1937-12-13 — Page 3

GALLANT DEFENCE OF

THE CAPITAL

Chinese Make Fine Show Against Attackers

Nanking, Dec. 11.

Is it Nanking's destiny to be come another Alcazar?

correspon. Foreign newspaper dents sticking grimly to their posts in China's capital were asking themselves this question" to-night, after witnessing a day of hectic fighting in which the grim dater mination of the Chinese defenders had resulted in the mashing of the fury of the Japanese 'on- slaughts at all polnis.

Magnificent is the only word to describe the Chinese stand to-day. Their record was one of complete triumph, gaired it is true at s heavy cost, under a storm of ar- tillery fire and aerial, bombing, but with the Japanese, too, suffering disastrous losses in desperate "ef- forts to carry the the Chinese machine-gun posts by storm.

points

Nowhere in the city had. the Japanese secured any advantage despite wave upon wave of assaults. Ou the other hand, they were thrust back at strategic from ground previously gained.

Outstanding episode in a day marked by extreme heroism " was the smashing of a violent Japanese attack at the south gate, in an action which was nothing than "a severe defeat for Japanese.

TANKS CHARGE

less the

This particular rush was led by four tanks, which crashed their way through the south gate shortly after ten o'clock..

In a few moments, the forces were locked in a death-grip which ended only, when the four Japanese tanks had been disabled, their crews killed, and the survivors among the infantry were in full fight through the south gate.

Everywhere the same spirit of determination had manifested it sell. There is no sign of retreat, or thought of retreat.

Sanguinary aghting is also con- tinuing outside the city walls, where

200,000 provincial .some troops are engaged in heroic at- tempts to break up the Japanese forces to a halt.

It was noted, however, that the provincial troops are slowly with- drawing men across to the Pukow side. of

it is the Yangtze, and thought likely that this process will be speeded up, leaving only the Central Government troops inside the walls to defend the capital Transocean News Service.

SEVERE CLASHES

Hankow. Dec. 11 According to Chinese despatches received to-day, severe fighting 15 raging at five of Nanking'a city gates, where the Japanese, aided by aircraft, artillery and tanks, are severely pounding the Chinese de- fences in a determined effort to capture the city.

The heaviest engagement is go- ing on outside. Chunghus Mem, or south gate, where the Chinese are said to be stubbornly holding on to forts on top of a small hill known as the Yu Hua Tal, which is na- tonally famous for its beautiful transparent cloured pebbles, hence the name, "Petals Rained from Heaven."

Three forts on top of the hill guard, the entrance to the south gate...

Meanwhile, according to Chinese reports, Japanese troops have oc- cupied Purple Mountain, where the Mausoleum of Sun

Yat-sen 19 situated, and are attempting to storm the Ohungshan and Taiping gates of the city.

The Chungshan Gate is on Nan- king's famous Chungshan Road, which goes through the gate into the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Park. and the Mausoleum.

1

The Taiping Gate is situated slightly north of the Chungshan Gate.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1937.

|TOKYO PLANS

CELEBRATIONS

Million Children To Take Part

Tokyo, Dec. 11. Mammoth celebrations are plan- ned immediately syrens and broad- casts announce Japanese occupa- tion of Nanking

A million school-children, Boy Scouts,

Girl Quldes, students. YM.C.A. members, Reservists'. Aš- sociations, bankers' employees and members of the Stock Exchange in Tokyo will participate in general revelries, processions and lantern parades to the Imperial Palace.

The War and Navy Ministries, the Italian and German Embassies and shop fronts in all Japanese cities will be beflagged.

Enthusiast?? has reached ita highest pitch in Osaka, Kyoto and,, Kobe where the citizens, more impatient than those of Tokyo, have already held big fing proces-

sions.

."

Flags and lanterns are enjoying. a brisk sale.-

Bruter.

PURPLE MOUNTAIN CAPTURED.

It was the place where · the Manchu Imperial army, under the command of Baeng Kuo-fang. finally captured Nanking after a slege lasting ten years, by dynamit- ing the city well.

capture Japanese

of Purple Mountain at this early stage has surprised Chinese circles, as the mountain was strongly fortified.

Occupation of,the mountain gives the Japanese complete command of the city. since the mountain towers above the capital,

From the top the Japanese can direct gunfire on any part of the city.- Reuter

RENEWED ATTACK

Shanghai, Dec. 11. According to Japanese reports, Japanese forces launched a fresh offensive against Nanking at le o'clock this morning, supported by an, intensive. aerial and artillery bombardment.

BRITISH NAVAL CASTLECARY

REARMAMENT

London, Dec. 11.

The keels of the last three at

RAILWAY

DISASTER

seven 1,050-ton submarines for Fire Hinders Rescue

construction of which the present naval programme provides, were lald recently, according to an official Admiralty statement issued yesterday.

Work

Landen. Dec. 10,

PREMIER TO MAKE STATEMENT

AFTER OCCUPATION OF NANKING

Tokyo, Dec. 11. When the Japanese complete oc- cupation of Nanking, the Premier, Prince Konoye, is expected to make a statement urging the people to "unite solidly in preparation for protracted hostilities."

In one of the worst raliway acci- | It is thought in some quarters dents of recent years, 34 people are The Premiler will also draw popu- that the number of British sub- believed to have lost their lives ar attention to the "heavier res marries will be greatly increased when two trains, one from Edin-ponsiblaties now devolving on the in the near future, and it is as-burgh and the other from Dundee,oulders of Japan for establish- serted that the new Navy Estimates collided at Castlecary to-day on the will provide for construction of a London and North-Eastern Rail- far greater number of sufmarines way. than were bullt in the current

year.

It is pointed out that Italy has. approximately, ·102 submarines, and is likely to build more in the near future.

is

Generally speaking. however, Britain's naval rearmament making sacisfactory progress.

Contracts for construction of the last warships for which the current programme provides

four

8,000-ton cruisers of the "F" class-will be placed with various shipyards this month.

Some anxiety is said to be exis- tent, in official quarters, however, concerning the question of per- sonnel for warships now under construction, since it is consider- ed doubtful, whether a sufficient number of trained officers and men will be available for manning the new ships on their completion.- Transocean.

Japanese columns, preceded by tanks, advanced from three direc- tions against the walls, which ati many points have been reduced to smoking masses of broken masonry.

ment of peace in East Asia as the result of collapse of the Napking "Government, which has been re- Twenty-six bodies pave been reduced to the status of a mere local

administration.” covered and others, are being ex- tricated from the mass of wreck- age. At least 40 are injured in this, the worst train disaster since, 1915 when the Gretna Green di- aster took place

One train ran into the rear of the other. Villagers rushed to the railway station to help the victims. They used improvised stretchers pending the arrival of ambulances. across the snow-bound countryside from nearby towns.

An earlier official announcement of the death roll placed the number of victims at 24, but more bodies.. were believed to be in the wreck-

age.

COACHES SMASHED

The Japanese newspapers state that hostilities will go on with the

al of Nanking.

Kuomintang, whose abiding prin- ciple consists of antagonising and excluding Japan, remains in power, even if Mr. Wang Ching-wet re- places General Ohlang Kai-shek,”

The "Nichi-Nichi" congratulates the Japanese forces who have reached Nanking, "which has dis- turbed peace and order in the" Far East for the past ten years as the base of anti-Japanese opera- tons."

The journal, however, emphas- ises the necessity of following up the victory.

The "Hochi Shimbun" analyses the Chinese Inclination for pro- tracted hostilities, and expresses the opinion that this is due partly to Chinese expectation of British The Kokumin Shimbun" says | aid and partly to the growing that the fall of Nanking will mean pressure of the Communists.

"collapse of the Nanking admin- The "Asahi Shimbun" states that istration but will impose heavier the Japanese military achievement responsibilities on Japan in con- is worthy of celebration, but warns aection with protracted hostilities." the people against intoxication!

The "Yomiuri Shinbun" say: over victory, pointing out that the that Japan "cannot be satisfied situation stands at an important with a patched-up peace or an in- | turning point- conclusive measure as long as the

Reader

PRINCE YASUHIKO ASAKA TO COMMAND FORCES

Tokyo, Dec. 11. The Imperial Headquarters an- was raging when the

nounce that Lieut-General Prince Edinburgh-Glasgow express crash- | Yasuhiko Asaka, son-in-law of the

A storm

ed into the rear of the stationary late Emperor Mell, has been ap- local passenger train from Dundee.pointed to command the Japanese The engine of the express WILB forces at Nanking- thrown down an embankment and Reuter two coaches were telescoped and smashed to pieces.

Terrible, scenes followed, dead and injured passengers lying in wrecked compartments and in the snow beside the line. Buses were requisitioned to take the injured to the hospitals and Improvised forti-stretchers were used pending the

The Chinese are offering stub- born resistance from strongly fled points in the city.

Japanese reports allege that gas shells were used by the Chinese last night before counter-attack.

the Chinese

Meanwhile, foreign reports con- Arm Japanese occupation of Wuhu, on the Yangtse-

irutme

arrival of the ambulances.

Passengers on the express are re- ported to have included a number of Cameron Highlanders on Christ mas leave from Catterick.

The wreckage was set on Are to provide light for the rescuers.

One survivor said that before the crash he saw a man running on the

"THE AMBIGUOUS LEGAL STATUS”.

Tokyo, Dec 11. Chinese territory now occupied by Japanese troops will be placed

under military administration, the semi-official "Yomiuri Shimbun” predicts to-day in ELE editorial dealing with "the ambiguous legal

une waving a lamp, evidently try status" of this area.

ink to stop the train.-

Reuter.

The newspaper declares that ás far as the current incident is con- cerned there are no proper pro- visions in International law bind-

SALVAGE WORK HINDERED

London, Dec.-11. Salvage work in the Scottish | ing relations between two parties train wreck was hindered by are or between Japan and third which broke out among the wreck-parties. Under the present cir- cumstances it is admissible for the age at midnight, necessitating the

army of occupation to create or- call of a fire brigade in order to prevent bodies from being burnt.

gana necessary for the mainten- ance of local peace and order, and | to exercise civil administration, including such functions "as taxa- tion and education.-

At midnight 24 bodies had been taken to the mortuary and eight were believed still to be in the wreckage.—

Reuter.

Reuter

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