NEITHER SIDE WILL WITHDRAW

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 11

NEITHER SIDE WILL WITHDRAW

JAPANESE BOMBARD WOOSUNG FORTS

ATTITUDE TO PEACE PROPOSALS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.)

(Received 4th February, 11 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, 3rd February. The battle is raging between the Chinese and Japanese in the Chapei and Hongkew areas, indicating no intention on either side to withdraw until satisfactory safeguards are forthcoming. At 11 o'clock this morning the Japanese opened an intensive naval bombardment of the Woosung Forts at the moiith of the river leading to Shanghai. The Chinese replied, but reports state that the forts were silenced, and the Japanese have now occupied them, while the Chinese defenders, numbering approximately a thousand, are reported to be in full retreat towards Shanghai. Additional American and British, reinforcements arrived today, the American cruiser Houston passing up river' during the bombardment at the forts.

Brigadier-General Fleming has informed the Japanese that it is imperative they should withdraw from the Settlement proper into extra-Settlement territory.

'■ : Nanking has unconditionally agreed to the joint foreign proposals for the'suspension of hostilities, japan agrees to all the proposals, except the last: "A settlement of the dispute on the basis of the Covenant of the League of Nations and the Kellogg Antiwar Pact." .■.'. .. . ' -.■' :'■(:■■:. .-:, .- ':'■! ' >''■ ■■'.. ■: :-.- '