Japanese Howitzer Shells Scream Over Shanghai

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 42, 12 November 1937, Page 5

Japanese Howitzer Shells Scream Over Shanghai

/ -Per Press Association-

DEFENDERS REORGANISE IN NORTH

(By Telegraph—

— Copyright).

(Received 12, 8.45 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Nov. 11. A million are homeless in Shanghai and face starvation. Another million are on the verge of ruin in the Shantung province as a result of the worst floods in half a century. The floods have been caused by breaches in the dykes of the Yellow river, which has inundated a fifth of the province. With the Japanese virtually masters of Shanghai, there are many indications that they are being less considerate toward the British, French and Amerdcan wishes. They are not disposed to allow owners to visit their homes in the Hungjao area, ahhough the Chinese positions have been removed many miles westward. A new Japanese landing on the south side of Hangchow Bay is reported from Chinese sources, which state that 34 transports, capable of holding 50,000 men, were seen' in the bay. At least half of these troops are reported* to have landed and to be threatening Hangchow* It is stated that six Japanese warships bombarded Amoy for five hours. The Japanese claim that the troops which advaneed from the northern side of Hangchow Bay have made contact with the Japanese near Shanghai, cutting off the Chinese in south Shanghai. Shanghai had another alarm lasting throughout the day and night, when Japanese howitzer shells, aimed at Nantao, screamed over the Settlement from the north. The Navy joined in, and two destroyers, steaming up the Whangpoo River, exchanged machinegun fire with the Chinese forces. Snipers were taking part from Pootung particularly intensively when sailors from Japanese naval launches stole up in the darkness. The Italian cruiser Monte Cuccoli was peppered with bullets when It came into the line of fire while Chinese troops at Nantao attempted to drive off a Japanese gunboat approaching the boom across the river in order to destroy it. Bullets rained on the decks of the Italian cruiser, forcing the crew to seek shelter below. The commander, from the bridge, demanded by means of a megaphone that the firing should cease, but he failed to stop the battle. The firing continued sporadically. The Chinese claim that the 29th Army has been reorganised south of Peiping and has started to counter-attack with the object of recapturing Peiping and Tientsin. More immediately important is the railway junction of Chichiachung, the capture of which would cut off the Japanese in the Taiyung area from their sources of supply, thereby placing them between the Communist Army north of Nanking and the troops in the south.