Imperial Valley press., 1932-02-03
JAPANESE DRIVEN
BACK BY CHINESE
Invaders AT Shanghai Admit Failure To DislOdge
Chapel Defenders. Japan Accepts Only Four OF
British American Proposals.
By II. ". EKINS
United Press staff Correspondent

Copyright 1892 BY United Press)
SHANGHAI, Feb. 3. U.P) - The
Chinese held off the japanese at
tack and drove them back today in
fierce battle at the Hongkew bor-
der Of the international settlement.
A similar battle went on in the
nearby Chapel native quarter and
Chinese forts at Woosung, 20 miles
from the city, were heavily bonn
barded by japanese warships.
Despite whitening machine gun.
artillery and rifle fire and aerial
bombing, the Chinese, without leav-
ing their own trenches, drove the
Japanese back with their nine field
pieces a quarter mile from the rifle
range on the Hongkew border of
the settlement.
The japanese admitted they had
again failed to dislodge the Chin
ese from the North Station, on the
Chapel border of the settlement.
japanese casualties were ANNOUNCE
ed officially at four killed and %
seriously wounded.
Admiral Montgomery M Taylor
arrived today on the cruiser Hous-
ton, vanguard of the United States
naval reinforcements from Manila.
The firing at the forts ceased after
his arrival.
The Chinese were greatly encour-
aged and the military leaders, who
had been difficult to find, suddenly
blossomed with communiques.
Headquarters of the 18th route
army officially announced the
WooSung guns had sunk a Japanese
destroyer and forced others to with
draw, seriously crippled.
Report Denied
Admiral Koichi Shiosawa, Japa-
nese naval commander, promptly
denied the claim, however, the Jap
anese Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu,
caused stir when he announced a
japanese landing party had found
the forts deserted this afternoon.
Some naval and military officials
believed the forts had been deserted
for several days, which, if true.
would cast suspicion on the Jap
anese claim that the Woosung guns
opened fire, causing todays fight
ing.
The Chinese brought 1000 troops
from Chenju today, reinforcing
their position at the North Station,
after a declaration that they do
not intend to yield before the jap
| anese.
Shells and numerous shots came
within the international settlement
| during the days fighting.
Coincident with Admiral Taylor's
arrival, the Chinese became highly
optimistic and announced various
victories. The fighting at the
Norh Station resulted in at least
a moral victory for the Chinese de-
tenders, who have held their pos
itions there since the japanese oc-
cupation of Chapel.
The Japanese admitted the truth
of the Chinese claim of victory at
the North Station. ShioSaWas at
tempts to capture the station all
proved futile, resulting in the loss
of prestige.
While an impressive demonstra-
ton and attack by Is Japanese air.
planes failed to alter the military
situation, the bombers for the sec
ond consecutive week wrought
havoc to private property and nom
combatantS in the Chinese city.
Tonight the skies were Redeemed
as new fires in Chapel blazed along
three-mile front between Hong
kew and Chapel, the result of in
cendiary bombs dropped this aft
ernoon.
The Chinese also resorted to in
cendiarism, setting fire TO two JAP
anese factories outside the settle
ment.
After a day of hostilities and
terror, however. the arrival of Ad-
miral Taylor was a definitely sta
bilizing factor, and Edwin S. Cum
ningham, the United States consul
! general, and others were optimistic
over the settlements position. Chi
neSe civilians assumed the attitude
"everything'S all right now the
American admiral is here"
Taylor remained aboard MS
flagship where he conferred with
Cunningham. Col r s. Hooker.
commanding the marines, and
other settlement officials.
The first concrete result Of the
conference was the announcement
that the Japanese marines who
for several weeks have been billeted
on the Gordon road, within the
American sector OF the settlement,
would be withdrawn tomorrow.