SCENE OF CARNAGE

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1937, Page 5

SCENE OF CARNAGE

Over 1400 Casualties IN SHANGHAI STREET. DUE TO CHINESE BOMBERS. (Received August 15, 7 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 14. Misjudged Chinese bombs caused a shambles at the junction of the Nanking Road and the Avenue, Edward the Seventh. A number of foreigners are among the casualties, including several British and Americans. The bodies of Doctor Rawlinson, a prominent American missionary, and his daughter, were found in a shattered motor-car. The lives of the entire foreign population were endangered as the bombers passed over and as anti-aircraft shells screamed over the International Settlement. Foreigners and Chinese were lying side by side in ghastly heaps. At least one thousand were killed. I The lighting had been destroyed, land darkness was hampering the relief work. The Matron of the Shanghai Hospital says that the wards are so filled with foreign victims that it is impossible to check their names. One bomb hit the British-owned Asiatic Petroleum Company’s stores and the flames that resulted lit up the night sky.

’ FURTHER DEATHS. THE BOMBING TRAGEDY. SHANGHAI, August 15. The International Settlement, ; which hitherto had been regarded as ' a refuge, has been the scene of havoc and carnage hitherto unexampled. The police report that bomb explosions in the densely packed area of ’ Avenue Edward Seventh and Nanking Road killed 506 people, and wounded 903. The wounded included two English officials, and many Europeans, but it is now ascertained that Miss Rawlinson escaped. The Chinese airmen’s failure to calculate their direction and speed is attributed to the strength of the typhoon wind. JAPANESE CABINET DECISION. (Received August 15, 7 p.m.) TOKIO, August 14. Cabinet has held an emergency meeting, and has resolved on more concrete measures, the nature of which has not been disclosed. Mr. Kidaka, Japanese Minister at Nanking, called on the Chinese Foreign Minister, and demanded the withdrawal of the Chinese forces from the International Settlement precincts so as to facilitate peace. Japanese Warships REQUESTS FOR WITHDRAWAL. REFUSED BY ADMIRAL SHANGHAI, August 15. An ollicial Chinese statement declares: “Ignoring her pledges to seek a settlement of Monday’s incident through diplomatic channels, Japan is feverishly precipitating major hostilities.” The Japanese Admiral, Hasegawa, still insists that the Japanese are 1 acting in self defence, and has ignored the representations of European 1 authorities asking for the withdrawal 1 of the Japanese warships. Vice Admiral Hasegawa rejected the suggestion of the Captain of the British Warship, Danae, to remove J Idumo to a position less dangerous to the International Settlement, on ac- ' count of the Chinese making air ’ bombing raids.

Admiral Hasegaw’a said that Japan could not change the position of its warships unless the neutrals gave guarantees for the protection of Japanese life and property equal to those provided by the warships.

JAPANESE OFFICIAL REPORT. (Received August 15, 8.10 p.m.) TOKIO, August 15. A Japanese communique states that Japanese infantry, entrenched on the Jukon Road and in the Chapei district, repulsed a Chinese attack, which later was renewed. The Japanese state they have also repulsed an attack on the Japanese general headquarters at Honkew Park. JAPANESE THREAT. TO BOMBARD NANKING. SHANGHAI, August 15. The Japanese are protesting against aerial violation at the International Settlement, and they threaten reprisals. They have hinted tnat they may bomb Nanking, the Chinese capital. LATER. Admiral Hasegawa has issued an order to all Chinese to depart from the neighbourhood of the Chinese Military Establishments. ' This is interpreted as a prelude to a Japanese Naval bombardment of Nanking.

Japanese Artillery RELENTLESS ACTIVITY. CIVILIANS PANIC-STRICKEN. (Received August 15 at 8.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 15. The Japanese war machine is functioning relentlessly. It is maintaining an artillery bombardment from the north of the station, driving hundreds of people into the Settlement from the north side of Soochow Creek. Several have been trampled to death in a mad stampede. One hundred panic-stricken persons caught between Chinese and Japanese forces, faced a storm of machine-gun bullets. When, at last, a lull’ supervened, ambulances went out to succour the wounded and dying. Three huge fires are still lighting up the murky sky. The streets are almost deserted. All places of business and of amusement are closed. British subjects, in accordance with orders, have evacuated the settlement north of Soochow Creek. British and French sailors were landed and rushed by lorry to the defensive areas. CHINESE AIR RAIDS INEFFECTIVE. SHANGHAI August. 14. Prior to the Japanese bombardment of Woosung forts, Chinese planes

unsuccessfully tried to' bomb the I Japanese .flagship Idumo, which was moored opposite the Japanese Consulate. The Japanese squadron’s antiaircraft guns, firing in retaliation, literally rocked the city. The raiders escaped. Chinese refugees became madly panic-stricken, wailing “there is no end to our woes!” On the other hand grim-faced Japanese muttered “now it’s war!” A Chinese raid against the Japanese headquarter’s barracks also fail- ; ed. Chinese Advance AGAINST JAPANESE MILLS. I [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assm] SHANGHAI, August 14. The Chinese claim to have made advances on both of their wings in an attack on the Shanghai cotton mills, which, if it followed up by stronger forces, will place the outnumbered Japanese there in a difficult position. The Japanese on the North Szechuan Road are unable to use armoured cars, for fear of devastating their own settlement. JAPANESE BLOCK A RIVER. SHANGHAI, August 14. Eight Japanese warships are reported to have blocked up the Wangpoo River. INCIDENT AT TSINGTAO. SHANGHAI, August 15. A report from Tsingtao says that the Japanese blame the Chinese and that the Chinese blame the Japanese for the shooting of two Japanese sailors. They were members of the patrol" of five men, who were shot at according to the Japanese' version, by a Chinese cyclist, with the result that a petty officer was wounded. A party pursued the cyclist, who fired again, fatally wounding a sailor. The j Japanese are guarding the scene of < the incident with drawn revolvers j The British, American and Japanese Consuls are investigating the incident. 1 The Chinese say that the Japanese < sailors were wounded by a Japanese reservist whom they were trying to arrest.