The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-15
HOSTILITIES AT
SHANGHAI MOVE
TOWARD CRISIS
Terrific Battle impending as
Japanese Plan Coup to
Save Their Face
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scripps- Howard Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The
China situation today in many ways
appeared blacker than at any time
since Japan, five months ago,
thumbed her nose at the world and
set her face towards conquest.
With heavy reinforcements for
both sides coming up at Shanghai,
and the goriest fighting the Far
East has seen since Port Arthur in
prospect, three disquieting factors
were blocking peace efforts here
and abroad.
l. The japanese general staff is
seen as preparing a bloody and
spectacular coup in an effort to re-
gain some of the face" lost both
at home and abroad in its fortnight
of reverses.
2. For reasons which likewise
have to do with politics and face"
the Marking government-recently
at war with Canton-must give ut
most support to the Cantonese
troops now defending Shanghai.
Otherwise President Chang Kali
Shek will lose his hold.
Powers Oppressive
s. European powers, the writer is
Informed reliably, are increasingly
hesitant about taking any positive
steps against Japan. And America,
aware of the peril of being pushed
out on limb and having the limb
sawed off between her and the
tree, is disinclined to rush matters.
Thus the stage seems set for a
lot more bloodshed in the mud
flats of the Yangtze before the cur
tain falls on the Shanghai tableau
of Japan's CORY extravaganza.
Matters now have reached a stage
where neither Japan nor China very
well can withdraw without serious
political repercussions at home.
The war party only recently came
into power at Toxic. 1t did so
claiming that now is the time for
Japan to settle her quarrel with
China. To withdraw from Shang-
hal without first having smashed
China's resistance, therefore, would
be regarded back home as a defeat
OF the policies of the militarist par
ty in power.
$4,000 In the Field
For the Chinese to withdraw. as
the Japanese demand, without fur
Their fighting would be disastrous to
the political fortunes of the leaders
at Marking. Canton and Marking
long have been at odds and now the
Cantonese have electrified China
and the world by their heroic de-
Tense of Shanghai.
Should the Marking faction now
fail to do its part, and leave the
Cantonese to face the Japanese
alone, it would be the end of Pres
ident Chang Kai-Shek and his
group.
Military attaches here regard it
as quite likely that fighting may de-
velop in the lower Yangtze on a
scale comparable to some of the
worlds greatest battles.
Already upward of $4,000 electives
are engaged at Shanghai or are i'm
mediately in reserve. The Chinese
are believed to have another $4,000
men in the Marking Hangchow area
quickly available, with several
hundred thousand within reach in
case the Japanese attempt to adj
vance up the river.
Move to Block ReinfOrcements
The Japanese likewise are under
stood to have at least 10000 addi-
ton troops with thirty-six hours of
Shanghai, ready to move at the first
signal.
AS the Chinese thus far have been
able to draw on reserves of both
men and ammunition from outside
Shanghai area, the indications are
that the Japanese shortly will invest
completely the New York of the
Orient to cut off the defenders.
This would require a large num-
Der of troops and would expose
them to attacks both from the
direction of Shanghai and from
outside.
The battle of Shanghai, therefore,
seems destined to continue in cres-
cendo as the week wears on, while
Washington and the European pow
ers mark time, awaiting further de-
velopmentS before launching any
lrrsn f1r.