Evening star., 1932-01-29

armed camp, where American troops as
evacuating their homes and moving
into the settlement for protection.
Chinese workers throughout Shang-
hal threatened tonight to go out on
general strike tomorrow as a protest
against the japanese action at Chapel.
1t was expected if the strike ma
terialized that public utilities would be
paralyzed and that stoppage OF the
movement of fOodStuffS into the in
ternational section might create Seri-
GUS situation.
Chinese banks also declared they
would not open tomorrow
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce
declared q general strike in the settle
ment as a protest against the jap
aneSe attack. Business was at COM
plete StandStill.
British consular and military author
tiles viewed the situation with growing
anxiety as the battle spread with grow
ing fury along the borders of the set
tlement and Chinese troops began to
arrive in thousands from Marking to
resist the Japanese invasion.
Every bit of available manpower in
the settlement was modified on the
borders of the area this evening.
The japanese occupation of Shang-
hal, begun at midnight, led to the most
menacing situation since the seizure OF
Mukden by Japanese soldiers last No
yenber set the spark to new conflict
between the Oriental powers.
In the International Settlement,
where the greatest anxiety prevails,
troops of three nations and volunteers
stood by for defense. The American
consul general Edwin S. Cunningham.
expressed indignation at the japanese
attack.
He said japanese Consul General
Mural had assured the foreign consulS
that the japanese did not plan to use
force at least until after today. WI
Teh-Chen. Chinese mayor, protested 10
Consul General Mural that the resort 10
force was "unWarranted and Illegal
inasmuch as the Chinese had made &C
ceptable replies to demands for an end
to anti-Japanese activities.
Cunningham said report the con-
sulate had been bombed was untrue ana
malicious.
The consulate is in the heart OF the
international Settlement. japanese
planes have been constantly hylng over
the area, but no bombs have been
dropped anywhere within the settle
ment.
Battle Alternates.
The battle alternated. The Chinese,
forced from the important Marking
Railway station soon after the japanese
marines occupied the city at mldnlght,
recaptured it eight hours later as its
Nipponese defenders were diminished
bv calls for reinforcementS to other Sec
tionS of the native city.
Chinese troops broke through the de-
fense lines around the international
Settlement and menaced a residential
district, put were driven out by British
troops.
Shortly afterward the Chinese mill
tary headquarters fell to the japanese
marines.
The japanese early in the day eI-
tended their way across the Wangpo
River to Pootung, where japanese cot
ton mills were declared to be in danger
A formidable feet of "a japanese
warships lay in the harbor itself, ready
for action, while others were anchored
within striking distance.
Fight at Edge of Settlement.
It was estimated by the japanese
that 1000 Chinese opposed their 1000
marines at the beginning of the fight
ing. but considerable reinforcements
were moved in by the Chinese. About
24,OOO Chinese troops were believed to
be in the immediate vicinity of Shang-
hal
The bitterest fighting of the occu-'
patton, which was carried on with the
same machinelike precision displayed
by the Japanese when they pushed their
Chinese enemies out of the cities OF
Manchuria, took place at the very edge
of the International Settlement.
Within the barbed-wire boundaries of
the settlement patrolled United States
Marines and the military forces Of other
nations. backed by artillery and tanks.
Advancing along the boundaries, the
japanese attempted to break through
these defense lines, but were refused
passage.
The civilian male population of the
foreign city was modified, armed with
rifles and put on guard in the business
district. No clashes between japanese
troops and the soldiers of any nation
except China we're reported.
Several hours after the first wave OF
the Japanese advance moved through
the tiny streets of the native city, Chi
nese reinforcementS were rushed up for
a counter-attack of major proportions
Two armored trains brought these re-
Inducements and they were deployed
and hurriedly put into action in an
effort to stem the ineXorable Japanese
advance.
1t was then that the japanese air
planes were brought into play. The
planes few high but the roar of their