THE SHANGHAI FRONT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 September 1937, Page 5

THE SHANGHAI FRONT

JAPANESE SIG PUSH A MERCILESS BOMBARDMENT. Press Association Electric Telecr-mh —Gonyrigta* LONDON, Monday. Supported by heavy artillery, warships and planes, which are mercilessly bombarding Honglcew and the Yangtsepoo, the Japanese began their muchheralded big push on the Shanghai front at dawn. The Chinese artillery at Kiangwan is replying energetically. The Shanghai correspondent of “The Times” says that undoubtedly the original Japanese objective, which was either to cut off the Chinese main forces centred at Kiangwan, or force their retirement westward, has failed. The Japanese have now landed many more men and batteries, but there are still long gaps in their line between Woosung and Yangtsepoo and Woosung and. Lotien, while the Chinese are not reducing the pressure. Fifty Japanese, transports, filled with men and supplies, lying at Yangtse, show that the Japanese realise that a largely-increased force is necessary.

BOMBS DROPPED. ON CIVIC CENTRE. SHANGHAI, Monday. Japanese aeroplanes dropped a hundred bombs on the Civic Centre, The present operations are directed against China’s/ weakest link at Yangtsepoo, whence troops were withdrawn to strengthen the Lotien and .Woosung sectors. The Chinese official news agency at 1 p.m. admitted a partial retirement fur the purpose of defending the university and the Woosung sector to prevent the enemy forces from junctioning. Chinese snipers wounded theIdzumo’s commander, engineer and captain. A FIERCE DUEL. STUBBORN CHINESE DEFENCE. SHANGHAI, Monday. A seven hour lull was rudely ended, at 2.30 a.m., the opposing forces in all sectors exchanging artillery and mach-ine-gun fire. The Idzumo moved to a new position at the Jukong Wharf and led the bombardment, the remaining Japanese warships at Woosung raking the Chinese lines.

By 5.30 a.m. the Chinese batteries at Kiangwan and the Japanese batteries at Yangtsepoo were engaged in a fierce duel, reverberations shaking the city. The Japanese objective appears to be the eleaning-up of the Woosung Peninsula. The Chinese, preponderating in man-power, are hanging on tenaciously.

LOSS OF PAOSHAN. ADMITTED BY CHINESE. SHANGHAI, Monday. The Chinese admit the loss of the walled city of Paoshan. They, are fiercely counter-attacking and claim to have encircled the Japanese at Woosung. SHEKWAN BOMBARDED. CHINESE CRUISER FIRED ON. LONDON, Monday. A message from Hong-Kong states that a Japanese destroyer bombarded Shekwan, adjacent to British territory. The captain of a Chinese Customs cruiser reported that his vessel was fired on by a destroyer within British territorial waters.

CHINESE RESISTANCE. JAPANESE CHECKED. (Received Tuesday, 11.20 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Monday. The Chinese, .though slightly withdrawing from the Yangtsepoo sector, have maintained their integrity of defences on all other fronts, despite Japanese positions from Yangtsepoo to Woosung erupting volleys from machine guns, trench mortars and light and heavy artillery. The Chinese have frustrated fresh Japanese attempts to land at Liulio, Yangtsepoo and Hongchew. NEW JAPANESE BLOCKADE. IN FULL OPERATION. HONG KONG, Wednesday. A Japanese destroyer seized the Chinese Customs cruisers Kwanwei and Hsukuan and sent their crews ashore. Others took over the Prata Shoals radio station and observatory. The British steamer Taishan, bound to Canton, returned to Hong Kong. The captain is reported to have been disinclined to continue the voyage. The foregoing incidents suggest that the new Japanese blockade is in full operation. Admiral Hasegawa undertook that there should be no interference with peaceful commerce, but reserved the right to hail all merchantmen.

JAPANESE AGGRESSION. CHINA APPEALS TO LEAGUE. NANKING, Monday. It is announced that China is appealing to the League of Nations against Japanese aggression. ATTACK ON AMBASSADOR. REPLY TO BRITISH PROTEST. (Received Tuesday, 10.0 a.m.) TOKIO, Monday. The Japanese reply to Britain, regarding the attack on Sir Hughe Knatehbull-Hugessen, has been delivered. It is understood that in the interim the character of its details will not be disclosed. Mr Hirota, questioned in the Diet re-

garding the “insult in the British Note,” declined to comment. . The questioner implied that an insult was contained in the assertion that Japan deliberately attacked non-com-batants. Mr Hirota asserted, that there at present was no tangible proof that the Ambassador was attacked by a Japanese plane. He firmly believed that no Japanese would intentionally attack a non-combatant. AMERICANS IN CHINA. PRESIDENT’S WARNING. NEW YORK, Monday. A message from Rhode Island says that President Roosevelt warned the 7880 Americans in China that they are remaining there at their own risk. It was inferred 1 from the President’s statement that they could not expect the United States to use armed forces on their behalf if they ignore the warning. He said that many were refusing to leave despite the fact that they were being urged to do so by diplomatic officials.

SINO-SOVIET PACT. DIET DISCUSSION. (Received Tuesday, 10 a.m.) TOKIO, Monday, The Foreign Minister, Mr Hirota, discussing in the Diet the Sino-Soviet Pact, referred to the assurance of the Chinese Ambassador that the Pact was negative and had no secret provisions. He also drew attention to the Soviet Ambassador’s assurance that Russia did not intend to interfere in the Sino-Jap-anese conflict. “Nevertheless,” Mr Hirota added, “the Pact cannot ' be overlooked. Communist activity must be given attention, especially after the Russian activity in Spanish affairs.” HEATED DEBATE IN DIET. ANTI-BRITISH ATTITUDE. (Received Tuesday, 11.20 a.m.) TOKIO, Monday. The British Note led to a heated debate in the House of Representatives. A Conservative member, Mr Takeshi Azuma, requested Mr Hirota to ascertain whether the Foreign Office regarded the Note as proper and reasonable, Avhat were the exact facts, whether it was not a Chinese intrigue, and whether Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Huges-sen was not responsible for attempting, without giving notification, to pass through the fighting zone.

Mr Hirota reiterated that there was no evidence of an attack by Japanese aircraft.