CHINESE RETIRE BEFORE MERCILESS ATTACK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 10, 5 October 1937, Page 7

CHINESE RETIRE BEFORE MERCILESS ATTACK

Press Associatlon-

RETREAT NORTH OF SHANGHAI Japanese Rain Huge Shells on Defenders DESPERATE RESISTANCE FAILS

By Electric Telegrapli — United

— Copyright.

(Reeeived 5, 8.5 a.m.) LONDONj Oct. 4. For 36 hours the Japanese unceasingly have fained giant shells •n the Chincse positious at Kiangwan, north of Shanghai. They are covering their repeated thrusts by a dozcn mechanised detach- - ments, which arc dosigned to disintegrate the Chinese defences. Japanese planes are also bombing the defenders. Forty warplanes swooped down to-day and machine-gunned the Kiangwan-Tazanr highway; nine bombed Kiangwan, and 12 others assaulted the Chine§e in the rear. Nevertheless, the Chinese are eontinuing to resist desperately, falling back on the Lotien highway to a new line of fortifications with concrete pili-boxes. The Japanese admit that the withdrawal is orderly, althougb the Chinese haye abandoned a quantity of material. Mr. Pembroke Stephens, the London Daily Telegraph 's speeial correspondent at Shanghai/ says-: "Despite heroic resistance in the face of overwhelming artillery and aerial bombardment, the battered Chinese at Liuhaug retreated 1000 yards on a five-mile front, losing part of the Shanghai-Liuho road, 11 miles north-west of Shanghai. The Chinese lacked aeroplanes, and had the minimum of artillery. "The Japanese admit that their losses were very heavy. "The Japanese deserted their lines in the Kaingwan soctor in order to Ihrow every man into the Liuhang attack. I witnesscd much of this five-day buttle, and watched the Chinese retreat from their main defences, aithough they fought garaely. "The continuous hammering and ceaseless infantry attaclts have worn down the original cheerful courage of the Chinese. I have never seen such- steadfastness under fire as has been dispiayed by the Chincse, or such suffering as the plight of their wounded. ''Wounds are unbandaged, as there ?«re no first-aid stations, and it is impossible to transport the wounded until night-time, owing to the Japanese aerial domination. "Ghastly figures tottering frora the ruins of cottages, fields and hedges, crying for help, surrounded my cur, into which 1 packed the worst cases. When I stai'led the cur. others endeavoured to cling to the sides and limped, pleadingly, behind. "I made a tour of the crowded hospitals of Shanghai before I was able to dispose of the wounded." - t