Not Possible to Estimate Casualties

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6791, 24 February 1932, Page 7

Not Possible to Estimate Casualties

FIELD HOSPITALS CRAMMED WITH DYING San Francisco Press Broadcast. SHANGHAI, Feb. 23. Chinese shells screamed over the International Settlement to-day in a bombardment of a Japanese naval landing quay and the Japanese Consulate in tho heart of the foreign concession on Shanghai’s Bund. The cannonade, directed at tho Japanese lines in Hong Row, the Consulate ami the Japanese ships moored in the Whangpoo river, camo from a Chinese armoured train at tho north railway station and field batteries in Chapei. Two shells went over the river and burst in the Footling area. Others exploded along the Bund near the Consulate, and along the wharves used by Japanese transports, Fires broke out in the Japanese districts, and the invaders’ heavy guns shelled Chapei in response to the Chinese barrage.

Several shells landed near H.M.S. Suffolk, British cruiser, moored opposite the Hong Kcw sector. Two projectiles exploded in tho Whangpoo near the Japanese cruiser Idzumo, but did not damage it. Chapei Area Sea of Flames As a result of the Japanese return bombardment and fighting in the vicinity of the north station, tho whole Chapei area from Paoshan road to North Szechuen road, to a depth of about a half-mile, was entirely in flames, lighting the whole settlement at 2.30 a.m. The Chinese claimed a direct trench mortar hit on the headquarters of the Japanese landing party on North Szechuen rood. Flames from that, region were visible for a long distance. Severe infantry fighting between Chapei and Hong Kew park found tho Japanese lines slightly advanced. Heavy Casualties Chinese casualties since the start of the Japanese offensive on Saturday are placed by the invaders at 6000, with 2500 recorded on Monday. Tbc Japanese admit only 30 killed yesterday, but they lost at least a hundred men. It. is impossible to estimate the casualties on either side accurately, but field hospitals are crammed with dying. Hundreds of Chinese svere brought to the Settlement in Red Cross trucks. Tho Chinese declare that, a Japanese division of 11,000 men, supplied Avith more tanks, machine-guns and howitzers, will arrive to-day, with one brigade landing in tho vicinity of Woosung to prevent a flanking movement, by the Chinese, and the others at Shanghai. The Japanese refused to admit that the fresh troops arc arriving Crack Troops in Action Another Chinese brigade, General Chiang Kai Stick's own bodyguard, joined the Chinese forces along the Kiangwan front on Monday, and Avas taking part in attacks this morning under cover of darkness that prevented their being wiped out by Japanese aerial attacks. The 37th, also a Chiang brigade, has been in action for two days. The Bund and the principal streets of the foreign settlement were deserted by all but members of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps and newspaper correspondents when the Chinese started their shelling. Defenders to be Starved Out.

Unsuccessful in every attempt to break the Chinese lines at KiangAvan, the Japanese determined to-day to starve out the force of defenders still surviving in the ruins of the battered village. With tanks, aimonred cars, iniantry, airplanes and field artillery they attempted to drive a wedgo in tho Chinese line north of the villago that they might be in a. position to stop ■’■iii' attmnt to get fgad os aromtiaMoa

to the Chinese stationed in the Kiangwan machine-gun nests. The Japanese had launched a new attack on Kiangwan at dawn to-day, but met stiff resistance as they directed their blows on tho south and northwest sides of the village. Cliincso shells hit tho Italian cruiser Libya this morning. They did little damage and there were no casualties, although the Italians aro wrathful. A report that tho Chinese mistakenly fired on American forces came to-clay from down the river, where shells aimed at a new Japanese position fell in the Whangpoo in tho neighbourhood of the U.S.S. Houston. Those shells did no damage.