DESPERATE FIGHTING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 17 August 1937, Page 7

DESPERATE FIGHTING

OPERATIONS AROUND SHANGHAI

v BOMBARDMENT CONTINUES

(United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August IT, 9.35 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 16. Japanese gunboats this afternoon heavily shelled and bombed Rootling, a Chinese town on the other side of the Whangpoo River opposite the International Settlement, causing explosions which rocked Shanghai. The Chinese guns replied. The Japanese destroyer Hasu shelled and set on tire a four-storey brick building on the Chinese Bund (esplanade) allegedly harbouring a nest of machine-guns and snipers. „ Ambulances sped to the blazing building. It is feared that the death roll will be heavy as the district is densely populated.

When night fell star shells lit up the battle grounds on all sectors and the artillery and machine-gun fire was incessant, the Japanese resisting a desperate attempt by the Chinese to capture the Japanese headquarters.

A tremendous explosion, the cause of which is not known, shook the Bund area like an earthquake.

The warships are still pounding at Pootung

The Chinese officially claim that the Japanese have abandoned their headquarters near Hongkew Park and also the cotton mills serving as their base in the north-eastern quarter of Shanghai.

Arrangements have been completed for the shipment, in the Rajputana and the Empress of Asia to Hong Kong of 2000 women and 60 children. It is stated that no more ships are available at present. Cargo boats may be used later.

A Tokio message says that the Government has.replied to the Powers that Japan is unable to relinquish her defensive operations.