mills and Yangtsepqo, where the Yangtsepoo Creek flows into the Whangpoo. They are building defences and rushing up artillery. A message from Nanking says that an inspection of Nanking aerodromes by foreign military and naval officers showed that the Japanese claims concerning the destruction of hangars and many aeroplanes are largely baseless. The damage is limited to one training plane at Chuyang air base. A Chinese pilot brought down four Japanese planes single-handed. Evidence shows that the Chinese scored a smashing air victory. It is officially stated that 34 Japanese planes were brought down, including 25 heavy bombers. The Chinese losses are under 20. BRITAIN'S SUGGESTIONS NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE SO FAR (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. August 23. (Received August 24, at noon.) The British Government is still without any reply from the Japanese and Chinese Governments to tho suggestion made for tho restoration of the situation at Shanghai, which, according to to-day’s telegrams, continues to deteriorate. Tho reactions to the British proposals in semi-official circles in Tokio appear to have been unsympathetic, which has caused disappointment hero. On the Japanese side it has been strongly emphasised that Japan would not tolerate foreign intervention, but it is pointed

out that the British project does not in any senso imply intervention, and is merely a request to both sides to withdraw from the area in which foreign interests are heavily involved. In Nanking, although there has been no official reply, the reaction is understood to have been on the whole favourable, and this fact has been noted with satisfaction. ' The proposals for mutually agreed withdrawal of forces not in conflict from the Shanghai zone were made with a view to securing the isolation from warlike operations of the International Settlement, where many countries, and Great Britain in an outstanding measure, have very largo financial, commercial, and industrial interests, and where a large foreign population resides.

The British authorities are providing protection for their nationals against attack, but so long as hostilities are actively pursued around tho concessions there can be no assurance against accidental death or injury. The precaution is being taken, therefore, of evacuating the women and children, whose temporary absence will not cause great inconvenience, but the author of a story which has received some circulation—that there has been discussion of the evacuation of all British civilians from Shanghai—would seem to have overlooked the categorical statement by Ministers after their meeting last Thursday, that they had decided to take all possible measures to proect the safety of the British in the International Settlement, and to protect British interests there. BRITISH WARSHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS RUGBY, August 23. (Received August 24, at noon-) Tho Admiralty announces that the British warships in Chines© waters are as follow: At Shanghai: Tho cruiser Dana© and escort vessel Falmouth. At Woosung: The flotilla leader Duncan, the destroyer Duchess, and the escort vessel Grimsby. Butu Island: The cruisers Cumberland and, Suffolk, and the destroyer Delight. Tsingtao; The aircraft carrier Eagle and the destroyer Dainty. Weihaiwei: The submarine depot ship Medway, tho minelayer Adventure, tho destroyer Westcott, and the escort vessel Folkestone. Cheefoo: The destroyer Diana. Chinwangtao: The destroyer Defender. Taku: The escort vessel Sandwich. Nanking; The cruiser-Cape Town. MOVEMENTS IN RUSSIA HELP FOR CHINA INDICATED LONDON, August 22. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ Tokio correspondent says the newly arrived Soviet Ambassador virtually confirmed the report that Marshal Blucher was proceeding to Outer Mongolia. It is held that this, plus the arrival of Soviet trained pilots in Nanking, reveals the

Soviet’s new technique in aiding China. This aid will apparently bo extended through technically independent Outer Mongolia, where Russians can become Mongols overnight, relieving Moscow from embarrassment. It has been reported that war planes are being assembled in Soviet territory for delivery to Nanking. The ‘ Daily Mirror’s ’ Warsaw correspondent says; “Russia is sending newly invented anti-aircraft guns to Shanghai from Constantinovsk to guard tho Soviet Consulate against Japanese aggression. The Soviet War Council has ordered two warships to China.” GERRY'S SYMPATHIES WITH JAPAN " NECESSARY TO REPEL BOLSHEVISM" BERLIN, Angst 23. (Received August 24, at 9 a.m.) The Press sympathises with Japan’s aims in China as necessary to repel Bolshevism in North China, which mission far exceeds the sphere of Japan’s immediate national interests. The Chinese Ambassador made a representation to the Foreign Office about the tone of tho reporting of the SinoJapanese hostilities in 'the German Press. ANXIOUS INQUIRIES CABLES ANO RADIO CHANNELS BUSY (Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 23.

Since tlic opening of hostilities between China and Japan the cables which link Australia with China have been chocked with messages from anxious relatives and friends who have people in. the war sone, according to

Mr E. G. Brook, manager of the Australasian. division of Cables and Wireless Ltd., who was a through passenger on the Monterey for America. Mr Brook said that normal radio channels between North China _ and European capitals had been so interrupted in the last week or so that messages from China to Europe had been cabled by way of Singapore, Sydney, Auckland, and Vancouver, across Canada, and thence to their _ destinations. Previously they went via Singapore, Madras, Bombay, and Aden, or Singapore, Aden, Cocos Island, and tho Cape. When Mr Brooks left Australia on Friday the cable offices at Sydney' had their lines congested with urgent^inquiries from various parts of tho United States, since America had very largo interests in China, and apparently there wore many American firms anxious to know how their staffs were faring and whether their business headquarters and merchandise at Shanghai had suffered any damage.