CHINESE ADVANCE

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1937, Page 5

CHINESE ADVANCE

Japanese Admit Pressure SHANGHAI'S DESPERATE SITUATION. fAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received August 15, 8.15 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 15. The nightmare here took a fresh lease of life when gunners, on both sides, swelled the deathroll of Shanghai’s metropolis by relentlessly pounding each other’s positions. Typhoon winds and drenching rain have at the same time been sweeping the city. The apprehensiveness of the Japanese attackers can be appreciated when it is known that they have nol checked a slow, but apparently unimpeded, advance of the Chinese forces from the north-east and the north. Japanese communiques admit that these are pressing on strongly, and that Chinese shells have caused fires within the Japanese lines. The Japanese are replying to the Chinest thrust with all their available artillery, machine guns, and armoured cars. The Europeans, fearing further Chinese air raids, are spending the night in cellars. The city seems to be in a desperate situation, surrounded as it is by well-armed Chinese troops, who are anxious to avenge themselves for their previous humiliations at lhe hands of the Japanese. A mesasge from Nanking says that the British, French and American representatives there are protesting to China against the bombing of the International Settlement. The Chinese are investigating the situation. General Chiang-Kai-Shek has promised that, he will punish Chinese air pilots if he finds that their bombing of the settlement was due to careless markmanship. SATURDAY NIGHT’S FIGHTING.

SHANGHAI, August 14.' An artillery duel was continued after nightfall. CHINESE PROGRESSING. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] SHANGHAI, August 15. The Chinese have entered the Jang* Hsiang area of Shanghai. ANOTHER ATTEMPT. TO BOMB JAP FLAGSHIP. SHANGHAI, August 15. Pandemonium renewed when a second attempt was made by three Chinest planes to bomb the Japanese flagship Idumo. CHINESE BOMBS MISS BRITISH WARSHIP. (Received August 15, 7.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, August 15. Mistaking her for a Japanese cruiser, Chinese airmen bombed, but missed, the British warship Cumberland, near Woosung. FOREIGN REQUEST FOR TRUCE. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] SHANGHAI, August 15. The foreign Consuls are making further efforts to bring about a truce Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt, daughter-in-law of the late Theodore, appealed to Madame Chiang-kai-shek to use her influence to stop the bombing of Shanghai at least until the safety of foreigners and refugees was assured. CHINA DECLARES MARTIAL LAW SHANGHAI, August 15. Nanking Government has proclaimed martial law in Shanghai and'Nanking and in the Shanghai and Hankow railways zones. JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS. STRIKE OBSTACLES. SHANGHAI, August 15. The typhoon has delayed the arrival of Japanese transports, which are supposed to be steaming full speed to Shanghai with reinforcements, so as to prevent a possible Japanese evacuation. Chinese 'planes are reported to have frustrated an attempt to land

Japanese marines from the warships in the Yangtse Estuary. America’s Attitude NEUTRALITY TO BE MAINTAINED (Received August 15, 6.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 14. The Government leaders refuse to be stampeded into hasty action concerning China and Japan, despite demands from a section led by Senator Nye for the invocation of the Neutrality Act. Senator Hull (Secretary of State) announced that the United States had urged China and Japan not to make Shanghai a base for military operations, and he added: “Our Navy is ready to protect and evacuate our nationals.” ~ x ... Meanwhile President Roosevelt, who is spending the week-end on a vacht on the Potomac River, is kept hourly in touch with the developments. which strengthens the belief that the invocation of the Neutrality Act is not entirely a remote possibility. , Most of the newspapers are not commenting, but a New York journal “The American,” appears to sum up the weight of public opinion thus:--“America’s concern is the protection of her people. The Sino-Japanese war isn’t our war.”