The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-01

japanese airplanes dropped IL
bombs on the Markham road rail-
way yards to-day, scoring two di.
rect hits and wrecking the Shang-
hal Nanking tracks.
The Japanese have threatened to
destroy the lines leading Into
Shanghai unless the Chinese cease
using them for reinforcements, but
the time limit had not vet ex-
pired.
Heavy firing continued tonight,
japanese batteries In Hongkew
park and at Kiangwan Smelling the
North Station and the Chinese re-
plying vigorously.
At nightfail the Chinese still
held the contested village Of Ia
Fang, despite the continued, jap
anese assault.
The blazing ruins In the Chapel
native quarter OF the city on mile
front, were visible from housetops
oil through the city.
Foreign military observers who
toured the battle front to-day ex.
pressed belief Japan, faced with
an almost insurmountable tactical
problem, would soon be prepared
to accept any reasonable peace
proposals.
They said the Japanese cannot
hope to meet the situation without
sacrificing upwards Of 10000 casu.
alties. 1t appeared, they said,
that Gen Shirikawa was exceeding
ly loath to risk this number Of
troops.
Visiting the Japanese front, the
military group found Chinese
trenches and machine gun nests
were placed behind thousands OF
grave mounds from five to ten
miles deep. Meantime, they told
the United Press. there was no
indication that Chinese resistance
In the native city Of Chapel was
wea kening. Every street IL bar.
rioaded with barbed wire and
scores OF houses have boon fortified
with sandbags and machine gun
en- Inducements.
They agreed the Japanese liter
ally would be compelled to pulver.
lie the entire area to gain o vie.
tory, barring q possible weakening
Of Chinese morale.
The heavy bombardment 81
Chapel, just outside the tnterna-
tional settlement, rocked office
buildings In the International area
80 heavily that many residents
feared an earthquake. There were
numerous calls to the Siccawei OBJ
servatory. officials there said the
shocks were due to the artillery
duel.
Japanese naval headquarters
claimed marines had occupied the
Chinese position of Patzujao In the
Chapel area and severed connec-
tons between Chinese troops in the
Chapel and Kiangwan areas, about
seven miles apart. The Chinese
defenders of Chapel were strongly
entrenched In the ruins. There
was bitter lighting.
While rumors Were current OF
peace or negotiations for a truce
the Japanese military appeared
determined to beat their diplomatic
representatives to the joint objec-
tive of the two services-to force
the Chinese back IL 1-2 miles from
the settlement. =
In cool clear weather, the ia
pauese 9th Division command
started another big push with in
fantry, tanks. and artillery against
the Tazang defenders. Airplanes
went aloft with good visibility to
bomb the Chinese lines.
Naval and military planes Joined.
the attack. The roar OF the big
bombs made the whole countryside
tremble.
Tanks were sent into action in
attempts to crush the FIRST line
Chinese defenses. The tanks had
not been very effective In former
operations for the ground 10 low
and swampty and cut by canals
and creeks. The Chinese repuised
first tank attacks on Kiangwan by
heavily mining the Terrain.
The Japanese observed their
pledge not to land the nth Division
In the international settlement. II
was feared the Chinese would open
IRE on the fresh troops and en-
danger lives and property Of for
eIgn residents. The main force OF
the 18th came ashore near Liuho.
about 20 miles UP the YaHgtze
from the Woosung forts.
The japanese apparently decided
not to risk trying 70 run their
transports past Woosing and Lion
Forest forts although the fortinca-
lions had been subjected 70 q ter
rIfic rain OF aerial bombs saturday
and were repeatedly sheiied from
the river. II the troops had been
brought into the WhanEpoo. they
might have been landed near the
TazanG sector.
War Bulletins.
f@oyang. China, March f--lUF)
"a plsaary session Of the national