Japanese Claim Capture Of Key Points Near Shanghai

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1937, Page 5

Japanese Claim Capture Of Key Points Near Shanghai

Chinese Prepare For Decisive Battle In Shantung Province

(Received 10 a.m.)

TOKIO. October 2. HPHE JAPANESE SECOND ARMY CLAIMS DECISIVE ADVANCES AT X SHANGHAI AND TO HAVE PRESSED BACK THE CHINESE ON THE SHANGHAI-WOOSUNG RAILWAY AND CAPTURED THE KEY POINTS AT LUICHIANG. THE KTJCHIATZE ROAD. LIUHO AND SHANGH VI THUS IMPEDING THE RETREAT OF THE CHINESE FROM TACHANG AND KIANGWANCHEN.

The Japanese are reported to have sunk by bombs two Chinese war vessels at Kiangyin and Whanpoa.

The Chinese are stiffly resisting at Techow. which is believed to be the pivot of the Chinese plan to confront the Japanese in a decisive battle in the Shantung province.

By the capture of Sangyuan, 12 miles from Techow, where an important ars-nal is situated, the Japanese entered the province of Shantung, They are attempting to land troops at Haichow, which, if carried out, will threaten the Chinese rear in Shantung.

The Lotien sector is the fiercest focus of activity on the Shanghai front. The Japanese are attempting to cut through in order to isolate Chinese concentrations at Liuho. Each, side has suffered thousands of casualties for no particular advantage.

A Japanese telegram from Peking states that 130,000 Chinese arc massing in North China, and reorganising under Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek’s orders to hold the Japanese at all costs.. .They are under the supervision of General Cheng-chien, Marshal Chiang’s Chief-oi'-Staff at Nanking.

. It, is reported that Chinese were encircled by 1000 Japanese 50 miles south of Tientsin. Japanese further south captured Tcchow. The Chinese garrison of 60,000 retreated by boat down the Grand Canal, the swift Japanese advance having foiled defensive efforts.

'“Eternal Peace” Bridge Changes Hands. For the eighth time, the “Bridge of Eternal Peace,” near the International Settlement, has changed hands, and is held by the Japanese.

There is little material change on any front except that at Nanhsiakow. on the Tiehtsin-Pookow railway, where the Chinese, in pursuance of their policy, are fighing rearguard actions and falling back without confusion.

Defence lines on the Shanghai front remain impervious.

Advancing over Hooded ground and in heavy rain, Japanese occupied Sangchiayuan, 15 miles north of Tec how, says a Tokio message. Retreating Chinese have broken river embankments, threatening Tientsin with disastrous floods.

Chinese defences of the inner Great Wall are threatened as a result of the irregular battles over a wide area.

Tokio reports that Japanese captured Liuchiang. north-west of Shanghai; also that they entered Shantung Province. Jap. Front Covers Big Area. Japanese storm troops scaled the walls of Taichow and drove back defending riflemen and machine-gunners with hand grenades. They seized the town and forced the Chinese to abandon Yenmen Pass. The Japanese are advancing across Ihe 70-rnile plain towards Taiyuanfu. capital of the • Shansi Province, which was bombed from the air some days ago. The populace is already evacuating the town. The Japanese front now extends from Taichow, on the west, almost to Techow, in the east, traversing a large area of the provinces of Shansi, Hopei and part of Shantung.

Transport For Jap. Troops