The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-26

I highly EucccBBfuI. IL was not eH-
planned how the one NiDponese
plane was brought down.
The Japanese announced later
that the three occupants Of then
plane had been rescued from
Hangchow Bay by q destroyer
The Chinese Kuo-Min News
| Agency said Chinese officials cx-
pcctcd the japanese TO launch the
greatest military offensive since
| the World war with half Of the
| Japanese National Air force. APP
proxImatcly 200 airplanes. conccn-
! tratcd at Shanghai.
The agency said tho Japanese an
parcptly intended TO make sur
prise effort to dislodge the Chinese
before the League of Nations Com
mission appointed to report on the
Manchurian situation reaches
Shanghai, March 4.
The Chinese were ready to offer
their utmost resistance. and ex-
pccted n new Japanese offensive
Iote tonight, Ku0-Min said.
While victory was claimed for
tho Japanese aerial forces. their
infantry and artillery were having
a. more difficult time beating back
the Chinese before Tazang. The
grim Japanese advance was re-
ncWcd at ii a.. m. After O. smash
ing artillery barrage.
The Chinese retreatcd slowly.
The Japanese appeared to be gain
ing n few yards at a. time. but
there were no decisive gains for
either side early In the day.
The Chinese made frequent
countcr-attacks In the face OF
blistering Japanese fire. The
troops OF the 18th Chinese route
army were well entrenched and
had spent days preparing the Sec
tor against the inevitable Japanese
push.
Az 4 p. IN. Lieutenant General
Kenklchi Eyeda, commanding tho
Japanese ninth division, outlined
the position on the three fronts OF
the IL mile battle line ~ follows.
At Tazang: the JaDanese contih-
ucd their attack on the Chinese
lines cart Of Tazang with artillery
and infantry; the Chinese still held
n section Of Kihngwang village.
now back Of the Japanesc lines. the
section was Hill held by shippers
hidden In the ruins of the village
six days after the Japanese first
entered Kiangwan; the Japanese
were holding lines about 500 yards
west OF kiangWan, gained after
heavy casualties inflicted on the
Chinese, the Japanehe held Maui
hang.
Al Chapel, Just outside the in
ternational settlement; the Chinese
held North Station and the ruins
Of the Commercial Press building
az.
japanese held their lines In Hong
kew, Japanese defense area Of the
settlement; the relative positions
here were unchanged after three
weeks or exchange Of artillery fire
and aerial BON bardment had re-
duGcd Chapel to ruins and caused
considerable damage in the Hong
Kew area.
At Woosung; the Chinese occu-
pied the entire area north OF Woo
sung creek to P1oshan village, the
extreme mort crn end Of the bat
flo line. including the ancient Woo
sung forts at the junction of the
WhnnKpoo and YnngtZce rivers;
most Of the Japanese troops had
been Withdrawn from the Woo
sung urea 10 join the attack at
TaznnK. almost In the middle Of the
Shanghai WooEung front; the Jap
hnehG had made unsuccessful ef-
forts 10 crorn W0ogung Creek and
storm the forts. which were Ehelled
| almost daily by japanese warships.
Lords Of China Unite
London. Feb 2G--NU. P.) --- The
Daily Express said day that the
war lords Of China had united In nm
efforts 10 drive the japanese from
Manchurin and Shanghai.
In an undated story, the Express
said Chang kai-Ghek had been
appointed to command H. large
force 10 recover nshufia and
FenR Yu-Iisihng had been made
head Of the forces defending Shang
hal.