FIERCE FIGHTING OCCURS

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHTING OCCURS

SEVERE BOMBING IN SHANGHAI CHINESE FIGHT LIKE MADMEN (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 15, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. The Chinese claim success in a general offensive in the North Shansi province. , „ , Two outposts on Soochow Creek manned by United States marines were hit by showers of splinters from a bomb and five Americans were wounded. The Japanese expressed regret and ordered the airmen to be more careful. . „ The whole of the International Settlement was forced to take cover from flying shrapnel, the bombing and shelling being the fiercest yet. Great fires are burning at many points outside the Settlement. The Chinese counter-offensive has commenced and Japanese planes have gone up after dark for the first time to meet the attackers. The Chinese after a terrific artillery and air duel went over the top on a long front in the north city with a fury difficult to credit after long weeks of exposure. Mechanized units which had previously secretly charted the Japanese lines and others armed with traditional swords fought like madmen. Warplanes and artillery joined in the battle. The city people were panicstricken and they fled from the lowflying planes and shrapnel. A Japanese bomb shattered a tram-car. One journalist counted 26 passengers dead. The driver, seeing the diving planes, applied the brakes and clanked the bell and the bomb crashed 20 feet ahead. It blew the driver to pieces with the tram.

An eye witness states that he saw about 40 killed and 100 wounded by Japanese bombers in the south-western area. The Japanese claim that the attack was repulsed and that hundreds of Chinese were killed. The Chinese say that three hundred Japanese were killed at one point only. It is not known how many civilians were killed in the city but many mangled bodies were seen. British and German houses displaying their national flags were damaged in today’s fierce fighting at Shanghai by four Japanese planes which dived and dropped ten projectiles. There were no casualties owing to the fact that the houses were on the western outskirts and the residents were in the city. One house was split in two. The last link between Hong Kong and Canton wa- severed when the Japanese destroyed a section of the railway and also the telephone lines. JAPANESE NAVAL STRENGTH NO FURTHER TROOPS LANDED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 15. The Chinese Consul has received the following cablegram from Nanking:— A line of 29 Japanese warships and 23 transports extends for 45 miles north-west of Shanghai. The Japanese have made no attempt to land troops since their failure a few days ago. There is little activity in the LotienLiuhang area, the Japanese troops apparently waiting for reinforcements to land. The Japanese bombarded the Wentsaopang creek area and attempted to stop the Chinese advance. The Japanese troops are digging in on the south of the creek after their failure in a push towards Dazang. Japanese planes bombed Chapei. No damage of any military value was done. They also bombed villages beyond the battle lines, killing civilians. Chinese planes made a surprise raid on the Japanese military bases at Tientsin, doing considerable damage. They also successfully bombed a Japanese aircraft-carrier and naval units in Lienyun-kiang harbour in the north of Kiangsu. EXPORT OF SCRAP IRON PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS PROHIBITION (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 15. Referring to the cable from Tokyo stating that New Zealand had prohibited the export of scrap iron to Japan the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said the Government had gone out of its way to make it clear that the prohibition applied to all countries and not Japan alone, The reason for the prohibition of export was that New Zealand wanted to develop its iron industry and did not want to dispose of things required for the purpose. FUND OF £lO,OOO SOUGHT MEDICAL \ID FOR CHINESE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 15. A suggestion that £lO,OOO be sought from New Zealanders was made by Mrs Lowry today at a joint meeting of the council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross. It was proposed that Australia and New Zealand should send 20 doctors and five orthopaedic surgeons as well as stores and equipment. Captain Galloway and Mr C. Meachen were appointed interim secretaries and the executive was given power to add to its number representatives of organizations that might be able to assist in the appeal. Mr Feng Wong, Consul for China, was present and thanked the meeting for what was being done on behalf of his countrymen. APPEAL FOR RELIEF FUNDS “Can New Zealand help the relief funds of the National Christian Council? The need is urgent,” stated a cablegram received by the National Missionary Council of New Zealand from the general secretary of the National Christian Council of China, Shanghai. The council in New Zealand is making an appeal to the New Zealand people and has circularized the mayors of cities and towns, asking that subscription lists be opened. The proceeds will be remitted to Shanghai