The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-25

hldnSWdH, III tie uh eSlioh oA Tazang.
 At 11:3O D. In. the Japanese were continuing their advance. They intended to occupy Tazang to- morrow and begin a heavy smelling and machine-gun attack on Chapel, bordering the International Settle ment.
 Japanese men and guns were hurled at Chinese defenses in the Tazang sector today in the most terrific assault so far attempted in the heavily mined area, an attack so violent that foreign observers estimated 2,00O Chinese were killed or wounded.
 The Chinese clung desperately to their defenses despite the rain of artillery fire and aerial bombs from the Japanese.
 Masses of green-uniformed Jap anese troops surged forward in the wake of protecting artillery fire and aerial bombs, capturing the Chin- chiashan sector, less than two miles northwest of Kiangwan, at 12:3O D. m.
 From this stronghold, the Jap anese left wing started an attack on the Chienkouchi, Houkouchia and Yenchiajao sectors.
 Foreign military attaches wit messed the battle today between Kiangwan and Mauhang. One said the Chinese stood their ground amazingly well "after they appear ed practically annihilated."
 The casualties in today's fighting were almost equal to the announced casualties reported during all pre- vious operations.
 From an observation tower near Kiangwan race course, the foreign attaches saw about 5000 Chinese troops concentrating against the Japanese.
 The Japanese artillery, which had advanced a short time before, got an accurate range and literally moved down the Chinese. | The Chinese front line broke. Endorsements were rushed into the line from the direction of TaZang. Then the Chinese adVanc- ed again under a merciless bonn bardment.
 The Chinese appeared and disap- peared among smoke screens and thick clouds kicked up by bursting shells.
 The foreign attaches said the troops movement in the heavy smoke clouds gave the impression of a sham battle.
 Lieutenant General kenkichi Uyeda, commanding the Japanese forces, established his headquarters at Meiyuan, west of the Shanghai Woosung railway and one mile due north of Kiangwan village.
 Chinese 18th route army head quarters had difficulty maintaining communication with the front, ex- cept by field telephone, after Jap anese bombs cut the Shanghai Ranking railway between Nanziang and Chenju.
 While the Japanese loosed an artillery attack at Tazang, air. planes raised bombs on the Chinese positions in a bombardment which subsequently, extended to the Chapel district, just outside the 1n- ternational Settlement.
 At 3:2O D. m. General Uyeda is- sued a communique claiming his forces had captured Houkouchia with a victory over the Chinese along a two-mile front between Houkouchia and Chinsa. The Jap anese continued attacking Yenchia at D: m.
 The explosion of dozens of large bombs roared through the settle ment. A bombardment by heavy artillery was expected momentar- fly.
 In view of the Chinese threat to lombard the Japanese areas of the settlement and to turn the fire of their guns on the waterfront of Japanese endorsements attempted to land in the foreign district, for eign residents appeared to be facing greater danger than at any time during the fighting here.
 Cold weather with brilliant sum- shine and good visibility favored the Japanese airmen as they took off with their loads of bombs.
 They zoomed back and forth over the southern half of the IS mile battle line from Chapel to Woo- sung. The Kiangwan-TaZang area Is almost in the middle of the line.
 The Chinese held their ground early in the day despite a terrific bombardment. The veteran sol- diers of the 87th Division. Chiang Kai-Sheks own, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Cantonese troops of the 18th route army and offered surprising resistance.
 The Japanese opened up with their artillery after the bombers had blasted away at the Chinese lines. The Japanese were using big bombs Their repercussions were terrific. The combined artillery and aerial attack got under way at a. m at Tazang. The Chinese kept to cover, awaiting a possible infantry assault.
 Soon Chinese batteries began to return Japanese fire. The roar of their guns was added to the steady battle of machine gun fire from hidden Chinese nests and the pop ping of Chinese snipers' rifles. By 10:30 a. m. the fighting had become very severe between Kiang-