HORRORS OF WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 11

HORRORS OF WAR.

'SHANGHAI LOSSES.

CHINESE WOMEN WOUNDED hospitals crowded, appalling scenes. GIRL'S PATHETIC EATE. By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright. 1 (Received February 20. 9.25 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Feb. 26. The Japanese declare that they have lost 500 killed in the last fivo days' hostilities at Shanghai. The Chinese killed are estimated at between 303 and 400.

Lorries piled with wounded nro arriving In the International Settlement to-day. There are appalling scenes in the crowded Chinese hospitals, where the wounded are lying in the corridors. One «rd is filled with women suffering from ghell and bayonet wounds.

In this woman's ward is a girl who is mortally wounded. She alleges that she gaw all the members of her family shot. She volunteered for Red Cross service in the front line because she wished to die.

FIERCE ASSAULTS.

BRAVE CHINESE DEFENCE. / JAPANESE GAIN GROUND. , SHANGHAI. Feb. '25. The Japanese to day threw their full weight, against, tho Chinese entrenched behind the Hongkew Creek and attempted to smash the resistance with repeated as- " eaults from three sides. Japanese aeroplanes appeared over the 'Chinese lines, opening an offensive simultaneously with an incessant artillery bombardment. for three hours, which was continued when the airmen signalled that the -Chinese were retreating. The Japjmeso infantry then commenced ft drive. Just at that moment Chinese reinforcements appeared and strengthened the. faltering lines, which turned to ftieet the Japanese onslaught. The. Japanese attack failed to make the expected impression on the. Chinese, who replied fiercely from well-protected dugouts.

Machine guns rattled on all sides and hand-grenades ripped through the wave of Japanese attackers. A desperate hand-to-hand battle ensued and the Chinese finally wavered and retreated in disorder, but more Chinese poured in from the second defences, rallied the runaways and held the Japanese advance. / The Japanese, however, gained considerable ground with the loss of many lives. Additional forces from Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's troops have replaced the terribly depleted ranks of tlie 19th Army. The village of Miaohangchen, behind Hongkew, was subjected to a relentless bombardment throughout the day. Once during the afternoon the Chinese counterattacked with disastrous results, the Japanese holding their fire until the attackers were almost on top of them. Then murderous machine-gun fire mowed down the advancing' lines, forcing them to retire.

Almost a month's fighting on three fronts has accomplished little, the Japanese having failed to capture Chapei and Woosung village, although they demolished the forts. The advance in the Kiangwan area amounts to nothing apart from the open country which the Chinese have conceded.

The Chinese aro now beifig steadily reinforced.

DREADFUL CONDITIONS.

CROWS ON BATTLEFIELD.

CHINESE FACE STARVATION. SHANGHAI. Feb. 25. Despite the heavy firing, Shanghai's biannual visitation of crows is in progress. Thousands of birds are hovering over the battlefields, swooping to the ground during lulls in the lighting, to fatten on the hundreds of dead soldiers. Tho situation of tho unemployed is daily becoming worse, since Chinese business is practically suspended. Thousands of Chinese aro facing starvation.

CHINESE OPTIMISM.

RALLYING TO THE COLOURS. PROLONGED WARFARE FEARED. I SHANGHAI, Feb. 25. Foreign officials now believe that the present struggle between Japan and China wij] continue indefinitely if the Chinese supplies continue and the present support of the wholo nation does not abate. Chinese commanders in all parts of China fire now anxious to take part in the hostilities and are offering troops. Evidence of the wave of optimism which is sweeping over the Chinese as the result of the Japanese failure to overcome the Chinese forces, was forthcoming when 1000 coolies attempted to pass through the lines of tho French concession for the purpose of joining the Chinese army.