RELATIVE POSITIONS UNCHANGED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 181, 18 August 1937, Page 5

RELATIVE POSITIONS UNCHANGED

Chinese Claim to have Damaged Warships /Received 18, 12.45 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Aug. 17. Despite the pandemonium of the bombing in the environs of the relative military position of the Chinese and Japanese forces is unchauged. Their martial activities have definitely accelerated the pace of Englisli, American and other evacuations. Duteli and Ilungarians numbering 130 have departed for Manila and Batavia and Danes for Hongkong. All outgoing Japanese ships are crowded with Japanese subjects. The eity faces the prospect of an acute food shortage. Ilotels and restaurants are curtailing their menus. The stoppagc of gas is compelling thousands to use charcoal or eat cold meals. The Chinese claim that the Japanese flagship Idumo wa8 badly damaged by the raiding motor-boat's torpedo and also that Chinese air -bombs have set fire to two Japanese warships. Thirty thousand fresh Japanese troops have arrived in North China, bringing the total to 80,000. This was the original theatre of Japanese operations in China before sbe was led into the Shanghai adventure by liasty action on the part of the Navy. Chinese planes continue to attack Hongkew, where Japanese yesidents are massed, and also Yangtse-poo, where large Japanese cotton mills are situated. In view of this, the Settlement police force has evacuated this area. The Second Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers disembarked at Woosung from the Maron and from the destroyer Delight. The Maron also brought half a million dollars' worth of banknotes rushed from Hongkong owing to the closure of the hanks creating a- demand for cash. All the hanks have reopened tempoarary premises away from the Bund. A Chinese inob lynclied a civilian Japanese near Sassoon House beeause they believed he was carrying poison.