ATTACK BY LAND AIR AND SEA

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 5

ATTACK BY LAND AIR AND SEA

Stubborn Resistance By Chinese

FIRES RAGING AFTER ARTILLERY DUEL

JAPAN ANXIOUS FOR QUICK DECISION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyrignt) (Received August 25, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, August 24. This morning the Japanese at Shanghai opened a general attack by land, sea and air, especially at Woosung, the Chinese stubbornly resisting. The

fiercest fighting occurred at a salient on the boundary of the International Settlement, which the Japanese strongly fortified and where they hope to smash through. The British United Press states that a small force of Japanese, after a bayonet charge, made a breach at Luiho, south of the mouth of the Whangpoo river. The Japanese claim another success at Wosung and are at present advancing on the power station at Chapei. The Chinese assert that they wiped out a Japanese division landing at Woosung last night. The cruiser Idzumo led off at dawn, bombarding Pootung, where immense fires were soon raging in the Chinese warehouses. Chinese artillery from Kiangwan started fresh fires in the rich Japanese business area. “Japan will not be satisfied until real punishment has been given to China and until China recognizes her wrong and apologizes for it,” Says The Japan Times in an editorial. “If the fighting lasts two years it will obviously tax Japan’s man power and economic strength to the utmost.” According to the Tokyo newspaper Nichi Nichi Shimbun, the Minister of War (General Sugiyama) told a conference of parties that Japan, would seek a speedy decision and would not play into China’s hands by fighting a protracted war. A Japanese destroyer is reported to be sunk and a gunboat disabled by Chinese projectiles during yesterday’s landing at Woosung, which the Chinese claim they largely prevented. The Japanese deny that any warship was disabled. Japanese seaplanes again raided Nanking last night. CITIZENS’ ORDEAL Shanghai’s ordeal of apprehension continued for its citizens yesterday while the opposing Chinese and Japanese forces assembled for a decisive encounter. The Japanese in North China are hurling their forces into a great battle for Nankow Pass, the Chinese possession of which cuts off the Japanese troops in Peiping from their Manchukuo army. The Japanese throughout the day unavailingly attacked Nankow Pass. The Tokyo correspondent of The Times says the Japanese troops’ operations along the Suiyan railway, northwest of Peiping, are now almost successful, and the menace from Kalgan to the Japanese right flank has been averted. The Japanese crossed the Great Wall and occupied Wanchuan, a strategic town 10 miles west of Kaigan, and they also hold Nankow. A Japanese military spokesman announced yesterday that the Japanese were contemplating a mass attack at Shanghai. The Chinese determinedly withstood the Japanese after landings at Liuho and Woosung which the Japanese warships covered by firing 500 heavy shells. The Chinese awaited the invaders at a dozen different points on the riverside and engaged them at close quarter, fighting for several hours before falling back. After this the Japanese established field headquarters at the Wenchaopang railway station with the intention of relieving the hard-pressed sailors and marines in the front line. The Japanese suffered severely at Liuho and Woosung but captured the terminus of the military highway from Woosung to Yangtze-poo. The Chinese announced a strategic retirement to defensive positions for a decisive battle to relieve the Japanese pressure on Shanghai. The Japanese, on the other hand, hope to smash the Chinese before they can perform this strategic withdrawal. The Japanese claim to have captured all strategic north of the Yungting river. 50,000 TROOPS LAND An intense artillery duel marked the successful landing of 50,000 Japanese reinforcements yesterday. ( The Japanese spokesman said: In view of the provocative Chinese attitude we have the chance now to deal a decisive blow before there is any possibility of their strategic withdrawal. We hope the Shanghai area will be cleared of hostilities shortly.” The Japanese assert that they faced seven Chinese divisions, four of which were first-line troops, in yesterday morning’s general attack which did not affect the Japanese lines anywhere. A large party of Chinese marines landed at Tsingtao and occupied positions in order to resist a possible Japanese landing. Mixed Chinese forces, estimated at 25,000, are enclosing the city and constructing fortifications. Incidents at Shanghai include a bomb striking the roof of the building next door to Hamilton House, the temporary headquarters of the British Consulate, tearing through three floors and starting a fire which was extinguished. Passengers on board the Shanghai Maru saw Japanese soldiers on a riverside wharf shoot, bayonet and toss into the Whangpoo river four trussed kneeling Chinese, who were probably captured snipers.