ALL-DAY ARTILLERY DUEL

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

ALL-DAY ARTILLERY DUEL

Chinese Delay Japanese Advance (Received 4, 1.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Sept. 3. The Chinese report that the Japanese Navy has cut all cablceommunications from China to the south-west, while Japanese bombers in the last few days have destroyed the Tungchi University, Woosung. The Chinese assert that their counter-attacks pierced the Japanese lines at five points and prevented the Japanese at Woosung from effeeting a junction with those at Lotien. They also forced the Japanese to retire to the coast, while Japanese attaeks failed to penetrate the Chinese lines in the Chapei and Yangtse-poo seetors. The Chinese claim that they have further delayed the Japanese offensive from Woosung as the result of an all-day artillery duel The Chinese from Pootung shell6d five Japanese transporls unloading troops and munitions at the eastern end of the Foreign Settlement and eventually forced the Japanese, after they had suffered 200 casualties, to move downstream. The Japanese warship Idzumo, four destroyers and a transport, with war planes (lying overhead, replied. The Chinese retaliated. The warships were not hit, although columns of water were thrown up very close to them. The Japanese shelling failed to silence the Chinese machino-gun nests on the shore, which continucd swceping the tanding-stages. The continuous firing gave Shanghai a day which is not likely to be forgotten. The roar of the bombardment shook buildings like an earthquake. Numerous buildings were struek, rcsulting in others being hastily sand-bagged. Many blazed all day and were comfcletely burnt out. There were 38 casualties, including two British volunteers stationed at the Race Club. A member of the Ulster Rifles was wounded by a sniper. Japanese reconnoitring planes droppihg fiares over Chapei to enable them to watch Chinese movements were heavily peppcred by Ohinose archies. i