MANY NON-COMBATANTS KILLED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 179, 16 August 1937, Page 5

MANY NON-COMBATANTS KILLED

— Press Association-

(By Telegraph-

— Copyright)

(Received 16, 8.45 a.m.) SHANGHAI, August 15. ^ Fierce fighting between Japanese and Chinese fcrces has broken out in Sbanghai. The Japanese warships have opened • heavy bombardment and the retaliation by Chinese aeroplanes have precipitated a desperate situation for the residents of the city. The International Settlement, hitherto regarded as a refuge, is a scene of unprecedented carnage as the result of Chinese bombs falling in it. The Japanese are maintaining , an artillery bombardment from the north, and the city is surrounded by well-equipped Chinese troops, who are pressing onward in an advance so far unimpeded by the Japanese fire. At least 825 were kilied and over 1000 wounded in the vicinity of Avenue Edward VII. A hundred panic-stricken persons were caught between the Chinese and Japanese forces and faced a storm of machine-gun bullets. When at last a lull supervened, ambulances went out to succour the wounded and dying.

Japanese waTsliips lieavily bombard•(1 the Woosung forts. Fires broke out all along the Pasoshan road, where Japanese shells fell. Frior to the Japanese bombardment, Chinese planes unsuccessfully tried to bomb the Japanese flagship Idumo, which was mo'orcd opposite the Japanese Consulate. The Japanese squadron's anti-aircraft guns in retaliation literally rocked the city. The raiders escaped. As a reprisal for the attacks on the Idumo, bombers from the aircraft carrier off Woosung Taided the Chinese air base and Kiangsi and Chekiang provinces. They claim they destroyed over 40 'planes. An unknown number of Japanese reinforcements have landed most timeJy, since all Japanese sectors round the International Settlement aTe being kotly pressed and without help may ■oon become untenable. * Bursts of anti-aircraft fire from the Japanese warships were seen when Chinese 'planes circled the harbour at a great height. Rain is still falling in torrents and visibility is bad. ' Pandemonium was renewed when a ■econd attempt was made by three planes to bomb the Idumo. Chinese refugees became madly panicstricken, wailing "There is no end to our woes." On the other hand, grimfaced Japanese muttered, "Now it is war." A ra;d against the barracks at the Japanese headquarters also failed. Fighting went on throughout the night in drivlng rain on the northern border of the International Settlement. Two British warehcuEes caught fire. The Japanese occupied all the international areas north of Soochow Creek and closed the bridges spanning it, thus cut* ting off the stream of refugees. During the air raid, Japanese, armed with clubs, and ineluding women, smashed the street lamps in the Hongkew distriut. The British police frus trated Chinese looters. Many Chinese houses have hoisted British and other flags in the hope they will afford protection, Many are offering to sell their babies for as low as 3/- a hea^d to foreigners in the hope that they may escape death. Protection is being organised for children separated from their parcnts. The foreign consuls are making further efforts to bring about a truce. Eight Japanese warships are reported to have blocked up the Wangpoo River. The Chinese claim advances on both wings in an attaclc on the Japanese cotton mills in north-east Shanghai, which, if it is followed up by stronger forces, will place the outnumbered Japanese in a difficult position. The Japanese on the north Szechuan Road are unable to use their armoured cars for fear of devastating their own settlement. Misjudged Chinese bombs caused a shambles at the junction of tbe Nanking Road and the Avenue Edward VII. A number of foreigners are among tbe casualties, ineluding several British and Americans. Tbe body of Dr. Rawlinson, a prominent American missionary, was found in a shattered motor-car. Tbe lives of the entire foreign population were endangered as the bombers passed over and anti-aircraft shells screamed over tbe International Settlement. Foreigners and Chinese are lying side by side in ghastly beaps. The police announce that 825 bodie3 have been recovered and 1003 wounded were rescued in the vicinity of Avenue Edward VII. There are more in the debris. A number* of British sailors and maiiucs have landed to assist the soldiera and Settlement police and stg patrolling the British defence sector. Fifty French landed from the cruiser Lammotte and mavched to the barracks in the French concession. The Chinese failure to caleulate the direction of the bombs is, attributed to the strength of the typhoon wind, which delayed the arrival of Japanese transports supposed to be eteaming full epeed to Shanghai with reinforcements to prevent a polssible Japanese evacuaJiOBi '

The lighting system has been destroyed and the darkness is hampering relief work. The matron of the Shanghai hospital says the wards are so filled with foreign victims that it is impossible to check the names. A bomb hit the British-owned Asiatic Petroleum Company's stores, the flames lighting up the night sky. The Japanese Admiral still insists he is acting in self -defence and has ignored the representations of European nuthorities asking for the withdrawal of the Japanese warships. Vice-Admiral Hasegawa rejected the suggestion of the captain of the British warship Danae to remove the Idumo to a position less dangerous to the International Settlement on account of the Chinese making air-bombing raids. Admiral Hasegawa said Japan could not ckange tk^ position of its warships unless the neutrals gave guarantees for the protection of Japanese life and property equal to that provided by the warships. In the meanwhile the Japanese war machine- is functioning relentlessly, maintaining an artillery bombardment t'rom the north of the station and driving hundreds into the settlement from the north side of Soochow Creek. Several have been trampled to death in the mad stampede. Three huge fires are still lighting up the murky sky and the streets are almost deserted, and all places of business and amusement are closed. British subjects, in accordance with orders, have evacuated the Settlement north of Soochow Creek. The nightmare took a fresh lease of life when the gunners on both sides swelled the death-roll of Shanghai '-3 metropolis by relentlessly pounding each other's positions. Typhoon winds and drenehing rain have been sweeping the city. The apprehensiveuess of the Japanese attaekers can be apprcciatcd when ifc is known that they have not 'checkcd the slow but apparcntly unimpeded advance of tho Chiuese forces from the north-east and tho north. Japanese coinmuniques admit that these are pressing on strongly and that Chinese shells have caused iires within the Japanese liues. The Japanese are replying to the Chinese thrust with all the available artillery, machinc-guns and armoured cars. Europeans, fearing further Chinese air raids, are spending the night in ccllars. The city's situation seems desperate, surrounded as it is by wellarmed Chinese troops anxious to avenge themselves for previous humiliations at tbe bands of tbe Japanese. General Chiang Kai-shek 's crack 87tb Division has taken up positions in tbe Kiangwan section and other Chinese troops are being rushed up to Sbanghai, The Japanese are hopelessly outnumbered, and are awaiting reinforcements before attempting to advance. Mrs Eleanor Eoosevelt, daughter-in-law of the late Theodore Roosevelt? appealed to Madame Chiang Kai-shek to use her intiuence to stop the bombing of Shanghai at least untii the safety oi foreigners and refugees ure assured. A message from Nanking says 'tliat the British, Frcnch und American reprcsentatives are protesting to China against the bombiug of the International SottJcment. The Chinese are investigating the situation. " General Chiang Kai-shek promised he woukl punish tho Chinese air pilots if he foiyid that their bombing of the Settlement was due to careless marksman? ship. A report from Tsingtao says that the Japanese blame Chinese and the Chinese blama Japanese for the shooting oi the two Japanese sailors on August 9, .to which a Japauese statement aseribed the present situation, They were members of a patrol of five men who were shot at, according to the Japanese version, by a Chinese cyclist, with tho result a petty officer was wounded. Tho party pursued the cyclist, who fired agaiu, iatally woundmg & sailqr. The Jsp aaeaa ais guspi'

ing the secne of the incident with drawn revolvers. The British, American and Japanese Consuls are investigating the incident. The Chinese say that the Japanese sailors were wounded by a Japauese rescrivst wlioxn they were trying to arrest. Chinese planes are reported to have frustrated an attempt to land Japanese marines from the warships in the Yangtsc estuary. Mistaking her for a Japanese cruiser, Cliincse airmen bombed but ■vmissod the British warship Cumberland near Woosung. The British warship Suffolk has arrived and is disembarking marines to jcin mcn from H.M.S. Cumberland. Tlie Japanese Minister afc Nanking called on the Chinese Foreign Minister and demanded the withdrawal of Chinese forces from the settlement precincts to facilitate peace. It is reported that the Japanese troops in North China launched au offensive on the Nanlcow Pass which leads to Iuuer Mongolia.