FALL OF TAZANG

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 256, 28 October 1937, Page 7

FALL OF TAZANG

RAILWAY LINE CUT SHANGHAI TO NANKING Received Oct. 27, 7.35 p.m. SHANGHAI, Oct. 26. The fall of Tazang, which was a buttress for the north-eastern defences, necessitated the Chinese abandoning the International Racecourse. Their positions also were menaced by the cutting of the Shang-hai-Nanking railway, whicn was regarded as the Chinese lifeline. The Chinese spokesman declared that they would reinforce Chapei and Kiang wan and would only retreat if they were blasted out. Almost as if it were a retort, 50 Japanese bombers roared over and simultaneously unloaded explosives, while artillery and nav«l guns joined in. The Chinese ’planes later went into action but the raid resembled indoor fireworks compared with the Japanese. It is reported that General Chiang Kai-shek has arrived to conduct the defence. The Times’ Shanghai correspondent says that although the Chinese were disappointed at the failure to withstand the thrust at Tazang, they are confident of their ability to continue the resistance. The situation is causing remt red anxiety to foreigners, as the hostilities are nearing the western perimeter of the settlement, which the British are manning. A Tokio message says that the newspapers have ceased printing casuality lists, but the secrecy does not prevent the realisation that many reservists who recently departed for the front already have been killed. The Chinese divisions, after a twomonths’ heroic but losing campaign, have been withdrawn, but the Japanese find a cheerful new army facing them at the rear of Tazang, which was practically encircled before its abandonment. Seven large Japanese tanks advanced along the TazangShanghai road and demolished the barricade, but camouflaged Chinese anti-tank guns drove them back. The Japanese then began a bombardment of the area. The Chinese blew up a bridge ahead of the Japanese, killing over-daring advance troops and setting fire to an ammunition dump.