BLAZE OF BATTLE

Wairarapa Age, 22 February 1932, Page 5

BLAZE OF BATTLE

Japanese Open Offensive In Chapei Region. ONSET REMINISCENT OF GREAT WAR. CHINESE HANDICAPPED BY LACK OF MATERIAL. ATTACKERS WELL EQUIPPED. Unitea press Association. —By Electria Telegraph.—Copyright. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 20. The Japanese moved to the attack at about 1 7.30 in the morning. "We gave them thirty minutes’ grace, now we must take the offensive, the end of our patience is reached,” said General Uyeda. At 8.50 a deafening roar of artillery in the vicinity of Chapei indicated that the Japanese offensive had begun. Two columns advanced between Shanghai and Woosung against the Chinese positions in the middle of the line, which is approximately six miles from Chapei. Observers state that the operations proceedings are reminiscent of the Great War. The Japanese, using roughly a brigade and a half, headed by tanks, and preceded by aeroplanes, are enfilading the Chinese trenches, following behind a creeping barrage. The Japanese at present are sweeping everything before them, despite a stout resistance by the Chinese, which is sadly handicapped by lack of material, while the Japanese are excellently equipped. Other accounts describe the fighting as on a small scale, the Japanese awaiting the full expiration of the time limit at 5 this evening. Meantime, British and other foreign authorities are assisting their compatriots to evacuate the danger zone.

DETAILS OF FIGHTING.

ADVANCE MADE ON THREE. FRONTS. CHINESE RETIRING ON TRENCH SYSTEMS. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 20. According to later messages, hostilities opened on a large scale, after a desultory beginning this morning, on three fronts, with an intensive bombardment by the Japanese artillery along the Kiangwan and Chapei fronts, together with a heavy shelling of the Woosung defences as the Japanese commenced a big push over a wide front. The Japanese forces stretching along the front between Woosung and Shang hai, making a concerted move, slowly advanced, preceded by heavy firing by small howitzer batteries. The movement along Kiangwan commenced shortly after eight this morning, when Japanese infantry occupied the International Racecourse with little fighting, the Chinese having retreated to strongly entrenched positions further inland. At seven o’clock, General Uyeda summoned his staff, announced that the Chinese had {ailed to withdraw and ordered an immediate offensive. Ninety minutes later, the Kiangwan Racecourse was occupied with few casualties. The infantry advance was assisted by a heavy bombardment of the shallow Chinese trenches in the Kiangwan area, the Chinese forces retreating to Kiangwan village, -which is reported -to be stringly fortified. A converging movement towards Kiangwan commenced at midnight on Friday, when the infantry took positions in a right-angle formation, awaiting the order to advance. A mixed brigade, stationed for the past week at Changwahpang moved south-west towards the racecourse, while the main line moved across the Woosung military road. The position is now consolidated and a general offensive is awaited. The immediate front has been cleared. The small Chinese resistance in this area was fully expected as the Chinese intend falling baek on a fortified trench system, along a line extending from Kiangwan village, beyond Jessfield Park southwards from Nantao. Japanese reports estimate that three thousand troops occupied the Kiangwan sector, but offered little resistance with the exception of a strong party inside the Fuhtan University, which eventually was taken by Japanese at considerable sacrifice owing to unwillingness to bombard a cultural institution. The Chinese retreated when aeroplanes bombed the vicinity. During the Japanese advance their aeroplanes circled over the territory directing the operations of the artillery’ At Woosung, Japanese destroyers opened fire on Woosung village, the Chinese replying with heavy guns without serious result. The Japanese bombardment reduced to ruins a wide area extending from the mouth of the Whangpoo River to Woosung Creek, where the Chinese are strongly entrenched in an amazing system of dugouts and network of tunnels. The Chinese shells found marks at the Changwahpang Railway Yards where the Japanese had established a base, but the cruiser Yubari and destroyers poured broadsides into the village, doing tremendous damage and starting numerous fires. The Chinese troops entrenched along the river bank poured a continuous machine gun fire into the destroyers, but the artillery in the village failed to score a direct hit on the Japanese vessels. From the Chapei front, the artillery pumped shells into the Chinese lines behind and demolished the North Station, while aeroplanes circled overhead, dropping bombs. The Chinese field guns replied heavily towards noon, while anti-air-craft guns maintained a regular fire Shells were falling in the Settlement, damaging property in the Markham Road area and killing five Chinese and injuring many. Four Japanese batteries located just outside the Settlement limits in the northern district kept up a concentrated fire on the Chinese .positions, but the regular response indicated that the Chinese batteries were not severely damaged. Fighting in this area is confined to heavy gunfire, the opposing infantry awaiting a general offensive. The Chinese- are holding their machine gun fire until to-night in order to avoid disclosing their positions, which are hidden in numerous ruined buildings and are awaiting the Japanese attack. Judging from the activity of the Red Cross units on all fronts, the casualties are believed to be heavy. Incoming vessels report that a fleet of Japanese transports is standing by at the entrance to the Yangtse, convoyed by three cruisers and a destroyer

flotilla. These are believed to be the additional 'divisions which, were requested by General Uyeda.

THE LEAGUE COUNCIL.

STRONG STATEMENT OF JAPAN’S CASE. (SPECIAL MEETING OF ASSEMBLY CONVENED. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, February 20. At the meeting of the League Council, Dr. Yen (China) alleged that the Japanese had used dumdums (soft nosed bullets) and created a reign of terror in Shanghai, finally persisting in an intolerable ultimatum. M. Sato, (Japan) in an hour’s speech, denied that the Japanese had used dumdums or poison gas and explained that the bombing of a refugee camp was due to barbed wire entanglements misleading the aviators. A withdrawal from Shanghai, M. Sato declared, would entail a renunciation of the whole of Japan’s rights in China, which no Government could face. Japan would retire when her aim was attained. Referring to Manchuria, M. Sato declared that Japan was barred everywhere. She was not admitted to America or countries in the Southern seas. He recalled that Japan had protested against this inequality of races when the League of Nations Assembly Art met. If Japan were ejected from China, what could she do? That was why she had to think for herself in Manchuria, where the had invested an immense capital If Japan was going to be condemned for aggression, It would be necessary to condemn other powers for similar acts, notably the Soviet’s annexation of parts of Mongolia.

M. Boncour finally appeals 1 to M. Sato to delay the expiration of the ultimatum to enable a settlement. The British, Italians and German representatives associated themselves with this appeal. A special meeting of the League Assembly, convened by the Council of Twelve, is to be held on March 3.

AUSTRALIAN WARSHIPS. AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 21. A sea-going unit of the Australian Fleet is now engaged in a summer cruise and is at present at Hobart, Whence it could be dispatched practically at a moment’s notice to the Far East. The cruisers Canberra and Australia could reaeh Shanghai in about ten days.

FIERCE ATTACK.

JAPANESE RENEW ATTACK AT DAWN. UYEDA ASKS FOR MORE TROOPS. (Received This Day, 0.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 21. The Japanese renewed their attack at dawn and a fierce struggle was proceeding in the forenoon. General Uyeda has cabled to Tokio for another division. Other messages relating to tho Far Eastern crisis appear on page 2.)