1937-11-05 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER

BATTLE

NEW

SOARING TO CRESCENDO

Desperate Effort Strengthens Japan's Positions

FURTHER CROSSINGS OF

SOOCHOW CREEK

HUGE CONCENTRATION

OF NAVY FOR POOTUNG LANDING

Shanghai, To-day.

Threat of a Japanese attempt to land troops în Pootung, for the purpose of driving out the Chin-

BOYCOTT

OF JAPAN

IN COLONY

Japan will technically be boy- cotted by all Chinese in the Colony shortly, pending the unanimous approval by all firms of the sag- gestion of the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce to

campaign

ese forces there while the Japanese troops on the launch a "Bay Native Goods" western front try to strike a way to the river, is

ALL TRAFFIC

HELD UP BY LONDON FOG

London, To-day.

Such a heavy fog prevailed last night in London, and many other parts of the country that all traffic was stopped.

In the metropolis, fires were lit at the most congested points to aid the few cars which braved the pea-souper

The regular passenger plane from Germany which tried to land

seen by some observers in the presence of 42 war- SETBACK DUE at Croydon, was instructed to pro- ships between Shanghai and Woosung, with about the same number outside Woosung.

These ships, which represent the largest con- centration of Japanese naval might since the be ginning of hostilities, are reported to include four aircraft-carriers.

TO NEW GUNS ceed to Southampton, where

it

landed safely later

Shipping in the Channel was Shanghai, 9.20 am. To-day. The Chinese, whose position almost completely held up.--Trans-

Ocean. along the Soochow Creek, was 60

favourable yesterday, suffered

a

setback following success of Ja- panese operations at other points!

made to extend the panese control.

landings being FANTASTICALLY

under Ja-

Meanwhile, landing boats used by the Japan-r: successful landings being ese at Woosung in August and September have now been moved to Yangtsepoo, while at the same time it is reliably reported that fresh Japanese reinforce ments are steadily pouring into Shanghai.

Concentration of a large number HIGH LOSSES

of fresh batteries in the zone, which mercilessly shelled the whole Chinese front, contributed impor

Concentration of a large number

A foreign observer who toured the MORE GAIN A tantly to the success

Chinese lines says that the Chinese

who have gained a footing on

are preparing a counter-attack aim- ed at dislodging the Japanese troops

the

south side of the Creek

MORALE HIGH

FOOTING

Shanghai, To-day. Following renewed bitter fight ing, which lasted until the early The observer asserts that the mor-hours of this morning, more Ja- ale of the Chinese troops is very panese troops have succeeded in high in spite of heavy casualties, gaining a footing on the south and he is of the opinion that the bank of Soochow Creek. Chinese may hold up, the Japanese advance for a considerable time-

The Chinese claim to have shot down two Japanese planes yester day-Reuter

SETTLEMENT ROCKED

Shanghai, To-day The severest bombardment on the Shanghai front heard for many days, rocked the western district of the Settlement all might as Japanese batteries opened up on the Chinese positions south of Soochow Creek,

The Japanese first captured

Nothing could have lived barrage which the Japanese down to cover the crossi while they adopted new giving up attempts to build toons but commandeering which they laid in a chain

the creek.

SUPERB GALLANTRY

In spite of the force violence of three small villages on the south the attack, there were several oc- bank, but were thrown out of the casions when the superb gallantry centre village by an energetic of the Chinese counter-attacking Chinese counter-attack, so that forces nearly caused failure, and Japanese detachments roughly entrenched in the other two vil lages were cut off.

The Japanese later reoccupied the villages after a severe bom bardment by their artillery other side of the Creek.

CHAIN OF JUNKS

Last night's crossing was car

by means of a bridge.

a chain of junks, while big guns laid a

Bursts of shrapnel could be observed from parts of the around the points of Settlement and French Conces- Kubicon Villag sion, while trench mortar and the Japanese machine-gun fire was plainly with both heard.

Tosses

The Hungia

GROUND GIVEN The borebardment is believed to many we dences, be the prelude of a major Japanese drive to extend the grip on the through the fighting." south bank of the Creek and sim- ing at the capture of the Hungjao

rea.

The Chinese military authorities describe the might's fighting "extremely szagaïnary” an the opinion that a

likely to break out

It is now ese that

HUNGJAO ROAD RUIN Many foreign-owned houses in

area have been damaged. shells and nearly all the villas Hangjao Road destro

Hanjao

med

urse

has

one group of about 500 Japanese are reported to have been cut off and annihilated on their refusal to

render. One village

times in the sanguin remained in

lese, who 000 men on

Casualties alleling the days of

JAPAN

the south bank three tured urse of a night of

ng, but it finally, hands of the Ja mployed more than the operation

Just arrived

Shanghai, Tod

Determination

Shanghai, 10 am, To-day.

Foreign observers, com- eating on the desperate apanese

efforts along the Creek during the ate the belief that losses must have been stically high” al- ugh it is unlikely that it

be admitted.

Reports here state that owing to the heavy losses. suffered recently, troops are being brought down to. Shanghai from North China. Our Own Correspondent.

The Chinese are also plac- ing long lines of barbed wire and are improving their re- doubts and machine-gun em- placements.

Meanwhile, forcements chiefly from Pukow Railway

heavy re

„arriving, Tientsin

It is reported that Gen- eral Chang Fah-kwei, com mander the famous Iron- side

opera

CHINESE CLAIM KWANGEU

Shanghai

fighting,

of Japanese troops

ged, in an

through the Chin

Kwang

the

taging

Chinese to check the Japan- ese troops at all costs, foreshadowed by intense tivity in the Hungiso area, where large 1 of Chinese soldiers ging in

At one point Chinese in- fantrymen have dug trenches within a few yards

miles toward

Injuries

Bri

d by the 1

line was foug