NANKING FALLS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 5

NANKING FALLS

-Press Assn -

Occupation Effected air attacks cease Autonomous Regime Set Up in Shansi WARSHIPS BREAK BOOM

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-Conyrijnt.)

(Eeceived 14, 9.10 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Dec. 13. General Matsui announces the complete occupation of Nanking. Two sources confirm this statement. The occupation was preceded by fieree figliting within the walls. The Japanese military and naval air forces ceased bombing Nanking in order not to hinder the Japanese fighting inside the city. An autonomous provincial Government has been established in Shansi. It is pledged to co-operate with the Japanese. There are signs that South Hopei will shortly do likewise. Japanese warships have broken the boom at Chinkiang, and are steaming up the river to Nanking. The Japanese claim to have occupied Pukow, opposite the Nanking terminus of the Tientsin-Pukow railway, so that the Chinese can retire only by the river, which is constantly under fire. The Chinese are retreating up river in junks and steamers, which are being bombed from the air and shelled. Foreign vessels have been warned by the Japanese to stay away or cease movements that might be mistaken for those of retreating Chinese. The Japanese declare that they completed the occupation of Nanking at sun set after 24 hours' bitter street fighting. Warships shelled Chinese attempting to escape up the Yangtse in junks and steamers, sinking fojir and drowning 1000 Chinese. The Japanese rushed troops to close the northern exits. A Japanese column occupied Pakow and another force, completing the eneirelement, reached the waterfront at Hsiakwan, where the Chinese were maintaining many strong posts. The Chineise suffered very severe casualties. A Hankow communique states that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek ordered the withdrawal from Nanking, which was carried out at night time to avoid ' heavy sacrifices. The communique adds that the Chinese in the Lake Tai region are steadily pressing towards Wulising and Changsing and that Chinese mobile •units completely control 20 districts on the Hopei-Shansi-Chahar border. The Times Peiping correspondent says that the Japanese spokesman admits serious fighting south of Peiping, where Chinese guerillas are attacking Japanese garrison's every day. A Tokio message says: The public has begun the celebration of the fall of Nanking with numerous lantern processions.