Evening star., 1932-02-02
NANKING GIRDs FOR BATTLE.
japanese Attack Expected at Any Time.
Sandbag Defenses Erected.


NANKING, February 2 GP).-A fierce
battle between Chinese and japanese
forces here was looked for at any mo-
ment this evening A japanese attack
on the Chinese positions was expected
momentarily. The Chinese foreign Of
fee staff evacuated the city.
Chinese troops worked at top speed
building sandbag defenses.
The American and British conSulS
made no move to eVaCuate their ma
tionalS.
japanese and Chinese troops faced
each other on opposite sides Of mar
row no-man's land at HSlakwan, Nam
kings native section.
BIuejackets Landed.
The japanese landed a force Of blue
Jackets shortly before noon a short dis
tance up the river from HsiakWan, They
occupied Tungtai Hill, overlooking the
City of Marking.
Chinese troops Immediately were
sent TO the area to resist any attack.
A short time later, however, the police
chief of Hsiakwan boarded one Of the
japanese warships in the harbor and
mander, urging that the utmost coop
erative efforts be made to prevent
further hostilities and to maintain
peace.
Hsiakwan itself continued quiet while
the parleyS went on. A number of
Japanese sailors were aShort along the
japanese Wharves and the Chinese
troops had taken up positions near the
city wall leaving no-manS land 800
yards wide between them.
U. S. Official Arrives.
United States Minister Nelson John
son arrived this afternoon with his sec
retary and the naval attache. Before
he got here the American consul had
asked the United States naval COM
mander at Shanghai to send another
destroyer, but the commander replied
that the one destroyer here would have
to be enough.
The Chinese troops which have been
guarding the Nanking water front Tor
the past few days were withdrawn IN
land for a considerable distance to avoid
a clash with 100 or more japanese blue
jackets.
What happened last night in the
bombardment by japanese WarshlpS was
still not entirely clear. 49,.
1t was said officially that the Chi
nese forts at Lion Hill and Mofu Hill
both were hit but it was believed that
some of the shots fired from the SHIPS
were blank shells Twenty shots were
fred and only 10 hits have been &C
counted for.
Chinese Flee From City.
This evening there was a consider
IN the waterfront facing Chinese troops
all along the HsiakWan olstrlct, ana
the British consul expressed grave con-
Germ, although he still took no steps 10
eyacuate British residents.
So far as the Chinese were concerned,
Nanking was becoming deserted city.
THE great Chungshan Highway TO
Hangchow was black with fleeing hu-
manity.
The hurrying mass Of people was an
annalling sight as the terrified men
and women fought for room, ruthlessly
th7lsting aside the aged and nflrm
who could not move fast.
Many Disorders During Night.
THE city was the scene Of many dis
orders during the night. Taking advan-
taqe of the situation hold-up men be-
came active and number of cases OF
robbery were recorded before dawn. A
number of automobiles taking refugees
to HangchoW were reported TO nave
been held up and robbed. All banks re-
mained closed, and officials said that
thev would be closed Indefinitely.
The landing of the Japanese blue
Jackets, who occupied Tungtal Hill, foI-
lowed a protest by Japanese naval Off
loir tr0NnS
fred upon the japanese bluejacketS last
night This. they said, was the reason
the Warships opened fire upon the city
The protest surprised Chinese au-
thorities and they said its tone indi-
Gated the japanese planned further ac-
ton.
One Chinese policeman was killed by
the shells fired into the city last night.
Ships Leave Wuhu.
The British consulate indicated that
British officials were very anxious over
the situation, but they said no plan was
vet made to evacuate British nationals
The Chinese residents, however, be-
gan to scurry away as fast as they
could. using automobiles. rickshaws and
any other means of transportation avail
able. They went south, without any
notion of their destination, seeking
merely to get away and avoid the dan
ger.
A telephone message from Wuhu
AnhWei Province. said the Japanese
consular staff and nationals there left
for Japan. and that the japanese war
ships stationed there also departed as a
result of the evacuation.
Official figures show that for severa,
years automobiles have caused more
deaths than the combined mortality