CHINESE HIT BACK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 154, 22 February 1932, Page 5

CHINESE HIT BACK

MACHiNE-GUNS REPLY TO FIRE OF JAPANESE DESTROYERS STOUT RESISTANCE OFFERED Rec. Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Saturday. At Woosung, Japanese d'estroyers opened fire on Woosung village, ihe Chinese replying with heavy guns without serious result. The Japanese bombardment has reduced a wide area to ruins, extending from the mouth of the Wangpoo River to the Woosung Creek, where the Chinese are strongly entrenched in an amazing system of dugouts and a net-work of tunnels. Chinese shells found their mark in the Chang Wah Pang railway yards, where the Japanese had established a base. The cruiser Yuhan and destroyers poured broadsides into the Woosung village, doing tremendous damage and starting numerous fires. Chinese troops entrenched along the riverbank poured continuous machine-gun fire into the destroyers, but the artillery on the shore failed to score a direct hit on the Japanese vessels.

From the Chapei front the artillery j?helled the Chinese lines beyond the demolished station, while aeroplanes circled overhead dropping bombs. The Chinese field guns replied heavily about noon, while the anti-air-craft guns maintained a regular fire, shells falling in the Settlement and damaging property in the Markham Road area, where five Chinese were killed and many injured. Four Japanese batteries Iocated just outside the Settlement limits in the northern districts, kept concentrated fire on the Chinese positions, but the regular response indicated that the Chinese batteries were not sverely damaged. Fighting in this area is confined to heavy guns. Opposing infantry are awaiting the general offensive^ The Chinese are holding their machine-gun fire until to-night in order to avoid disclosing their positions, which are hidden in numerous ruined buildings. Judging from the activities of the Red Cross units on all fronts, the casualties are believed to be heavy. Incoming vessels report that a fleet of Japanese transports is standing by at the entrance to the Yangtse, convoyed by three cruisers and a destroyer flotilla. These are believed to be additionai divisions which have been requested by General Uyeda.