Evening star., 1932-03-01
JAPANESE ADVANCE
IN ALL SECTORS
10000 Reinforcements Ar.
rive-Attempt Made to
Blow Up Warships.
Continued From First Page.)

including passenger liners from every
where, passes on going and coming
from Shanghai's harbor.
They were so powerful that when
they exploded they threw a stream Of
water so yards into the air No ships
The first blast occurred within 20 yards
of the IdZumo, which has been the
target of Chinese artillery on numer-
GUS occasions.
The tfunderous blast rocked the ship.
A few minutes later a similar blast
burst up within so yards of the OIL,
500 yards further down the river. The
cruiser was rocked and a great column
OF water was thrown into the air. This
second blast shot up only a short dis
tance from the bow of the American
flagship Houston, which is anchored in
the middle Of the river short distance
below the japanese consulate.
The British flagship the cruiser Kent,
also lay on the opposite shore of the
Whangpoo, across from the OIL, while
the Italian flagship Libia was anchored
a short distance below the Kent. None
of these foreign vessels was damaged
although all were within short dis
tance of the mine explosion.
Americans living along the railway
line which the japanese have threat
ened to lombard to prevent movement
of Chinese reinforcements were advised
by Edwin S. Cunningham, the consul
general, to vacate.
In their warning to Mayor WI Teh-
Chen yesterday the japanese said they
would begin operations tomorrow to de-
stroy the railway. There are more than
so Americans in Soochow, but this is
considered outside the danger area.
The ferOCitV nf the hattie along the
Chapel Kiangwan Mao = Changchen
front during thL afternoon made it in
creasingly apparent that the japanese
were undertaking to achieve smashing
advance along the whole battle line.
Smoke Covers Battle Scene.
The entire line was engulfed in
constant uproar as the guns blaZed a
continual thunder and great clouds of
smoke covered the whole battle scene
shutting off all view from the outside
From behind the japanese lines, how
ever, as near as observers could go to
the conflict, the scene was one of the
most spectacular of all the days of
fighting here.
Shrapnel burst all along the line. The
howitzers belched out their fire with
resounding boons, while great smoke
rings sailed skyward, Underneath it all
was the steady rat-tat-tat Of machine
guns and rifles.
Now and. then, through the veil of
smoke which overhung everything like
a vast cloud, an airplane darted, visible
momentarily.
During the forenoon the force of the
japanese drive was terrific, but the
Chinese held their positions and re-
turned scorching answer from their
machine guns and howitzers.
Japanese artillery, bombing planes
and machine guns carried the brunt OF
the early battle, although the infantry
men kept their rifles hot while they
stayed within their entrenched posi-
tions. The japanese aviators laid smoke
screens over the area, to the ordinary
smoke and dust of battle, indicating
they planned to make use Of this newer
and more modern implement of warfare
when it became necessary.
Headquarters Moved.
Japanese military headquarters were
moved from spot northeast of Kiang-
wan into the race course, placing Lieut..
mander of the expeditionary force, In
a more central position to direct the
greatly broadened attack that broke
loose after the morning fogs lifted.
Long tubes of smoke-producing ma
terial shot thick rolls of fumes along
the ground around Woosung.
japanese naval authorities announced
that the navy "co-operated admirably"
with the military forces in carrying out
landing operations along the Yangtze.
At press conference aboard the Japa-
nese flagship, Rear Admiral Shimada
said the naval casualties were nine
T0l1ndad He alSO x.
11ibited a rubber insulated wire which
he said was discovered in dredging
operations after the mine explosions in
the river.
The wires, Japanese officials said,
we're believed to have been connected
with mines from the Pootung side Of
the river from where the charges were
exploded.
Discussing the case of Col. Wang,
Admiral Shimada said his release was
due to a desire Of the naval officials
to accord him courtesy BETTING his
rank The Japanese, he said, had no
intention Of making him prisoner OF
war because this is not war" He
added, however, that because OF Col.
Wang's behavior around the flagship
and in the area controlled by the blue
Jackets. the japanese had legal reasons
to recognize him as spy"
Shirakawa Takes Charge.
Gen. Shirakawa, who took over the
command of the japanese land forces
from Lieut.. Gen. Kenkichi Uyeda, said
he would exert his utmost endeavors
to avoid aggravating the situation and
tn limit the military operations to the
minimum necessary to accomplish the
speedy termination of the present crisis.
He said the japanese reinforcements
were made necessary by the nasslng
of vast army by the Chinese with
obstinate insistence in resisting the
Japanese forces"
Should the Chinese forces see fit
to accede to our proposals IN goon
faith !" Gen. Shirakawa said, I'VE will
speediIy withdraw our troops and not
hesitate to suspend military operations.
The Italian cruiser Trento and the
italian Espero are expected here March
from Singapore bringing 500 Italian
soldiers to augment the present Italian
force here which totals 300 soldiers.