BATTLE ON 10-MILE FRONT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 194, 2 September 1937, Page 5

BATTLE ON 10-MILE FRONT

-Per Press Association-

ARMIES AT GRIPS AROUND SHANGHAI Japanese Attempt to Smash' tKe Chinese Concentrations AERIAL BOMBS AND NAVAL SHELLS

'(By TelegrapK—

-Copyrjgjit) .

(Received 2, 10.40 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Sept. 1, On & ten-mile front north and east of Shanghai, the Chinese and Japanese manoeuvring fprqes have come to grips. The japanese are attempting to smash the Chinese concentrations by bombs from aeroplanes and shells from shore batteries and. " warships berthed. in the river. The Chinese are hampered by ja laek of anti-aircraft gnns and are relying on machine-guns and artillery. The Japanesp announoe the capture of Paoshan, but six Chinese divisions are stubbornly contesting tlie Japanese drive westward towards Lotien. The line extends from the Wliangpoo " riyer, midway between Shanghai and Woosupg, throngh Yanchang and Liuhang towards Kiating, which. indicates that the Japanese right flank is farther inland from the Yangtse-kiang than had preyiously been reported. MThey went to their death as if returning home," says the Christian General Feng Yu-hsiang in describing the tenacity with whieh the Chinese defended themseives on the Whangpoo front. "Their morale was magnificent. A whole battalion was wiped out fo a man while trying to hold their positions." [While the Chinese defenders at the North Station were defying A ppwerful onslanght, those near the niouth of the Whangpoo river launehed a counter-offensive in the hope of reeapturing the WoOTOg forts, Meanwhile, owing to the heavy death-roll, there is a coffin lamine in Shanghai, Carpenters, though they are working overtime, are nnable to meet the demand, though all are aware of the importance attaehed by the Chinese tQ having propet coffins for interment. Many of the dead will perforce be buried in a common grave. Shrapnel seyeral times struck the warships Danae and Fajmouth. There were no casualties, but the decks were damaged.