SHANGHAI AREA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23352, 18 November 1937, Page 11

SHANGHAI AREA

THE JAPANESE FORCES HEAVY REINFORCEMENTS AN UNCEASING STREAM FURTHER RAIDS ON TSINAN (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph Copyright) NANKING, Nov. 16. An unceasing stream of Japanese reinforcements is pouring into the Shanghai area, augmenting the troops to 250,000. Colonel Watteville, representative of the International Red Cross, estimates the Chinese casualties on all fronts after the opening of the campaign at 800,000. The Japanese are not interfering with importations of medical supplies. Admiral Hasegawa, following General Matsui’s example, contributed 10,000 dollars to relief work. Japanese captors in South Hopei turned back ' northward and scattered the 29th Army and guerrillas, which threatened their communications.

Heavy Japanese air raids are reported at Tsinan. The defenders were ordered to hold the position but preparations are being made to move the capital to Ningyang if Tsinan falls. A LULL AT SOOCHOW SHANGHAI, Nov. 16. One hundred and fifty thousand more Japanese troops have ai’rived. The Japanese have appointed a new mayor and chief of police in Greater Shanghai. ' Both Chinese with and without Japanese sympathies in the municipality refuse to recognise them, describing them as puppets. The fighting has lulled in Soochow. GOVERNMENT OFFICES TRANSFERRED FROM NANKING NANKING, Nov. 16. Realising the gravity of the situation, the Government is transferring its offices from Nanking. The Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs and Finance go to Hankow, the Ministry df Communications to Changsha, and the Executive Council to Chungking, which is expected to be proclaimed the capital. The military establishments will stay at Nanking to .supervise field operations and promote the fortification of the city. General Chiang Kai-shek will remain in the capital, either to command a last stand or attempt to save what remains to be salvaged. Lack of transport hampers the efforts of the Foreign Embassies to transfer headquarters. Thirty-eight Britons, 70 Americans, and 100 Germans remain at Nanking. THE YELLOW RIVER JAPANESE GAIN NORTH BANK PEKING, Nov. 16. (Received Nov. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) The Japanese have gained the whole of the north bank of the Yellow River for many miles on each side of the Tientsin-Pukow railway. The Chinese have blown up two spans of the 4000 ft German-built steel bridge near Ponang River, which may again justify its cognomen, “ China’s sorrow.” The defenders here are having to withstand a tremendous Japanese onslaught from the north into the central plains. The Chinese are at present holding positions on the south bank, to which they have withdrawn under General Han Fu Chan. The Japanese Spokesman declares that they were thrown thither, helterskelter. The Japanese will cross the river by pontoons and renew the assault.

CHINESE EVACUATE QUINSAN SHANGHAI, Nov. 16. (Received Nov. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) The Chinese, after evacuating Quinsan and leaving the corpses of a major-general and 5000 troops in the field, withdrew in the direction ot Tsingpu. Their forces near Kashan are attempting to check the Japanese advancing across the lake area, eastward of Soochow, from where the invaders are 10 miles distant. The Chinese report that a line 100 miles in length, extending from Chapoo to Soochow, is actively resisting the enemy, but there is little ground for optimism. The Chinese are being severely shaken by a succession of unexpected Japanese movements, forcing them to fall back without using the strong positions previously prepared, thus necessitating new defensive plans and fresh troops to make them effective. . TRANSFER OF THE CAPITAL LONDON, Nov. 17. (Received Nov. 17, at 9 p.m.) The Times special correspondent at Nanking says: “ Owing to the approach'of the Japanese forces immediate steps are being taken to transfer the capital farther inland. The official Chinese Spokesman admitted that the outlook was ominous. but insisted that China would continue to resist and that Nanking would be defended. There could be no compromise or capitulation. China was not contemplating any action independent of the NinePower Conference, but positive action nr at least some assurances of action bv the conference were essential to hearlen the Chinese in the struggle, against aggression.