The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-20
BBY II. X. EkINS
Downright 1882 by United Press

Shanghai, Feb 20.-UP)-Stub-
born, poorly equipped Chinese
fought off Japanese invaders who
opened their big push, to-day with
bloody hand to hand fighting, big
guns, air bombs, tanks, and con
slant shell fire that spared Ameri-
can lives almost by q miracle 1t
seemed.
The Chinese surrounded one
Japanese brigade along the 18-
mile front on which the battle
opened, and as this dispatch was
written the Japanese command
had 'ordered another brigade into
the sector to prevent the trapped
brigade's determination.
The Chinese turned back some
japanese tanks with mines. At
Kiangwan, hand to hand fighting
occurred. Buildings were set on
fire over the entire area.
Foreigners, including L. $. ma
rIncs and American children, had
miraculous escapes. One shell
landed in the midst Of u dozen
American children at play In a
garden in international settlement,
but it was dud and did not ex-
plodc.
An American marine detail left n
room in u cotton mill for changing
of the guard five minutes before
that room was wrecked by a shell
which did explode.
Japanese shells started fires in
several parts of the Chapel area.
already practically ruined by previ-
Gus air bombardments.
At the very doors of the inter-
national settlement the Japanese
turned six inch guns, mountain ana
field pieces and aerial bombs on
Chapel. The Chinese did their best
to match the BON bardmcnt shell
for shell.
Clear weather aided the opera =
tionOf Japanese airplanes. Naval
and military planes swept up and
down the line of battle. They
raincd their bombs at all points OF
Chinese concentration from WOO
sung to Shanghai.
The Chinese had not sent up any
planes, but were understood to
have an air force ready
Among the areas bombed from
the air was Chenju, headquarters
Of the Chinese command. The
Radio corporation wireless station
also Is here.
The stubborncss Of the Chinese
resistance led military observers TO
believe that fighting would be pro-
lonecd. The Japanese strength
was estimated at $4,000 and the
Chinese at any where from 10000
to 100000.
Japanese General Uycda was
forced to alter his plans and send
a brigade to the aid Of Japanese
troops attacking kiangwan village
who were surrounded by Chinese
The Japanese concentrated heavy
field guns and mountain guns on
the village. Airplanes kept up
n continual BON bardment. Their
tanks were not able to advance
toward the kiangWan railway sta
ton through the swamps or over
mined terrain.
The Japanese first claimed the
Chinese had begun general re.
treat In the area. Shortly there
O fter the Japanese troops were sent
to help the surrounded brigade.
japanese laid down smoke
screens to cover the advance OF
their infantry toward kiangwan .
Fire was spreading through the
area. Heavy clouds of smoke
from the fires mixed with the
.Japa ncse smoke screens, darkeninG
the entire district
Japanese officers announced that
their troops were not wearing
masks to protect them from poison
gnhcs.
The Chinese. encouraged by
their original victory In recaptur-
ing Kiangwan from the Japanese
resisted the Nipponese with AL
their power.
Japanese field guns also were
busy on the Chapel front, and
started fires near the Commercial
Press building. The Japanese
claimed at 2:30 p. m. That the
Chinese batteries at Chapel had
been silenced. Foreign military
observers doubted that the guns
were more than temporarily quiet
AIrplanes dropped bombs on the
ancient Woosung Notifications
which had withstoOd hsmmering
from Japanese warships. The
brigade commanded by General
Shimoto. holding Its position al
Woosung Creek, supported the
aIrplanes pouring heavy shell five
into the forts.
The Chinese population OF
Shanghai was In panic. Every out