Evening star., 1932-02-19
Heavy Reinforce
ments May Be Sent
by Toxic.
HEARS GEN. CHANG
HEADS LARGE ARMY
10000 Chinese Believed
Massed for Defense
of Seaport.

TOXIC, February 19-Japa-
nese government officials en-
gagged in a series of conferences
late today which, observers said
they believed, were called to
formulate tentative plans for
sending heavy reinforcementS TO
Gen. Uyeda's army at Shanghai.
Newspapers reported that Gen.
Chiang-Shek, former President,
was leading a large army to
Shanghai to support the 18th
Route Army which is already
there, in anticipation of the be-
ginning of the big japanese
drive tomorrow.
Premier Suyoshi Inukai called
upon Emperor Hirohito at the
Imperial Palace after a confer
ence of selected cabinet members
this afternoon. The news OF
Chang Kai-Shek's reported move,
War Minister Araki was reported
to have said, made the situation
at Shanghai much more serious.
Members of the cabinet were re-
ported however. to have agreed to DO
their best to prevent the situation from
developing in such way to necessitate
declaration of war Immediately
after the cabinet conferences the
premier left for the palace to see the
Emperor.
$4,000 Chinese Believed Massed.
Mr.. Araki, the minister Of war. told
the Associated Press correspondent
the possibility Of reinforcements under
to send an additional expeditionary
force to Shanghai -"
Our intelligence reports" he said,
indicate that there are at present
90, 600 Chinese soldiers facing our men
in the Shanghai area. including Chi
angs troops, which are reported to
have joined the 10Th Army. If these
reports prove true We may be compelled
to reinforce our expedition proper
tionately."
He declined to say just how strong a
reinforcement he considered necessary,
but he explained that it probably would
require 10 or Is days to put the addi-
tional units in Shanghai.
He would not say definitely that the
japanese would not operate beyond the
1912 mile zone to which the Chinese
Army has been asked to retire. If the
Chinese would attack japanese on the
borders of that zone. it might create a
situation requiring a further Japanese
advance he said.
He declined to say whether the con-
templated reinforcements already are
prepared to leave for Shanghai, point
ing out that the general staff always
held the Army ready to deal with
emergencies. 1t has not been decided,
he said whether a high-ranking gen.
eral will be sent to Shanghai as COM
mander in chief.
Meet After Cabinet Session.
The premier's visit, coming on the
eve of the general election followed a
meeting with Minister of War Araki and
Foreign Minister Yoshizawa. The three
statesmen gathered together after the
regular morning session of the cabinet
The war Office general staff has been
watching closely the developments in
Shanghai. If the present Shanghai
japanese force should be doubled or
trebled the war Office was expected to
name a special commander in chief
with the full rank of general. Gen.
Uyeda is a lieutenant general.
Last Monday Minister Of War Araki
said further reinforcements might be
necessary and the belief prevailed to-
day that steps already have been taken
to cope with whatever situation arises.
Although it was election eve, the
public and officials alike gave little
attention to anything but Shanghai.
They awaited anxiously the results OF
Gen. Uyeda's ultimatum, which, they
understood, might mean that the
japanese and Chinese Armies would
be locked in combat before election
day is over.
1t was pointed out here that the
japanese attack might be launched as
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