CHINESE RETREAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 7

CHINESE RETREAT

K LINE AT SHANGHAI HEAVY ENEMY FIRE TAZANG BELIEVED TO HAVE FALLEN <©y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SHANGHAI, Oct. 24. The Japanese state that the Chinese have begun a general retreat from their first line of tiefence. It is believed that Tazang, nine miles to the west, has fallen. The Chinese admit a slight Japanese advance, at two points, but deny a general retreat. The Chinese are still maintaining their hold on the Shanghai North Station, round which they apparently intend to pivot. The Japanese are subjecting the retiring troops to very heavy artillery fire and aeroplane bombing, though they are showing caution in following the Chinese. ATTACKS BY ’PLANE BRITISH SENTRY SHOT strafe in shanghai SHANGHAI, Oct. 24. Rifleman W. McGowan, of Donegal, a member of the first battalion of the Royal Ulster Fusiliers, was at a sentry post barricade in Keswick Road when a Japanese ’plane attacked with a machine-gun and shot him in the head. He died in hospital. Another bullet pierced the uniform oi a Belfast rifleman, Jack Lindsay, but a cigarette case deflected it. The men returned the fire on the ’plane, which flew off after machine-gunning a riding party of a score of English, American and Chinese. It also ma-chine-gunned an outpost of Royal Ulster Fusiliers in the Great Western Road, but there were no casualties. British residents say that the machine dived five times, shooting continuously. Admiral Hasegawa ex pressed profound regret to Sir Charles Little, saying that the airman believed it was a Chinese post. A strong British protest is likely to be made. How the ’plane scattered the riding party and residents who were out for a walk was vividly told by a British eye witness. “My wife and I were in Keswick Road when lhe Japanese ’plane dived,” he said. “Some British soldiers and ourselves ran into a rice field and lay flat on our faces. A moment later we heard the machinegunning and expected every moment to be our last. There were also about twenty men and women riding. Some dismounted and others were thrown off. All ran to cover. Meanwhile the ’plane again dived, its machine-guns blazing. When it had swooped five times we ran to our car and drove off.” Mr W. Palmer, of Manchester, said he was walking with a German girl, and ran with her and two British couples and their children to a nearby dairy which was flying a Union Jack. When the ’plane swooped for the fourth time the Royal Ulsters opened fire with a Lewis gun. Mr Nicholson, a United States Treasury agent, said: “The Japanese ’plane strafed everything along the road.” Two horses which were killed belonged to the Finance Minister, Mr Soong. BRITISH RETALIATE ’PLANE HIT BY BULLETS Received Oct. 25, 10.35 p.m. SHANGHAI, Oct. 25. The ’plane which swooped down to 100 feet is believed to be from the squadron which raided the Jessfield railway bridge. Bombs fell in the nearby’ recreation ground. Many of the wounded were machine-gunned while seeking to enter the International Settlement. The British state that as the Shan-ghai-Chengchow railway runs alongside the spot the airman had the clearest indication that he was ma-chine-gunning the British defence sector. Corporal Henry Osborne, of London, said: “The ’plane dived directly at us and the bullets whipped across the road. McGowan, who was taking cover, was hit. I saw he was dying. Rifleman Lindsay was hit by the same burst. I ordered Rifleman O’Leary to fire at the ’plane. He fired 80 rounds from a Lewis gun and hit the machine. I saw it quiver, but it straightened up and accelerated. Perhaps I did wrong to order fire, but 1 could not bear to see my men Area on without replying. I could not let .he Japanese get away with it.” The commander of the British forces, after a conference with the Consul-General, decided to supply the headquarters posts with anti-aircraft guns. It is reported that LieutenantCommander M. S. L. Burnett, of the cruiser Cumberland was among the riders who were machine-gunned. His horse was killed under him. but he was unhurt. Two Russians among the riding party galloped headlong for aquarter of a mile to escape the ’plane, which followed them. Both were thrown and the horse of one was hit.