Evening star., 1932-01-29
SETTLEMENT is WARNED.
Chinese Threaten Attack Unless Shang-
hal Occupation Is Ended.

Chinese Threaten Attack Unless Shang-
hal Occupation Is Ended.
SHANGHAI. Saturday, January 80
R).-A new menace came across the
boundaries of the International Settle
ment today in the form of a warning
bv the Chinese military command that
if the japanese occupation was not
ended the Chinese would attack the
settlement.
This definitely put an end to reports
that the opposing forces had Slgheo
truce.
The warning served upon the Inter
national Settlement authorities said
that if they did not use their influence
to end the occupation of Chinese terri
tory the Chinese, who were still en-
gagged in heavy fighting, would tram
their guns on the foreign concession.
Meanwhile, as flames licked up wide
section Of the Chinese quarter OF
Chapel, there were bursts of machine
gun fire, indicating that, though the
japanese had reached the objective
set for themselves, they were having
their troubles holding it.
AS midnight approached hghtmg was
still going on at several points. once
q Chinese band pushed across the
boundary of the International Settle
ment and fired on the japanese mill
tarv headquarters, but they were re-
pulsed after brief skirmish.
Rumors were current that the Japa-
nese intend to take over control OF the
international Settlement here tomorrow.
Never has there been such a night OF
hOrror. in Shanghai those who watched
it said. nina,
It began when the japanese arrived,
pushing through the twisting streets,
clearing a way with machine guns.
Bombs Start Fires.
Airplanes added to the carnage,
swooping down ever 20 minutes ike
clockWork and dropping cargoes OF
bombs. which started fires at six Sepa-
rate points.
The railroad station, objective of the
first drive burned to the ground. The
railroad line to Marking was broken
and telegraph and telephone lines TO
the capital went down.
The wounded came in by the score to
emergency dressing stations and IL
seemed certain many women and chill
dren had been killed. The Chinese
placed their losses at 300 killed ana
wounded. The japanese said they had
lost only a handful
one shell fell in the international
Settlement, but nobody was hurt and
the damage was slight.
The Chinese commander asked Tor
reinforcements and the japanese mill
tsrv attache also wanted more men,
but Japan's naval commander SAID ne
thought his men we're able to hanole
the situation. I'LL,
Reports that American mission build
tnps and other American properties
within the settlement and without had
been bombed by japanese planes could
not be confirmed and consular authorl-
ties said that lacking knowledge OF Such
DEVELOPMENTS they believed nothing OF
the sort had occurred
Nevertheless. consular officials pene-
trated the embattled areas and suggest
ed that several American missionaries
living there withdraw 20 the settlement.
The latter were quoted as replying they
would not attempt a departure in day.
light and would wait for darkness to-
night.
The fire which was started by the
first bombing last night grew into
roaring cOnflagration as the attack con-
tinued. It licked its way through the
narrow, warren-like streets of the mud
hut and cobblestone city as prairie
fire might attack the nests OF colony
of field mice.
Chapel Section Threatened.
Six separate confagrations roared
their way at once There was no one
to check them and they soon out
stripped the military action in danger,
threatening to wipe out the greater part
of Chapel.
The Commercial Press Building and
the railway station, against the latter
of which the japanese had directed
several. destructive bombing attacks,
were finally reached by the flames and
p1ltted. The freight station further
westward also was blazing by $50 pm
and another fire, famed by slight
northeastern breeze. crept dangerously
close to the International Settlement.
Earlier in the afternoon a badly
aimed Japanese bomb landed within
the boundaries of the western end Of
the settlement and started a fire, but
the blaze was put out without casual
ties. although considerable damage was
done.
The huge bombs which the airplanes
dropped with clocklike regularity sent
up eruptionS to height of at least h5O
feet. The sky was partly obScured by
clouds of smoke from the fires. and the
airplanes swooped down through them.
Residents Terrified.
The terrified people were faced with
q dilemma of terror. They had the
choice of staying in their hutS and
being burned to death or fleeing into
the open to be shot or torn to pieces
by bursting bombs.
The Fire Department Of the Inter-
ational Settlement was graveiy alarmed
over one of the fires, which by O'Clock
was creeping perilously close to the Set
tlement border on the north side. Every
possible preparation was made to begin
fighting it as soon as it reached the
boundary in order to prevent its cross
ing
The printing plant of the CONNER
cial Press reputed to be, the largest
in the world, was destroyed. 1t turned
out an enormous number of English
language books. newspapers and maga-
zines and millions of copies OF pam
phlets and books in Chinese.
Reliable reports received at o'clock
this afternoon said 1000 additional
Japanese troops were on the way to
reinforce the 1000 marines then in
Chapel
Following the bomb which fell into
the settlement about pm. another
landed on the edge of the district. in
snI f~r