JAP OFFENSIVE STARTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1932, Page 5

JAP OFFENSIVE STARTS

[United Press Association.—By Electrk 1 elegra ph Copy r ight. J SHANGHAI, February 20. The Japanese moved to the attack at about 7.30 o’clock this (Saturday) morning. “We gave them thirty minutes' grace, now we must take the offensive. The end of our patience has been readi - ed,” said General Uyeda, the Japanese Commander. At 8.50 a.m., there was „ deafening roar of artillery in the vicinity of Chapei, which indicated teat the Japanese offensive lied begun. Thereupon, two columns of troops advanced between Shanghai and Woosung (to the North) against the Chinese positions in the middle of tlieir line, whk'll positions are uppi’oxitnUtely six miles from Chapei. Observers state that the operations proceeding are reminiscent of those in the Great War. The Japanese are using, roughly, a brigade 'and a half, headed by tanks, that are preceded bv aeroplanes, which are invading the Chinese trenches.

Following behind a creeping barrage the Japanese are at present sweeping everything before them, despite a stout resistance by the Chinese. The Chinese are sadly handicapped by a lack of war material, whereas, the Japanese are excellently equipped.

Other accounts describe the fighting ns still on a small scale, the Japanese awaiting the full expiration of the time limit at five o’clock this evening. Meantime, the British and the other foreign authorities are assisting their compariots to evacuate the dangei zone.

According to later messages, the hostilities at Shanghai have been opened out on a large scale-, after the desultory beginning this morning. On three fronts there is now intense bombarding, by the Japanese artillery. This is proceeding along the Kiangwan front and the Chapei front, together with the heavy shelling of the Woosung defences in the north, as the Japanese have commenced their big push over a wide front. The Japanese forces, stretching along tli e whole front between Woosung and Shanghai, are making a concerted move. They have slowlv advanced, preceded by heavy firing from small Howitzer. batteries. The movement alohg the KiartgWan front (above Chapei) commenced shortly after eight o’clock this morning, when Japanese iniantr.v occupied the International Bace Course, with but little fighting, the Chinese having retreated from the course to stronglv-entrencbed posiitons further

inland. At seven o’clock. General Lyeda summoned his staff officers, and announced that the Chinese had failed to withdraw, and he ordered an immediate offensive. Ninety minutes later the Kiangwan Racecourse had been occupied with but few casualties. The Jap infantry advance was being assisted by a heavy bombardment of the shallow Chinese trenches in the Kiangwan area. CHINESE RETIREMENT FORESEEN. The Chinese forces retreated to Kiangwan Village which is reported to be strongly fortified. As a matter of fact, a converging Japanese movement towards Kiangwan had been commenced at midnight on Friday, when infantry took up positions on a right-angle formation, awaiting the order to advance. There had been a mixed brigade stationed for the past week at Changwahpang and they moved south-west after midnight on' Friday towards the Racecourse, while the main Japanese line moved across the Woosung Afi lit - nrv road steadily.

Tile new position of the Japanese here has now been consolidated, and they now are awaiting the general offensive, having cleared the immediate

front. The small Chinese resistance in this area has been fully expected, as the Chinese intend falling hack upon a fortified trench system, along a line extending from the Kiangwan Village. Itf-voml the Jessfield Park, southwards from Xantno.

Japanese reports estimate three thousand Japanese troops had occupied the Kiangwan Sector, but they nflereri little resistance. with the exception of a strong party, who were inside tin* Fulitan University, which was eventually taken by the Japanese, but at a considorable sacrifice of nmn, cuing t.n the Japanese unwillingness to bombar,l tlm cultural * ill' l "ui. The Chinese at the 'University, retreated when Japanese aeroplanes bombed the vicinity.

During the Japanese advance, limit aeroplanes circled over the ofiiceLivc territory, denoting the operations of the artillery.

At Woosii i g. Japanese destroyers opened fire on W r nesting Village, 'me Chinese replving to them with heavy guns, but without nnv serious result. The Japanese naval bombardment- reduced n wide area of ruins, extending from the month of the \Yhangpoo River to tlm Woosung Creek, where the Chinese are strongly entrenched

O — • TERRIFIC ARTILLERY BARRAGE HOSTILITIES ON A LARGE SCALE HEAVY CASUALTIES REPORTED

in an amazing system of dug-out and a network of tunnels. Chinese shells

found their marks in the Changwahpang Bailway Yards, where the Japanese have established a base, nut the cruiser “Ylibaii” and the Jap destroyers poured broadsides into Woosung village, do.jjg tremendous damage and starting numerous fires. The Chinese troops entrenched along the Whaugpoo rivevbank, poured a continuous machine-gun fire into the Japanese destroyers, but the Chinese artillery in the village of Woosung failed to store liny direct hit on Japanese vessels.

FrUiil their Chapei front, the Japanese artillery pumped-shells into the Chinese lines behind the demolished North Railway Station, while Jap aeroplanes circled overhead dropping bombs.

Chinese field guns replied heavily to the Japanese at Chapei towards noon, while Chinese anti-aircraft .guns maintained regular lire, numerous shells falling iu the International Settlement, damaging property on the northern road area, and killing five Chinese, also injuring many.

Four Japanese batteries located just outside the International Settlement limits, in northern districts, kept up a concentrated fire on the Chinese positions, hut there was a regular response which indicated that the Chinese batteries had not been severely damaged.

The fighting in this area, has been confined to heavy gunning, as the opposing infantry forces have been awaiting the general offensive. The Chinese are holding back the machine-gun fire until to-night, in order to avoid dislocating the positions of the machine guns, which are hidden in numerous ruined buildings, awaiting for the Japanese to attack. Judging from the activity of the Red Cross Units on all the fronts, the casualties are believed to be heavy. Incoming vessels report that there is a fleet of Japanese transport standing by the entrance of River Yangtse, where they are conveyed by three cruisers and a destroyer flotilla. These are believed to be additional Japanese forces

SITUATION MORE SERIOUS,

BRITISH CABINET COMMITTEE.

LONDON, February 19

The situation at Shanghai lias necessitated both the Admiralty and the War Office to remain open all night, until further notice, as during the Great AVar.

An emergency committee of the Cabinet, including Mr Baldwin, Sir John Simon, Lord Hailsham, Sir Bolton Eyres-Consell. Sir Samuel Hoare, Mr Neville Chamberlain and Mr J. H. Thomas, has been formed and is ready to meet at an hour’s notice at any time of the day or night. The Ministers have cancelled their week end engagements. The newspaper “Sketch” says: Arrangements have been made for the Australian Navy to co-operate with the British Navy in the event °f emergency measures becoming necessary at -Shanghai to -safeguard ene British interests. LEAGUE LISTENS TO JAPAN. HAS 100,000 TROOPS READY. RUGBY, February 19-

A full meeting of the League Council was held later, in public, in response to China’s appeal under Article Fifteen of the Covenant.

M. Boncour. presiding, said that the Council would present a draft resolution on the Shanghai question-

Dr. Veil, in a statement, declared that the Japanese were carrying oil what amounted to war. They were on the eve of a great battle, in which 100,000) men were waiting the hour set by the Japanese. He asked the Council to take immediate preventative measures to avoid further bloodshed.

Viscount Sato, Japanese delegate, said that the Japanese had expended nil their efforts to stop hostilities and bad made many proposals. Until yesterday they bad hoped that an agreement’could ho reached. Unfortunately, that was not the ease. The Japanese demand lor the withdrawal of the Chinese troops had been made for nuritary security. The Covenant of the League was set up to regulate affairs between organised countries and did not applv to (tli in a. Other stales with inU-rest" in China bad bad to intervene in the -nine manner as Japan was doing now. The Council could not impose its idealistic decisions, hut -should ! j rv l a find an clfieaciens and cdo'-unU-j wav of solving the difficulty. Gidy if China were organsied could Manelii.il in be restored I" her. Independence in .Manchuria really implied autonomy, i for wit bout autonomy Manchuria I would no( be sale I roni t he arbjtiaiy measures dfi the Chinese Government i ri<i would not exist- in peace. Japan bad no idea of annexing Manchuria. What Japan wanted was to retain her

field of action in Manchuria and to maintain the principle of the Open Door. JAPAN OUTLINES CASE. WHAT WOULD RETREAT MEAN GENEVA, Feb. 20. In an hour’s speech at the League of Nations Council, the Japanese delegate, Viscount Sato, denied that the Japanese have used dum-dum bullets or poison gas. He explained that the bombing of a refugee camp (as cabled on February Illtli) had been due to there being barbed wire entanglements at the camp, which misled the Japanese aviators.

Viscount Sato said that a withdrawal of the Japanese from Shanghai would entail the renunciation of the whole of Japan’s rights in China, which no Government could face.

japan, he said, worn! retire when her aim had been attained. Viscount Sato, referring to Manchuria, declared that the people of Japan are barred everywhere. They are not admitted to America, nor to the countries of the Southern Seas. He recalled how Japan had protested against this inequality of the races when the League Assembly had first met. If Japan were to be rejected from China, what could she do? That was why Japan had now to think tor herself as regards Manchuria, where she had invested an immense amount of capital.

If Japan were going to he condemned for agression, declared Viscount Sato, it would ho necessary to condemn the other Rowers for similar acts, and uotoubly the Soviet for its annexation of parts of Mongolia.

M. Paul Boueour (French represenative) finally appealed to Y iscount Sato to delay the expiration of the ultimatum so as to enable a settlement to bo sought.

The British, Italian and German delegates associated themselves with M. Boncour’s appeal. The Assembly of the League meets on March 3rd. LAST HOUR APPEAL. FOR DELAY OE SLAUGHTER. GENEVA, Feb. 20. The at the League of Nations there was a dramatic appeal to Japan made by M. Paul Boncour (French delegate), who said: “Before the ground is red with blood, and strewn with dead, will you render this service to tlie League—to obtain a delaj of the hostilities so as to enable a further conference of the parties with the foreign representatives—otherwise we shall face the tragic situation that while we have been talking a big battle will be begun.” The Japaneses spokesman said that he would be able to appeal to the Government at Tokio, provided that the appeal was also pressed upon China.

WARNING TO JAPANESE,

FEARS FOR FOREIGNERS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20

The United States has joined with Britain, France and Italy in notifying the Japanese authorities at Shanghai tha Japan will be held responsible in “a large measure” for the jeopardy resulting to foreign life and property from the battle, which is now progressing. president Hoover and Mr Stimson (U.-S. Secretary) discussed the situation to-day arising from the fact of there being an intensified Japanese offensive, and indicated great anxiety felt from the danger to the Foreign Settlement if the Japanese break the centre of the Chinese line and swing to the west in a “mopping up” operation. BOYCOTT PROPOSAL. REVIEWED IN U.S.A. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.

Some interest has been aroused in revival of the boycott discussion with ii petition to Congress and. to the President by Mr Baker, former United States Secretary for War and six University Presidents to the effect that the United States should join in such a measure as a boycotting against Japan, should the League of Nations decide thereon.

Senator Borah has reiterated bis opposition to such a boycott, declaring that the boycott “is the best way to advance the cause of war between the United States and Japan.” Other Government officials are reluctant to discuss the matter. JAP. REIGN OF TERROR. GENEVA, February, 20. Dr Yen (Chinese delegate to the League) alleged before the Lcaguy Council that the Japanese have used dum-dum bullets, and that they have m .ated a reign of terror in Shanghai. They were finally persisting with their ultimatum.