CHINESE IN PANIC

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXII, Issue 2820, 3 March 1932, Page 4

CHINESE IN PANIC

DISORDERLY RETREAT.

BOMBARDMENT OF CHAPEI. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SHANGHAI, March 2. A fresh bombardment of Chapci was begun by the Japanese at 4 a.m. to-day. This started tremendous fires, which gave an incandescent effect over a radius of miles, and guided the gunners. . The International Settlement rocked and the inhabitants were thoroughly alarmed and. terror-stricken. The destruction by fire was enormous in the area around the North Station, and the remaining portion of Chapei was practically razed. The Chinese defenders, completely overcome by panic, commenced a disorderly retreat toward Hangchow, leaving their main defences deserted by noon. A general Chinese retirement is now in progress, and it is expected that Chapei w r ill be occupied by the Japanese to-night. Chinese reports suggest that the retreat is the result of a shortage of ammunition. The retirement wall extend beyond Chenju, which is further than the Japanese insisted upon in their ultimatum. Present indications suggest that the retirement will not stop until Sooel cw (about 50 miles north-west of Shanghai) has been reached. Defences have been prepared for some time there. Districts to the south-west of Shanghai also arc being evacuated. The general opinion is that the w r hole of the Chinese defence has completely c6l ; lapsed. The Japanese, however-, are not yet' entering Chapei. Apparently they are afraid that a large area has been mined. The Chinese are se.lulously spreading reports to that effect. On the other hand, the whole area is the scene of the wildest looting.