Evening star., 1927-08-26
Gunboat Isabel and Destroy
er Noa Hit and Return
Fire of Rifles.
YANGTZE is CROSSED
BY INVADING TROOPS
Spies Cut Railway in Two Places
to Halt Southern Retreat
Toward Shanghai.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily
News Copyright 1927.

By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright, 1877
SHANGHAI, August 26.-Northern
troops under heavy gunfire crossed
the river (Yangtze) in two places early
this morning for concerted drive on
Nanking. Reports received from Nan
king state that the Northerners were
temporarily driven off.
Northern spies cut the Shanghai
Nanking railway in two places for the
purpose of cutting off the southern
retreat toward Shanghai. A train was
derailed, injuring 90 persons.
The derailment delayed Gen. Bel
Chung -Hsi's arrival at Marking, where
he Is needed to lead the defending
Southern troops, which already are
reported to be nearly demoralized.
Tariff Program Opposed.
The Chinese General Chamber OF
Commerce has requested the Nanking
government to postpone imposition of
sweeping new taxes. This action
makes Chinese and foreigners unani'
nous in opposing the Marking gov
ernment's tariff autonomy program
which. If enforced, is expected to have
disastrous effect upon foreign as
we'll as Chinese trade.
The afternoon papers report the
Sun Chuan Fang forces attacking
Luiho, which is on the Yangtze near
Shanghai.
American warcraft are having a
merry time up the Yangtze. being shot
at and reporting that the compliment
was returned. So far on the Ameri.
can side there has been but one cas-.
ualty. one sailor receiving two slight
flesh wounds.
The gunboat Isabel. which is con.
verted yacht. while passing Nanking
today, was fired on heavily with rifles
from both Marking and Pukow. The
Isabel returned the fire with rifles and
machine guns, silencing it's assailants.
The vessel was hit SO times.
U. S. Destroyer Shelled.
Farther down the river the U. 8.
destroyer Noa was fired upon per.
sistenly by rifles and machine guns
from the south bank IL miles above
Chekiang, while engaged in conveying
merchant ships. The Noa returned
the fire with weapons of the same
type. The ship was hit many times
without casualty
A foreign wireless report from Nan
king today stated that the Northern.
ers were apparently preparing to
make a determined effort to cross the
river despite Nationalists reinforce
ments. Pukow continues to shoot at
the Lion Hill batteries on the Nanking
side. using 3-inch field pieces.
Troop Movements Hampered.
Movements of Nationalist troops in
the vicinity of Shanghai have been
seriously interrupted by the cutting of
the railway line between Lukupang
and Anting. 25 miles from Shanghai.
The rails were removed, supposedly by
agents Of Sun Chuan Fang. The line
was cut at II o'clock last night and
up to late hour this morning the
train which had left Marking last
evening had not arrived here.
Six thousand Nationalists 1st Corps
troops passed through Shanghai yes
terday for Hangchow (Chekiang Prov.
ince, south of ShanghaD, where they
probably will watch large numbers of
doubtful troops which until last Spring
were under the Northern general, Sun
Chuan Fang. 1t is feared they may
return to their former allegiance as a
consequence of Suns recent victories
against the Southerners.