Evening star., 1937-10-28

north OF Shanghai yesterday amid
inferno OF flames and bursting
shells and bombs. New positions
taken up on SoochotU Greek, tDeSt OF
International Settlement, Uhere
stronger defenses haze been con-
structed. japanese pushing ad-
Ddnce to complete capture OF
Shanghai before conuening on
Nine-PoiDer Conference merit
Wednesday at Brussels.
BULLETIN.
PARIS, Oct. 28 (P).-Japan is
disposed to accept friendly conver-
sations with interested powers, in
cluding particularly the United
States, looking toward eventual
restoration of peace between Japan
and China, high japanese author
ity said tonight.
By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Oct. 28.-The United
States Marines and British troops
offered tonight to aid withdrawal OF
a Chinese battalion. trapped by Japa-
bullets falling into Shanghais Inter-
national Settlement with its thou
sands of foreigners, including Amer
leans.
Tho ofFor WOE ref,Icad
The defiant. almost certainly
doomed battalion held grimly to a
small area within Chinese Chapel
which the remainder of their army
abandoned yesterday to flames and
advancing japanese.
Crowds OF foreigners and Chinese
had gathered on roof tops, despite a
shower of machine gun bullets, to
watch the battle along the settle
ment's northern border when the
American and British offer of aid
was made.
Major Battle Around Hungjao.
There was danger to the Interna-
tional Settlement, too, on the western
edges and along the French conces-
sion frontier, with a major battle in
PROGRESS around Hungjao, suburb in
which are located many of the city's
finest homes.
Brig. Gen. John c. Beaumont, ma
rine commander in Shanghai, and
the British major general, A. P. D.
Telfer-Smollet, contacted the en-
battled battalion in Chapel by still
serviceable telephone line connecting
with a warehouse in the battle zone.
The American and British COM
manders suggested that their forces
be used to aid the beleaguered Chi
nese in obtaining sanctuary south oil
Soochow Creek.
Reminded of the destruction that
Japanese planes might cause to their
position, Comdr. Col. Chinyuan re-
piled:
I'VE are not much worried by the
Japanese planes and we're prepared
for their infantry
That the final hour of the doomed
battalion was at hand seemed certain
when a japanese Navy spokesman de-
clared Nippon's bluejackets would mop
I'D all scattered Chinese units in
Chapel.
japanese naval headquarters advised
United States marines to take precau-
tionary measures against possible Sc
we're action to wipe out the Chinese
battalion. opposite one section of ma
rine defense lines.
Designating the Chinese detachment
as stragglers, the navy spokesman pre-
dicted they soon would be killed.
Crowds of -worshiping Chi
nese, who hocked to the Settlement
side of the creek to cheer their fighting
countrymen, declared they were not
stragelers, but the remains of bat
TALON of Generalissimo Chang Kali
shek's 88th Army, which had held
the North Station citadel IS days
against japanese attacks.
Proud Chinese officials said the be-
sieged warriors all we're under 80 years
old and came from every province in
China.
Attempt to Send Food.
A number of foreigners attempted to
send bundles of food to the battalion,
but the attempts were not successful.
Somehow, the unit obtained supplies
of rice, hardtack and tea and sent
back word that it would stick to the
last man.
Despite a shower of machine-gun
bullets which spattered the Settle
ment pavements, crowds of Chinese
(See CHINA, Page A-4)
TncnANINi IDKEn