SMASHING VICTORY FOR JAPANESE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 29, 28 October 1937, Page 5

SMASHING VICTORY FOR JAPANESE

-United Press Assodation^

Miles of Bwldings Ablaze at RETREATING CHINESE BOMBED

By Electric lelegraph-

-Copyrigbfc.

(Redeived 28, 10.40 a.m LONDON* Oet* 27. 'A fire of unprecedented dimensions is ragiitg in Chapei, where Ihe Chinese BleW up and ignited buildings before retiring, A toessage from Mr Pembroke Stephens* the noted correspondent* td the Daily Telegraph states that Chapei waS evaduated without fighting in the early hours of the morning. T'he Japanese Victory is complete* The capture of Chapei ended a siege lasting 71 days, during which thousands of lives were lost* Fires, believed to be the biggest in the Par East since those whieh occurred as a result of the Tokio earthquake of 1923* are Sraging at the present time. It is estimated that there are eiglit miles Of blazing buildings. Over 100 Japanese warplanes are pursuing the retreating Chinese. A ciiinese statement shows that a line five to ten miles from Ihe evacuated positions has been taken up by the Chinese, who are determined, at all costs, to prevettt the Japanese oecupying Nantao* The retreat has intensified the dif ficult situation in the International Sett1#,-ment, where hundreds of Chinese wounded have been taken in. « Japanese plattes pursuing the retreating Chinese machiiie-gun-ned a British post on the Srennan Road. The British retaliated, hitting a plane, but not bringihg it down. There were ho British casudlties.

The Japanese, in a powerful offensive along the whole of the Chapei front at dawn^ cUptUred the Nortk fita® tioh and Occupied ihe adjoifiing Administration building* also the Ifiternationai racecourse. ' The Japanese alSO captUred the Chenju Statxon,'on the Nanking-Sharig-hai railway* ' Siiice early this morning tho Chinese ih North Shanghai have refeUmed the withdrawal of their forces. The Japanese flag flies at the North Station, and other flags along ihe Soochow Creek indicate ihe -progress of the troops puriuing the Chin&so. It iS estimated that the areas involv«d amoUiit to sOvefal square miles. Further inland ihe Japaufese planCB are aetive, gunning aud boinbing the iretreatang trodps. Hundreds of Chinose Trapped* The latest reports indicate that the Japanese euddenly dashed southwards through Chapei* rcaching Soochow Creek and cUtting off an atea in Chapei in which hundreds of Chinese made a bittor stand. Dcclhting foreign advice 1 6 gurrender, they are stated to be determined to remain io the last man. They are ttapped within fout square Iniles of flame. The Japanese hope tO smoke them out. The Chinese spokesman to-day admitted that the Chinese had abandoned aU their pOsitiona in Eiahgwan and Chapeij but claimed that the retreat was orderly. Moreover, it would place the new lines beyond effective range Of the Japanese warships in the Yangtse, which have shelled the ChinMo mercilesfi]ys Thousands of maddened Chinese in western Shanghai are seeking to entef tho foreign areas. They fear that the Japanese will soon cross the Soochow Creek. Chinese soldiers are assisting foreign troops to excilide tbeiM. The Japanese are bombing an area close to the British pdsb Where Ritie-' man W, MeGowan, of the First fiattalion, Royal Ulsters, was shot on Sunday. It is reported that British troopa are firing anti-aircraft guns whenever the Japanese approaelx too close, in accorda&ce with the British inilitary an« notmcement on Monday. Resistance to Continue. The Shanghai oorrespendenb of The Times says that, although the Chinese are disappointed at their failure to withstand ihe thrUst at Tazang, they are eonfident of their abiiity to oontinue the resistance. The situation is causing renewed anxiety to ldreigners, as the hostilities are ndaring the western perimeter of the settlement which the British are manning. The Chinese divisioiis, after two months of an heroio but losiug cam paign* have been withdrawu. The Japanese, however, flad a obeerful new i army facidg them in the rear of Tazaiig, which was pnu'ticaliy encirclod before it was abandoned. Seven large Japanese tfiilks advaficed along the Tazang-ShaHghai road and demoJished a bamcade, hut camotiflagt d Chinese anti-tanb guns drove them baok. The Japanese then began a bumbardment -of the area. The Chinese blew up a bridge head, the Japanese killing the over-daring advance troops xxnd setting fire to an HfflmUnitibfi duiiip. No More Catuaity LlsiS. A report from Tokio states that the Japanese newspapers have Ceased pril* tiiig casualty lists, but the secreey does nok prev.ent ihe realisatiofi . that in.atny

reservists Whd rccently departed for the front have aiready been killed. AJ1 the iiioxnxng newspapers in Tokio annouUCe that the Japanese Cabinet has decided not to participate'in tho conference at Brussels of sigxiatories to the Nine-l'ower Treaty and other States interosted in the Faf East* The Tokio correspondent of The Times says that the dropping by Mr MUshakoji, the Japanese AmbasSador to Berlitt, of his projectod visit to Italy has revived reports that Japan will adhere to the Gef man- Japanese antiCommuttist paot, The Japanese Fofeigb Office does not coilfirm this, but admits that Mr Mushakoji may have discusscd measures t'or px'eventxng the spxcad i of Cpmmunismi.