Evening star., 1937-12-05
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Dec. A British
mercy ship was sprayed with bullets
today while unsuccessfully attempting
to evacuate nine French Canadian
nuns from Japanese-occupied Tsung-
ming Island, near Shanghai.
Gunflre from an invisible source
killed the steamer Siushans Chinese
chief of1cer and wounded a sailor
and several passengers
The sudden attack turned back the
rescue attempt led by British con-
sular officer, E. r. Boothby, and a
French Canadian missionary, Father
Adrien Sansoucy. The nine nuns have
been marooned for three months on
the Yangtze estuary island.
The incident came as International
Settlement officials attempted to keep
peace with the Japanese conquerors of
Shanghai who demanded freedom to
enter the International Settlement at
will Twice American and French
troops have baked their entry.
Apologize to U. S.
Three Japanese staff officers apollo
gized to Brig. Gen. John c. Beau
mont, United States marine command
er, for their troops intrusion on the
American defense sector riday after
hand grenade disrupted Japanese
victory parade"
In a brush with French authorities,
five japanese Army trucks at first
were prevented from entering the
French concession, but nnally were
allowed to pass through under French
military guard.
1t was learned authoritatively that
Japan would launch her biggest Of
fensive against Marking next week
and that Generalissimo Chang Kai-
shek has mobilized 100000 seasoned
troops to defend the city.
Chinese were massed along a 25-
mile front between Chinkiang and
Kuyung, 80 miles east OF the now
emptying capital.
Mediation Request Reported.
1t was reported that Chinese au-
thorities had approached the German
Ambassador, DR.. Oskar Trautman,
who came from Hankow to Nanking
on an undisclosed mission, to use his
good Offices as mediator Of the Chi
nese-Japanese conflict.
Japanese Army officials were said to
look with disfavor on any mediation,
at least until Nanking is captured.
The demand for unrestricted entry
was made to the Shanghai Municipal
Council at the same time an army
representative demanded police take
steps to prevent occurrences such as
marred the Friday parade japanese
said the incident was closed.
1t was understood the japanese
demands would be passed on from the
municipal council to the foreign con-
sular body for reference finally to
Washington and other capitals.
In Marking, American citizens
were warned to be ready to evacu-
ate on short notice, possibly to-
morrow, in the face Of the Jap
anese advance toward the virtu-
ally abandoned capital. japanese
planes bombed military objectives
in the city, but no casualties were
reported)
Japanese military authorities re-
ported Japans Army was in position to
threaten Marking and Chinkiang on
the Yangtze River.
New Appeals for Hangchow.
New appeals from American, French
and British residents of Hangchow
were made to save the historic city
from bombardment by Japanese COL
umns advancing south of Lake Tai
Japanese thus far have not answered
the appeals.
un Hong Kong, Chinese dispatches
said that Japanese airplanes had
bombed the HAnkow-Canton Ry.
on which British Charge d'Affaires
r. G. Howe was travelling toward
Hong Kong in Britain's portable
Embassy" a clearly marked railway
coach. There was no indication the
coach had met with mishap. Howe
is transferring headquarters to Shang-
hai)
a