The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-20
CHINESE SPIRIT
HIGH ON EVE OF
FOES BIG PUSH
Veterans Years in Service,
Youths in First Battle,
Face Death Calmly.
BY ID. c. BESS
United Press stan Correspondent
tCopYriqht. 1892. BY united Pressl


United Press stan Correspondent
Copyright. 1882. BY United PressJ
SHANGHAI, Feb. 20.-Boys and
old men. the latter veterans of years
OF civil war in China, stood together
behind the Chinese defense lines
today before they opened their bat
tie to hurl back thousands Of mar
velously trained, well-equipped yell
low men from Japan.
l went behind the lines Of both
armies, looked over the preparations
Tor the big push" observed their
spirit, and their equipment for the
drive that was TO mean eternity for
countless thousands of them.
I toured the front lines, from the
northern borders of the interna-
tional settlement to the Woosung
forts, some eighteen miles away.
All hands we're ready. Some were
tense, others appeared unconcerned.
All the while, munitions trucks
came up to the front lines and the
men not on guard at the defenses
helped unload the shells destined
for the enemy.
Japanese Well Trained
The Japanese appeared to be
fnarvelously trained. There was no
doubt that they were we'll equipped.
They wore the dark green khaki
uniforms of the Nipponese, SO dark
that they appeared black in the
light of early dawn. The men
crouched side by side behind their
defenses. Some who arrived here
with the Ninth division we're about
to go into their first big engagement
and receive their baptism of fire.
Across No Mans land we're Chi
nese soldiers perhaps more accus-
toned to warfare. They we're great
er in numbers than the japanese,
but their equipment, as far as could
be determined, was not as complete.
En- route to the front talked with
several geisha girls, many within
range of Smelling. They were in
kimonos.
1 asked if they were receiving
guests in their houses, where dis
tinguished visitors to Shanghai usu-
ally go as part of the routine of
doing the town."
Refuse to "Profiteer"
THAT would be unpatriotic," one
of the girls said "It would be like
proflteering. We must wait until
the war is over before we can have
gay time again"
Hours before daylight, airplanes !
were tuning up on two Japanese
landing fields. Tanks were ready to
crawl over the Chinese lines. The
tank corps knew that the Chinese
had mined the terrain.
They also knew that the Chinese
had hidden machine guns in the
area and that they would have to
urge their mechanical beasts
through rows of barbed wire and
over the ruins of many buildings in
the Chapel area destroyed by their
own Japanese air bombers.
Some of the younger Chinese SOL
diers, mere boys, were happy and
thrilled by the prospects of their
first taste of war. Their morale was
exceedingly high. They were ready
for battle with the spirit which, I'M
til three weeks ago, most foreign OBJ
servers here believed to be lacking.
Patriotic Spirit High
The boys appeared ready to die
for China, instead of for daily
wage and the spoilS of war, which
characterized many Of the merce-
nary Chinese soldiers of other days.
The Japanese soldiers we're con-
fldent. They prepared to win for
the Japanese army the prestige the
navy lost in failing to dislodge the
Chinese.
I tried to get on board a Japanese
tank and go up to the lines with |
the troops. The Japanese COM
mander refused my request politely, |
but very firmly. He not only spoke |
English, but used terms bordering |
on American slang.
There must be no danger to |
Americans in this show" he said,
smiling.
Foreigners Are Calm
Except for the screaming of shells
which dropped into the settlement |
and endangered their lives, foreign |
residents had no idea of the bitter
offensive going on for eighteen miles
along the river
Foreigners took advantage of the
brilliant sunshine to get outside and |
walk through residential and bust
ness. districts. Groups stood on the
streets, gossiping. Ferries pulled |
and piled vigorously across the
Whangpoo. Steamers passed in and
out of the harbor, undisturbed.
While the offensive was proceed
ing, a colorful funeral cortege went |
through the crowded settlement |
streets to Holy Trinity cathedral. |
There services were held for the
two British seamen, Francis and |
Prior, killed by the explosion of a
Chinese shell at Hongkew wharf.