GENERAL OFFENSIVE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13640, 26 August 1937, Page 5

GENERAL OFFENSIVE.

LIUNGHED BY JAPAN. THREAT TO CHINESE CITIES. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right. SHANGHAI, August 25. In brilliant sunshine and a cloudless sky the Japanese launched a general olfensiv© on all roads leading to Shanghai from Woosung. The Chines© concentrated large forces in the trenches and are holding their lines despite intense air bombing and shelling from warships which covered the landing with heavy artillery. Huge fires have started in Pootung and Hongkew. The Japanese army spokesman stated that unless the Chinese ceased firing from Pootung Japan would be compelled to dislodge them. If they retired to Nantao Japan must regard it as a military area and will shell it despite the large civil population . The danger of the retreating Chinese attempting to storm the barricades of the International Settlement is becoming graver. Artillery is arriving from Hongkong and all measures have been prepared to resist the attack and evacuate the Settlement as a last resort. An inventory has been taken of property, both business and in the event of the necessity of claiming damages. The British military experts estimate that the Chinese have lost between 7000 and 11,000 killed and wounded in the fighting at Shanghai excluding thousands of civilian casualties from air raids and naval bombardments. At Peking- the Japanese claim to be continuing their advance west of Nankow while another force is rapidly moving With the object of taking the Chinese in the rear of Nankow Pass. A Hongkong message states that millions of dollars have been sent to Hongkong from all parts of China t'er safekeeping. Japanese’ planes contin re systematically to bomb the Chinese position and many villages are aflame. The famous Mandarin Gardens at Nantao are ablaze. The Chinese claim to have sunk two Japanese destroyers but confirmation from neutral sources is unavailable. Japanese l r oups have landed at Cliapog, thirty miles south of Shanghai with the object of attacking Knshing, the most important military centre in the Peking province. A Tokio message says the Japanese claim to have entered Ealgan. AID RE JAP. TROOPS LAND. LONDON, August 25. The Exchange Telegraph Company's Hongkong correspondent says more Japanese troops are reported to have landed- at Hangchow Bay.