Evening star., 1937-08-20
China
Continued From First Page.)

| \Sollllllueu FIO{n TlTSJ fdRe.j
| tory belonging to the American Sher-
! VIM n-Williams Co.
No Effort to Check Fires
! The fires spread with no effort to
check them for the fire companies of
! the International Settlement had all
been withdrawn from the battle zone.
which most of Hongkew has become.
At nightfall fires seemed to ring the
whole horizon, as seen from tall build
ings on Shanghai's famous Bund
| The war came closer to Americans
! in Shanghai as japanese shells fell
on the border of the French conces-
sion-where most American residents
have their homes.
| At dark, japanese cruiser with all
her lights blanked out anchored close
behind the Augusta apparently pre-
pairing to lombard Chinese shore posi-
tions in Pootung during the darkness.
A japanese warship similarly darkened
| fired from a position close to the
Augusta Wednesday night.
| AS the bombardments from air and
land became more savage japanese
shells and Chinese airbombs crashed
along the boundary between the
French concession and the Chinese
city late this afternoon The bonn
bardment brought new panic to the
international area.
1t was the first time shells from
japanese naval guns had touched this
part of Shanghai. Casualties were
| not known Immediately.
The projectiles Whlzzed close to the
Associated Press Office. Lives Of
Americans and other foreigners were
! endangered by the bombardment,
which started at 545 pm.
Three Chinese planes roared over
Pootung, across the Whangpoo from
the French concession, and dropped
eight bombs on japanese owned
wharves, warehouses and cottonmills,
which burst into flames.
japanese pursuit ships raced toward
| the numbering bombers. One of the
Chinese planes caught fire from
machine-gun bullets and crashed to
the ground.
Chinese Artillery on Roof.
In the midst of the air lombard
ment Chinese shells from concealed
rooftop position in the Chinese city.
adjoining the French concession,
crashed into Japanese-held sectors Of
the Whangpoo River shores.
The detonations shook the entire
| city. Americans and other foreigners
raced indoors.
| Chinese forces, attempting to drive
the Japanese into the Whangpoo River,
apparently held the japanese along the
rivers banks in northeastern Shang-
hal.
ConsulateS Menaced.
Flames in the Pootung and Hong
kew sections menaced the Soviet and
Japanese Consulates and the famous
Astor House Hotel.
japanese naval sources declared the
Chinese fired the houses to cover a
retreaA but other sources said Japa-
nese had fired many Hongkew build
ings to sNloke out the Chinese.
IndepencNnt reports from the battle
area said Chinese had not yielded an
inch of their gains and that the Chi
nese attack had split the Japanese
lines.
A Japanese announcement from
Peiping said octogenarian Gen. Chang
Chao-tsung, formerly chairman Of the
japanese created Peace Preservation
Committee, had assumed the mayor
atty of the city.
Appointment Of Chang, who once
commanded the Empress DoWager' S
bannermen and imperial guards, was
interpreted by foreigners as meaning
possible return of the old Manchu
regime, extending the domain Of Man
chukuo southwark into North China
under Japan's protection.
Chinese mobs grew increasingly
threatening. French soldiers mounted
machine guns about the Japanese
Ambassadors residence in the French
concession.
Second Rebuff.
The American answer to the Japa-
neSe Navy was the second time in as
many days American officials had told
the japanese Navy it must keep hands
off the right of the United States to
unrestricted use of the Whangpoo-
the only avenue of escape for Ameri-
cans and other foreigners fleeing the
battle between China and Japan for
Shanghai,
The japanese Navy, despite it's re-
buff yesterday, today asked United
States naval officials to give Japan
advance notice whenever they wished
tt navigate the Whangpoo after dark.
In refusing to do so Admiral Yarnell
declared his ships would always ex-
ecute normal navigation procedure
and at night would take precautions
to insure that required running lights
were functioning.
While their advance battalions held
the japanese along the banks of the
Whangpoo in Northeastern Shanghai
Chinese shore batteries repulsed q
japanese effort to land reinforcements
at Liuho, - miles to the northwest
for an attack from the rear.
The Japanese forces attempted to
land from transports under cover oi
warship bombardment, but were
compelled to return to their ships by
the withering fire from the Chinese
positions. Changsu, near Liuho, was
also subjected to heavy japanese
naval bombardment, but no attemp,
was made to land troops there
Because Of the heavy fighting be.
tween shore batteries and Japanes,