Evening star., 1932-02-12
U. S. Minister Calls Meeting
at Invitation of Shanghai
Merchants to Mediate on
Permanent Basis.
BIG PUSH LIKELY SOON;
WOOSUNG SIEGE RESUMED
British Ship Warned to Take New
Position-Battle Area Will En-
circle International Zone if Jap.
anese Garry Out Threat to Open
Fight in Nantao.
By the Associated Press.

b. the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, China, February
12.-Guns blazed again across the
Chapel ruins tonight while the
American, British and French
Ministers were discussing at din
ner the possibilities of restoring
peace.
They had met at the invitation
of Nelson T. Johnson, United
States Minister to China, who had
been asked by the city's Chinese
merchants to mediate with the
hope of establishing a perma-
nent peace.
The diplomats had just reached
the demi-tasse stage, when the
cannonading began, heavier than
usual.
From their dining room WIN
dows on the tenth floor of the
Hotel Cathay they could see the
gun flashes along both the Japa-
nese and Chinese fronts. For
while they watched from the
windows, then mounted the stairs
! to a tower, where they watched
/ the battle through binoculars.
/ Woosung Again Bombarded.
The Chapel shooting began sometime
after the japanese fleet in the Whang-
boo had resumed the bombardment of
Woosung.
They fired on the village and the
forts and both sides had machine gun
| sections in action on opposite banks of
the river. The japanese said they had
inflicted heavy losses.
japanese airplanes were over both
ChapeI and Woosung, bombing the lat
| ter. but flying high over Chapel and
avoiding the International Settlement.
Thus far they had used none OF the
500-pound bombs which have been
made available to them.
The British cruiser Berwick was
asked to shift her berth from the
anchorage near Woosung and this i'm
piled warning by the Japanese was
taken as an indication that another
nedNN DOIQDdTQIIleIlI W DIS
Bombs Dropped by Flyers.
Mr.. johnson arrived shortly after
noon, soon after the four-hour truce
of this morning ended. With him were
the British and French ministers, and
all three had their first experience OF
the Shanghai campaign when their YES
! sells passed through the Whangpoo Mar
| rows near the forts.
They saw the japanese destroyers
| open fire. and moment later the
cruisers joined in. Mr.. johnson said
he saw two shells fall in Woosung, and
| Immediately fires started. He also
counted four airplane bombs which
/ dropped in the marshes near the fort
but did not explode
The japanese fleet did not forget its
manners when the foreign destroyers
carrying Mr.. johnson and the British
Ambassador passed through the Mar
rows. Mr.. johnson was aboard the
/ U. S. S. Simpson and his British COL
league on the gunboat BrldgeWater.
AS they passed the japanese ships
ceased firing and dipped their colorS.
When they were out OF the danger zone
the fire was resumed.
! japanese authorities threatened to
! take strong measures in Nantao and
| South Shanghai in retaliation for al
legged sniping by Chinese at the Japa-
nese war vessels on the Nantao water
front. The population become panicky
and began hasty exodus to the coun-
:ryside. Should fighting occur at Nantao
| the International Settlement would be
encircled by a battle area.
Breaking of Truce Charged.
Japanese consular officials charged
this afternoon that the Chinese soldiers
had broken the mercy truce author
lied from 8 am. to noon to permit
removal of civilians and wounded SOL
diers from ruined Chapel.
The Japanese charges said that dur
ing the four-hour period Chinese SOL
diers and snipers fired at least five
times on Japanese troops who were
standing by in accordance with the
! truce agreement. II was indicated the
| charges were being handed to the men,
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