BIG JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1932, Page 7

BIG JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

CHINESE DRIVEN FROM POSITIONS

FATE OF JAPANESE ADMIRAL

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received sth February, 11 a.m.) SHANGHAI, sth February. Rolling masses of smoke from a score of fires in Chinese territory, and huge dust pillars raised by high explosives falling along the Chinese positions, mingled with rain-clouds, formed a pall over Shanghai when the greatest offensive yet undertaken by the Japanese was backed by artillery bombardment. The Chinese troops fought the Japanese hand to hand. Machine-guns cracked and aeroplanes bombed and shells were dropping as the Japanese attacked on two flanks and drove the Chinese beyond the WoosungShanghai railway. They then retired to their original positions. There were heavy casualties on both sides, but fighting, nevertheless, continued all night. The Woosung forts were further shelled and completely demolished and the garrison annihilated. Japanese cruisers and destroyers opened an intensive bombardment on the Chapei and Paoshan areas during the morning, shells passing over the eastern and northern districts of the International Settlement and exploding in areas occupied by the Chinese. The shells set fire to the remaining parts of Chapei which had escaped the aerial bombardment. A conflagration is raging over a tremendous area, and terrible devastation is proceeding. The Japanese intend to continue shelling until all the adjacent areas are unoccupied. Regarding the-report of the recall of Admiral Shiozawa, Japanese officials here, deny the report, stating that he has merely been superseded by a higher ranking officer. Despite the denial, the report persists. One report given considerable credence in Chinesecircles is that he committed hara-kiri owing to his failure to capture Chapei.