The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-18
Hundreds Slain Terrific
Onslaught; General Mas
Forces in Flight.
FIGHT IN ZERO WEATHER
Planes Drop Bombs, Ma
chine Guns Pour Deadly
Hail on Defenders.
BY FREDERICK KUN
United Press STAFF Correspondent
Copyright. 1881. by United Press)

tNOpSAlkut. 1891, DY united Press
NONNI RIVER FRONT. Nov. 1s.
(Via Hardin, p. m.)-The Japa-
nese army, battering a demoralized
Chinese force with artillery, ma
chine guns and aerial bombs, broke
through the Chinese lines toward
TsitSihar today, leaving vast num-
Der of dead and wounded in its
wake.
The Chinese were utterly routed
in an all-day battle that began at
4 a. m. in bitterly cold weather of
4 below zero. Icy blasts swept the
bleak plains as the japanese started
their general offensive along a five
mile front on either side of the
railway along the Nonni river.
The Chinese tried vainly to hold
their irregular lines of well-con-
structed trenches, but were driven
back by the whitening fire from
land and air.
Casualties Are Heavy
When the offensive started.
numerous Chinese were scattered in
the no mans land stretching for ten
miles between the Japanese and
Chinese trenches and casualties
among them were particularly heavy.
The Chinese were operating nine
guns off their left flank in ad-
vance of the main lines. Scouts
lurked in foxholes through no mans
land. The remainder of General
Ma Chan-Shan's artillery, COM
posed of twenty-four pieces, was
held in reserve near Tsitsihar, to
cover the Chinese retreat.
Ma had one anti-aircraft gun
mounted on an armored car. The
Chinese post of command was on
a high hill in the vicinity, overlook
ing the slightly rolling steppes to-
wards the Japanese lines. The
Japanese staff occupied a similar
150-foot hill opposite.
Smash Through Line
After the battle had been in
progress five hours, the Japanese
smashed through Ma Chan-Shan's
center at the village of Sanchien-
fang, westward of the Anganchi
railway line, breaking the Chinese
IN two sections and cutting off all
communications with eastern half
OF the army.
After the rout began, the Chinese
ceased fighting and scattered to the
rear, spreading in all directions.
The japanese planes, which had
been occupied with Mas first line
OF defense near Sanchienfang. flew
on to TSitSihar, where they were re-
ported to have dropped five bombs.
The planes scattered leaflets over
Tsitsihar, announcing they were
capturing the city, but assuring the
residents there would be no harm
to persons or property if the jap
anese troops were not mole7ted. The
leaflets added that the japanese
troops would not damage the Chi
nese Eastern railway in crossing it.
Bomb Chinese Lines
All during the night the japanese
kept up bombardment of the
Chinese lines at irregular intervals,
keeping the Chinese awake and
lumpy in an effort to undermine
their morale. The guns we're at a
range of two miles.
The plains presented a strange
scene as the Chinese began stream
ing to the rear in their panicky
rout. Many of them piled into
trucks and cart which earlier had
been used to carry supplies and
munitions to the front.
The Chinese troops we're clothed
indiScriminately and none too we'll
equipped. Their main diet has
been millet-ike mush.