THE BIG GUNS SPEAK

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11977, 18 February 1932, Page 5

THE BIG GUNS SPEAK

JAPANESE DEFENCES SHELLED FORTS STILL HOLDING OUT. United Press Assn —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SHANGHAI, February- 17. Chinese troops brought ten “seventy-five” guns of the World War period into action against the Japanese yesterday in the Hong Kew area of the International Settlement. The Japanese replied to the big gun attack, but neither side made any- attempt To advance. The artillery fire died down shortly after midnight. The sound of the 75 millimetre pieces, and ol trench mortars. echoed through the Settlement as the shells fell in the Japanese defence area.

At eleven p.m. on Tuesday the bombardment was intense and several shells crashed near the Japanese Club and the Hong Kew Police station, hurling earth and stones high into the air. The Japanese fire started a conflagration close to one of the Chinese batteries near the north station, centre of Cliapei defence lines. The flames leaped up suddenly, casting a bright red light over the Chinese positions. Members of the Settlement volunteer corps, in observation posts north of the. Settlement, saw the Chinese firing their artillery. A desultory bombardment also was renewed at the AVoosung forts, down the AATiangpoo river. “My men have decided to stick with me,” General Yung Chow Huan, the garrison commander at \A oosung, said. When AA'oosung goes, we go with it.” TRAGEDY FOR CHINA. SHANGHAI, February- 17. Despite the combined efforts of the British, American, French and Italian Ministers to persuade the Chinese to withdraw in accordance with the wishes of Japan, as a preliminary step towards peace, there is little prospect of the Chinese agreeing. Heavy reinforcements are arriving daily- and the lines are being strengthened with a wide system of trenchwork radiating through Chapei. The London Times’ correspondent at Snanghai says that the situation entails tragedy to China whatever happens. The Chinese intend to withstand the invaders to the utmost. The Japanese, chagrined at their failures, are determined to vindicate their military reputation and should eventually he able to crash their way to their objective, because they- can he reinforced indefinitely. They must finally- win. The more the Chinese fight the more the Japs can reinforce, and the more it costs Japan to win, the harsher can he the ultimate terms of settlement. MESSAGE TO JAPAN. RUGBY, February 16. The Committee d f Twelve ot the Leagme Council to-day dispatched a message to Japan regarding the situation at Shanghai. The text has not yet been published, but Press telegrams state that the members of he Council, while recognising the difficulties, with which Japan has been faced, recall her responsibilities as one of the principal partners in the world organisation for the maintenance 01 peace, and appeal to her to show restraint. It is understood that the message also recalls tlie terms of Article 10 of the Covenant in the sense related to the principle already affirmed by the American Government, whereby the acquisition by force or any territories would not be recognised. DESIGNS ON CHAPEI. SHANGHAI." February 16. The Japanese are performing rehearsals preparatory to an attempt to capture Chapei. Three large fires started at dusk in the Kiangjwan area, where the Japanese are taking positions. The Chinese are apparently preparing to meet an offensive, as heavy reinforcements have arrived. A large concentration is taking place along a wide front. The Chinese lines are in some places barely half a mile from the Japanese, hut both sides are withholding their fire. The .rumour that General Cliiangkaishek is coming to Shanghai to assist the Chinese defences was strengthened to-day-, when 2000 of his personal crack troops reached Cliengju. The cessation of heavy firing around the Settlement, with the intensive military preparations by both sides, is causing the authorities more alarm than the actual Chapei fighting, since the pending hostilities will undoubtedly drive the Chinese towards the Settlement boundaries. BRITISH SAILORS AVOUNDED. SHANGHAI. February 17. During the usual nightly bombardment shells fell in the dock district of the International .Settlement, seriously wounding two British sailors and damaging wharves and pontoons, British property. ILL-DIRECTED FIRE. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. (Received 9.40 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 17. As a. result of the Chinese shelling the dock areas, already cabled, injuring two British sailors, eight Chinese were killed and over a score injured. The damage within the Settlement is extensive. In the vicinity- of Chapei and Kiangwan buildings are wrecked. foreign houses and a foreign factory- hadi.v damaged. Two popular cafes and a Japanese theatre were hit. In the northern district the Chinese are apparently direct imr their fire towards the' Japanese Tmtteyy

located behind the Council’s Hongkew Park, but the markmanship is extremely poor. It is believed that the shells which fell on the waterfront were intended for Japanese transports lying in the vicinity of the Hongkew wharf. British authorities lodged a strong protest.