JAPS THOUGHT IT EASY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11985, 27 February 1932, Page 5

JAPS THOUGHT IT EASY

' CHINA’S STOUT RESISTANCE GIVE GROUND SLOW LAD United Press Asfen — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SH ANGHAI, February 26. Spirited artillery duels marked the Chapei-Hong Kew front this morning, preparatory to what maybe a Japanese left fia.uk attack to complete the “crusher” offensive which turned the Chinese flank in the Kiangwan Aliaohangcbeii sector yesterday. The Japanese early to-day claimed complete envelopment of hot i Kiangwan and Aliacltaugchen, leaving both towns behind their advancing front lines although still filled with Chinese snipers The battle for Kiangwan and AlLaeliangehen was long and fierce. After holding the towns for five days against Japan's frontal attacks, the Chinese were forced out by the encircling movement. A Shinese. coun-ter-attack, furious but short, resulted in pushing back the Japanese lines almost to the original positions, but reinfoaicements, comprising troops from other sectors, finally brought the Japanese victory, according to General Kenkichi TTyedn’s official communique.HEAVY GUNS BOOAD

With the Japanese consolidating their Kiangwan-Aiiachangchen positions, their lieuvy gvjis in Hong Kew park pounded the. Chinese Chapei lines continually this morning. The Chinese blasted back with howitzers and trench mortars, attempting to reach the- communication roads on. which, Japanese reinforcements and shock troops are being returned to tibe Chn.pei front. Military roads, bridging the swamps north of the Hong Kew park batteries, were full of Japanese troops and artillery being moved to the Aiiachangchen sector on the light and the Chapei lines on the left, north, cf the International Settlement.

The superior Japanese armaments, artillery and weight of explosives from airplanes tokl heavily on Thursday against the rifles, inachiileguns and hand grenades of the iron-willed Chinese defenders between; Kiangwan and Aliacbungeben after forty airplanes raided 250-pound bombs into the Chinese front line positions betiween Kiangwan. and Miochangchen for hours, the Japanese- infantry land tank attacks made their gains despite the counter-attack. Reports that the- Chinese, Nineteenth Route Army opened fire on, the retreating 57th and 88th. Chinese' divisions, General Chiaitg Kai Slick's “own,” were discredited, since the fighting was so even most of the day that- it never reached a point at which the Chinese retreated im disorderly fashion. HEAVIER CASUALTY LISTS. Casualties on both sides were reported heavier than any day since the Japanese offensive began last Saturday. Mare than 500 Chinese wounded were brought into Settlement hospitals, and the dead are said to total three times that Jqjpanqse casualties were estimated unofficially at between 800 and 1000 killed and wounded.

NEW TRADITIONS CREATED. The stern defence of Kiangwan in the past six days lias created new traditions for the Chinese army. The men were under constant fire- at all hours, but held to their positions, their fox-hole machine-gun emplacements, until only superior numbers and equipment, combined with Julian’s aerial raids, boat them back. Because they belittle the value of a Chinese’ army, greatly inferior in modern armaments, the Japanese communiques are- stressing Nippon’s victories. Neutral circles comment that the Japanese, to whom knightly chivalry has always been attributed. have not once said a word in recognition of gallant Chinese army fighting against enormous superiority.

The Japanese claim advances of 1200 metres in a westerly direction, the northern column enveloping Miachangchem. and leaving the place full of Chinese snipers, and proceeding westwards, while the conquerors of Kiangwan are pushing on m the direction of Tazang, forming part of the general movement around the north end of the Chinese’ defenders.

AMERICAN SOLDIERS SPELLED. Three hundred grimy-faced, unshaven and tired American soldiers of the Thirty-First Infantry came out of the International Settlement defence lines this afternoon after fifteen days in front of shell-torn Chapei. Their eyes were bloodshot and swollen from lack of sleep. They wer e replaced in, the most dangerous position, within the Settlement lines by the Scottish Argyll and Sutherland kilted “ladies from hell.”

JAPS, KNOW BETTER NOW

WASHINGTON, February 26

General Yoshinori Shiraknwn, one of the most distinguished soldiers of Japan, is to be sent to take supreme command of the campaign against Shanghai, -it was said authoritatively to-day.

Dispatches reaching here, both from Shanghai and. from Tokio. leave no doubt that Japan realises her naval men underestimated the size of their task when they elected to atta ck Sh a ngh ai. A second mistake was made, it is said, when their military men thought their two divisions of infantry could do the job.. Now tbe new generalissimo hopes to drive out the Chinese defenders with a total force of from fifty to sixty thousand men. including the probable three divisions believed now to be on the way from Japan.