The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-24

poo, little southwest of the
French concession.
Mayor WI Teh-Chen, of Greater
Shanghai, protested again tonight
to Edwin S. Cunningham, United
states consul-general, against land
ing of Japanese troops in the In
ternational Settlement.
WI disclaimed responsibility for
foreign lives in the event Chinese
defensive actions are necessary.
He suggested evacuation of for
eigners from areas within the Jap
anese defense sector of the settle
ment, which appeared to Indicate
that real bombardment of that
part of the settlement might be
contemplated.
Chinese defenders of the ruins
of Tazang worked desperately to-
day to strengthen the death trap
they have prepared for the Japan
ESQ 9th Division. knowing full well
that rs, Nipponese fighting men
are speeding TO the aid OF the In
vaders.
Chinese infantry, meanwhile. at
tackled on the entire Chapel front,
at the International Settlement,
after Smelling the japanese with
heavy artillery fire.
The japanese lines held their
ground.
Japanese activities centered on
1nopping up snipers in Kiangwan
village. General Tsal Ting Kai,
commanding the 18th Chinese route
army, told the United Press at noon
that Japanese offensive was still
stopped dead pending arrival OF re-
Inducements.
Reports that an offensive was
started Wednesday were denied Of
ficially at Japanese headquarters,
where 1t was said that the TaZang
front was quiet at $50 p. m. (4:30
a. u. Il. S. To-.
IN a. cold rain, the Chinese
strengthened their trenches, placed
additional mines in the fiat, muddy
terrain cut by creeks and canals,
and hid machine gun nests behind
clumps of trees and alongside
bridgeheads.
While there were no immediate
plans for evacuation of Americans
from the settlement, consular ON
Gals learned that six American
missionaries at q Lutheran mission
at kwangchow, in Southeast Honan
province, were threatened by band
its. The United States consul at
Hankow requested protection from
Chinese provincial troops.
Foreign forces available for de-
Tense of the settlement were in
creased with arrival of the British
destroyers, Wild Swan and Verify
from Swallow.
The Chinese press paid great trib-
ute to Robert Short. an American
member of the Chinese air force
who was shot down and killed In
combat with three Japanese planes
over SoochoW. Short was called "A
friend who dared and died" in the
defense OF the land against the
Japanese invasion.
The Chinese maintained great
secrecy regarding their plans. II
was considered logical that they
would place all reinforcements pos
sible in the Tazang sector to aid
the 10Th route army.
After my tour yesterday along
both japanese and Chinese lines at
the front, / realized better than
many of my compatriots here the
danger to which foreigners might
be subjected. My visit to Ta8ang
the Chinese characters literally
translated mean great open
spaces'-gavc me moments OF ter
ror and depression.
Temples, homes, and shops were
cut to slithers by cannonading and
aerial bombardmcnts. Chinese sol
diers blazed away from the ruins
of villages with rife and machine
gun fire, ineffective against the high
flying Japanese bombing airplanes
Although the offensive supposed
ly was suspended, Japanese bombs
and shells were falling into the
TaZang area. The Chinese were re-
turning the fire. This sort of actor