The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-19
CHINESE DEFY
FOE, PREPARE
FOR BATTLE
Foreigners Are Notified to
Eyacuate Danger Zone
at Once.
ULTIMATUM is FL0UTED
Defenders Declare They'll
Die at Posts, Rather
Than Yield.
BY HI. r.. EKINS
United Press stat Correspondent
Copyright. 1882, by United Press)


SHANGHAI, Feb. ia brisk ar
tillery duel between the Chinese
and Japanese batteries on the
northeast Chapel front began to-
night, prelude to the big battle set
for Saturday morning.
The bombardment was expected
to continue internationally all night
and American and British residents
began evacuating the threatened
areas of the international settle
ment.
The Chinese shells started several
fires near the Rokkusan gardens,
inside the Japanese defense area of
the settlement.
The American church missions
and st. Luke's hospital, in the
Hongkew area, were evacuated in
side the French concession, well
away from the danger zone.
Ultimatum Is Rejected
The Japanese guns were at their
busiest diverting the attention Of
the Chinese batteries, while final
preparations were made for the
battle, the Chinese defiantly having
rejected the japanese ultimatum.
Further indications of Chinese
solidarity in the face of the serious
japanese menace to China were
given today. The most significant
was the return of Chang Kali Shek,
recent president and still the
Chinese. generalissimo, to Marking,
where he conferred with Wang
Ching Wei, executive head of the
government; Lo Wen-Kan, foreign
minister and others at the foreign
Office.
Chang, who has been in the
background Of the struggle, if not
actively opposing the resistance of
the Nineteenth army, described the
ultirnatum today as ga humiliating
blow to the Chinese people. as well
as to international treaties. ("
"The Chinese troops must resist
to the best Of their ability he de-
clared.
Foreigners Are Cheerful
Foreignere IN the settlement faced
the prospect of Saturdays battle
with the most cheerful nonchalance
crowding hotels, cabarets and mo-
vies until curfew.
Passengers on the President Lin
coin and other liners in the har-
Dor, were disappointed because they
we're leaving early Saturday and
would miss the thrills of the battle
Gen. Tsai, commander of the 18th
Chinese route army defending
Chapel, said his men would rather
die on the battlefield than accept
these unreasonable demands"
In a statement separate from his
reply. Gen. Tsai said Chinese troops
never had entered the international
settlement. but were stationed IN
Chinese territory.
1T is ridiculous for the japanese,
while attacking us from their bases
in the settlement, to demand that
we withdraw from our own terri
tory"
Evacuation Is Advised
Edwin S. Cunningham and John
F. Brennan, United States and Brit
iSh consuls-general, respectively, is
sued a statement advising evacua-
ton and Stressing danger from fall
ing shells in the districts.
Cunningham urged that American
women and children be transferred
to places Of safety before Saturday
morning.
The japanese announced official
~ that they would be ready for the
offensive at z a. m. Saturday Is o. m.
Friday, indianapolis tine) unless
the Chinese had evacuted their first
lines. The Chinese answer was to
string up more barbed wire and dig
in deeper