ORDERLY RETREAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 7

ORDERLY RETREAT

CHINESE AT SHANGHAI British Officer’s Tribute TERRIBLE CHAPEI FIRE ONE OF WORST IN HISTORY (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Oct. 28, 9.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Oct. 28. Major Harrison, of the Welsh Fusiliers, commanding the British posts on Soochcw Creek, paid a tribute to the Chinese discipline in retreat. It was so orderly that the Japanese for a long time were not aware of the evacuation. The whole of Chapci, one-fifth of Shanghai’s total area, recently housing half a million Chinese, is burning. It is one of the most terrible conflagrations in history. The Japanese, angered at the escape of the Chinese army, machine-gunned men, women and children captured in the area. Ulstermen machine-gunned two Japanese 'planes bombing in the vicinity of three British posts. The British have withdrawn from the farthest outposts owing to the Chinese fortifying the neighbourhood. A consular notification warns foreigners to stay in their residences and be prepared for evacuation in the event of emergency. The American commander has ordered the marines to fire in selfdefence at aeroplanes bombing posts. Japan has apologised for the death of the Italian grenadier. A Tokio message says that after a fortnight’s bitter fighting the Japanese have captured the Niang-Tza-kuan Pass, the key to Taiyuan-fu. MERCILESS JAPANESE GRIM SCENES AT CHAPEI BRAVE RESCUE WORK BY BRITISHERS LONDON, Oct. 27. The Times’ Shanghai correspondent says that Chapei was a grim sight throughout the day, covered with towering masses of thick, dark clouds, shot with the scarlet of gun flashes and flames, revealing the furnace beneath. To-night the clouds are miles long, the dark ceiling reflecting the Inferno in which, while firemen are doing their utmost to prevent the flames spreading to the Settlement, the Japanese are ruthlessly setting fire to every building suspected of harbouring Chinese snipers. Watchers across Soochow Creek saw small parties of Chinese rearguards defending themselves, mostly with hand grenades and machineguns, against the advancing Japanese, who are approaching warily, fearing mines, and mercilessly shooting down and bayoneting the Chinese whose ammunition is exhausted. The Jessfield Bridge was a terrible spectacle, being covered with dead and wounded refugees. Soldiers attempting to reach safety were mown down with machine-guns. An Ulster rifleman, headed by a Londoner, Desmond Kiely, repeatedly crawled along the bridge, risking their lives, and rescued 25 wounded, five of which number were killed and five again wounded as they were being rescued. There were no British casualties. TOKIO CELEBRATES MILLION YOUTHS PARADE TOKIO, Oct. 27. The city is en fete. A million •hool children and youths, carrying “Rising Sun” flags, paraded, converging on the square in front of the Imperial Palace. The Domei Agency reports that a naval landing party cleaned up tht Chinese remnants at Chapei. Communication between the Chinese forces and Shanghai has been definitely cut off. WAR FORCED ON JAPAN STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR Received Oct. 28, 9.50 p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 27. The Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Saito, in a broadcast throughout the country, declared that Japan had been forced into the war by Communists, anti-Japanese agitators and Chinese politicians. He continued: “Japan wants to end the conflict so decisively that a recurrence will be impossible. She does not desire to annex any part of China. We want peace in the Far East. We have no quarrel with China’s millions who have nothing to fear from Japan.” CHINESE RELIEF LLOYD’S CONTRIBUTION [ British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, Oct. 27. - The Corporation and members of Lloyds have sent £5OOO as the first contribution to the Lord Mayor’s ’Fund for the relief of the distress in China. CATCALLS FOR JAPANESE LIVELY RECEPTION GIVEN GOODWILL MISSION Received Oct. 28, 11.5 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28. Catcalls, hoots and shouts of “Reinember the Shanghai murders!” greeted the Japanese mission disembarking for the purpose of a good- : will tour throughout America. The ; demonstrators included -10 Chinese .who attempted to break through the I police cordon. Six were arrested after ■ fsticufis. •