The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-20
Chinese MaSsacred
As Japan's Big Guns
Pound All Day Long
Continued from page One)

The battle began at $50 a. m, one
hour and so minutes after the Japan
ese ulttmatum expired. With the
ZERO hour, Japanese airplanes swoop-
ed over the well-covered Chinese
"Hindenburg' line releasing tons Of
high explosive bombs on the Chin
ese defenses.
They were followed by tremendous
burst Of heavy artillery fire and
screeching shells which churned the
Chinese positions, covering them with
clouds Of smoke and dust.
After hours OF fighting the Japan
ese naval officials claimed their
troops captured Kiangwan, which
they said was the days objective,
and planned to hold 1t for while,
strengthening their defenses in the
meantime.
I Chinese Deny Claim
Chinese officials, however. an
nounced they had driven the Japan
csc back and mentioned especially one
specific instance in which a group of
their soldiers turned back q fleet of
japanese tanks. they said, With a
hand grenade attack.
Five Japanese tanks which went in
to action at Kiangwan, the Chinese
reports said, were attacked by Chin
ese soldiers with hand grenades and
forced to withdraw.
They said both sides had suffered
heavy casualties at Kiangwan, which
they maintained was defended by two
divisions Of former President Chang
Kai-shek's Chinese army, but that no
figures were available.
Woosung Village Attire
Woosung village was set afire by
the bombardment Of Japanese des-
troyers. A cloud Of dense smoke
poured from the town and several
fires also could be seen in the Kiang-
wan district and the areas to the
south OF 1t. nearly as far as Chapel.
Late In the afternoon Japan's aer-
ial bombers increased the intensity
Of their attack upon the area west Of
Kiangwan. Reports said they were
using the most powerful bombs in a
desperate effort to blast the Chinese
from the complicated network of
trenches extending In zig-zag fashion
to the north and to the south of that
point.
Semi-official japanese sources said
the heaviest attack was being center
ed around Kiangwan in the hope of
capturing 1t and executing an en-
circling movement on Chapel.
The rear Of the Japanese lines was
q beehive Of activity. Heavily loaded
trucks rushed small arms and am
munition to the front while the Jap
anese guns near Hongkew park
Numbered salyoes into Kiangwan
and Chapel.
The first batch Of wounded to be
brought back from the front were Is
Chinese who were taken into hospi-
tails within the international settle
ment. They came from the section
Of Kiangwan north Of Chapel. U. S.
marines, on guard at the settlement
border, let them through the line.
Jap Casualties Arrive
BY noon, the Japanese casualties
began arriving at the base hospitals
In the Hongkew area. Twenty wound
ed were unloaded from two trucks.
Huge clouds Of smoke engulfed the
Kiangwan area. Many of the fires
north of Chapel were believed to have
been set by the Chinese in an attempt
to hinder an expected attack on Cha
pei from Kiangwan.
Shortly after noon the Japanese ar
tillery military headquarters was
moved suddenly from the Kingdah
cotton mill to the international race
course, a short distance east OF
Kiangwan, and General Kenkichi
Uyeda, japanese commander, began
q desperate attack. upon the town.
At the aviation field airplanes
landed and took off continuously
They remained on the ground only
long enough to have their bomb
racks re-filled.
There was q rush OF cable mes
sages to and from foreign countries
throughout the day. The greatest
number Of official messages went tt
Washington, according to cable and
radio sources, with London close