The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-11-18
U. S. CUNBOATS
SPEED TO help
IN EVACUATION
Capital Seems Doomed !;
Rear Attack on Soochow
Defense Looms
SECRET TRUCE TALK
MAY BE IN PROGRESS
Copyright. 1887, United Press)

Copyright. 1887, United Press)
SHANGHAI. Nov. -. up
The Japanese today began new
offensive west of Shanghai. and
foreign experts believed Jnat Chi
mas capital, Naukiug. was DOOM
ED. Japanese Indicated they will
attack m the rear on the defend
vrs of S0ochow and planned TO
cu' MISUNDERSTANDING railroad,
which would make retention ot
the new Chinese lines impossible.
Japanese seized boats. RATS and
all sorts Of craft 20 use I'm APP
preaching The capital VIA the
Nang,zr river and Lake TaihU.
In Marking all Americans were
advised 20 cvacUatc.
As the announcement Of the
Chinese governments withdrawal
was expected, three United States
gunbOat> were stcamiUg sU,ispCcd
toward Marking 10 assist IN the
evacuation OF 81 Americans.
WarshipS Of Jupau's third bat
tie fleet repeatedly blasted away
Chinese distractions IN the chan
mel of the NargtSe river above
Shanghai today opening the way
for naval bombardmcnt Of Chi
mas devastated central capital
Marking.
The Chinese, fearing more Jap
aneSe aerial bOmblugS IN advance
Of the impending naval attacks,
FASTENED their partial evacuation
Of the capital and made laSt-mIn-
ute changes in their plan TO con-
tirue the war despite the crush
ing defeats they have suffered
around Shanghai and in the north
crn provinces. They said 20 Jap
anCsc warShips were m the lower
NangtSc.
II was reported that Generals
simo Chang kai-Shck was modl-
fving the structure of his military
dictatorship and had resigned as
president of the executive Yuan
a post tantamoUUt 10 civilian chief
cxecutivc-in order To devote all
his time 10 military affairs.
The generalisSimo, apparently
foreseeiug that the various tenn
porary capitals he has created IN
lIankow. ChangSha, and other
points, soon will become untcn-
able. also was reported TO have
decided that the principal nation
alist capital Of the country even
tuallv must be Chungking, more
than 1000 miles west OF ShanS-
hal in Szechuan province.
Chungking is above the rapids
of the Yangtse and inaccessible
10 Japanese warShips. Hankow
and other interior cities suitable
for a national capital, on the 9th
cr hand, arc open to japanese at
tack.
The YangtSe was blocked by
the Chinese about go miles down
stream from Marking early IN the
war. Junks filled with stones, old
steamships, and other obstruc-
tions were placed in the channel.
These distractions TO the Jap
lncSC ADVANCE diS bNA'N ~ "'''N ~
now. however, and it was admit
ted that the whole river vii. be
omen soon as far as the head Of
navigation for large ships, ut lch-
ang.
Other developments in the war
included:
Some observers saw a gen
cral breakup of organized Chi
ncsc resistance to Japan and be
lieved that secret negotiations Tor
a truce already may be under
wav, They argued that the gcncr-
aliSsimo's personal army and AIR
force. which has been the focal
point Of united Chinese resistance
now has been crushed as AN cttcc-
tive instrument and the local and
provincial leaders, who have been
supporting generalissimo'S alI-Ch'-
ma anti-.Iapanesc front, arc be-
ginning to desert him. 90.
2. Japanese occupation Of Nan
king before Christmas was con-
sidcred almost certain and 1t was
argued that the moral effect OF
This blow will be TO convince the
Continued on page three)