MAIN THRUST AT EASTERN GATE

Southland Times, Issue 23378, 9 December 1937, Page 5

MAIN THRUST AT EASTERN GATE

Japanese Bombarding

Nanking

CHINESE MAKING “ASH HEAP” FOR VICTORS

(•United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received December 8, 11.5 p.m.)

LONDON, December 8.

The main Japanese thrust on Nanking ■will threaten the eastern face of the city, but a flanking column has circuited Nanking in an effort to cut off the Chinese retreat by the Pukow-Tientsin railway. The latter force hopes to attack the northern gates simultaneously with the southern force’s assault on the western gates.

The Nanking correspondent of the, British United Press reports that artillery is already bombarding the northwestern gates in order to create a breach through which tanks and infantry may pass. The Chinese still maintain ferry services across the Yangtze Kiang from Nanking to Pukow, on the main line of retreat Other sources declare that the Japanese have already occupied the mountainous area east of the city. The invaders do not guarantee immunity for the safety zones, as they may harbour Chinese troops, but they agree not to attack undefended zones. The existing “safety zone” is the scene of an endless procession. Many of the participants are starving and without their possessions—a movement no less tragic because such flights are now commonplace. The Chinese authorities have ordered the evacuation by all troops of the zone and the demolition of its defensive works. The 15 foreigners sponsoring the plan, including an Englishman, a Frenchman and Americans, remain in the area as evidence of good faith. Their heroism may avert a holocaust. Determined to make Nanking untenable for the Japanese, the defenders before their withdrawal are systematically blowing up and burning buildings, ammunition dumps and hangars, the intention being to give the conquerors nothing but an ash heap to occupy. Eveiy Chinese plane has departed and those under repair have been destroyed. The authorities are shooting looters. INVADERS REACH WALLS The Japanese forces, having occupied all strategic positions in the suburbs, began a general attack against Nanking yesterday morning. The city was surrounded by smoke. A furious battle raged before the city all day. The Japanese reached the walls of the city and the main army is ready for the final attack. A Japanese column planted a Rising Sim flag on the Purple Mountain but the artillery refrained from bombarding Sun Yat-sen’s mausoleum. Another detachment within three miles began shelling Nanking and Pukow was bombed. Two huge fires are blazing. All foreigners except journalists have fled from Nanking. The Nanking correspondent of The Times says observers report that Chinese soldiers burned villages on the line of retreat, as a result of which disordered mobs of villagers streamed into Nanking. The Tokyo representative of The Daily Telegraph says that the impending fall of Nanking occupies every mind and all the newspapers. Plans have been completed for a flag parade by day and a torch parade by night involving 1,000,000 students and other youths, marching to the shrines of Shinto gods and Japan’s warrior dead. The stock market has further improved. The newspapers, however, point out that the fall of Nanking will not end the fighting, as guerrilla warfare will follow.