ARTILLERY BATTLE AT SHANGHAI

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 196, 4 September 1937, Page 5

ARTILLERY BATTLE AT SHANGHAI

-Per Press Association-

Spectators Applaud as Shells Explode Near Warship

(By Telegraph—

— Copyright).

(Received 4, 10.40 a.m.) Shanghai, Sept. 3. •- An artillery battle at Shanghai dislocated the Japanese plans for an offensive from Woosung Peninsula. Scores of junks set on fire off Pootung are drifting down the river in flames. Chinese spectators on the Bund cheer and elap as Chinese shells explode close to the Japanese flagship Idzumo. An artillery duel in which the Japanese warships participated proceeded all night. The Japanese claiin that they captured Lion Forest and the forts at Woosnng, but haye not dislodged the Chinese from Paoshan. The Japanese had the air to themselves and heavily bombed ' the Chinese positions. A sample of futile Chinese valour was provided by a party aboard an old junk off Pootung Point, which machine-gunned the Japanese cruisers, which answered at point-blank range. The shelling incident caused a stampede from the Bund. The Japanese are heavily shelling Chapei. Two Chinese shells penetrated the Japanese Consulate, seriously wounding four Japanese. Shells also damaged a Japanese transport. A shrapnel burst in the afternoon spray ed the British Consulate. There were no staff casualties. A significant factor in the Chinese strategy has been the. careful planning and full co-operation of the Chinese commanders. Hitherto the generals wero accust'omed to fight when they pleased, regardless of plan. Now it is recognised that co-ordinated effort is essential. The High Command is working solidly together for national unity, and the nevv spirit has affected the troops, who have hurled themselves against the enemy, regardless of losses. This is unprecedented in Chinese warfare. The Shanghai correspondent of the Times pays a tribute to the effieiency of the tactics of the Chinese, whose prompt attaeks during the Japanese landing, at five separate points, resulted in the invaders being concentrated at two points, near the Yangtse and at one point on the Whangpoo. Each of these concentrations is now hemmed-in, the Chinese preventing them from effeeting contact with each other. Their connection with the landing bases is imperilled or actually severed. The town of Lotien is occupied by 'both Japanese and Chinese. They are so close together that the Japanese cannot fire their naval guns for fear of hitting tfyeif own troops. A cable from Tokio says that an emergency .mceting of the Diet to-morrow will be asked for a supplementary Budget of £119,000,000 for war expenses to be raised by raeans of bonds. It is hinted that the Premier, Prince Konoye, will ask for powers to make Japan a totalitarian State, owing to fears of sudden Soviet intervention. This is reflected by an order for intensive anti-air-raid drills in Tokio and Osaka.