Evening star., 1937-11-04
JAPANESE ATTACK
NEARBR|T|SHA AREA
Drive Set Back, Say Chi
neSe, With Destruction of
Several Bridges.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Japanese campaign against
Shanghai forced Chinese eight days
ago to euucuate long-held defense
positions in Chapel and KidngUan
and to retreat to second line pre-
pared along Soochow Creek, run
ming West of International Settle
ment. Further japanese adUance
preUented. Naturalization OF Nam
tao, Chinese suburb south OF
Shanghai, proposed to protect
French Concession from further
peril as result of japanese threat
to destroy this section of Far East
metropolis.
BY the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Nov. 4-Japanese
forces trying to drive Chinese south of
their Soochow Greek positions today
bombarded the Jessfield Park area
near British army outposts
AS Shanghai skies started to clear
Japanese planes took the air to drop
number Of small bombs on the right
flank of the Chinese line extending
westward from Shanghai.
The Japanese drive suffered a set
back, Chinese spokesman declared,
when Chinese artillery destroyed two
of three bridges Japanese engineers
had thrown over Soochow Creek He
added, however, that severe fighting
was in progress on the south bank be-
yond Rubicon village.
There were persistent reports that
Chinese were on the verge of with
drawing from the entire Shanghai
peninsular, but the reports we're with
out confirmation.
American and foreign observers said
the first japanese objective appar-
emily was the Hungjao Airdome, 3
miles southwest of Rubicon. They
stated the japanese were making only
slow progress.
Fighting on All Fronts.
Spirited fighting was under way on
all fronts in China, but neither
Chinese nor Japanese were able to
achieve clear-cut gains toward major
objectives. From flrst-hand observa-
ton and from communicates of the two
factions it appeared that temporary
stalemate had developed.
On the Shanghai front, artillery and
infantry fighting continued along the
entire line from Jessfield Park west
and north to Nanziang. Japanese
made small gains at heavy sacrifices
but were unable to consolidate their
advances on the south bank of Soo-
chow Greek.
In North China the tide of battle
shifted back and forth along the
Peiping -Hankow Railway with Chi
nese declaring their forces had
launched an offensive which carried
them northward across the Chang
River, II miles north of Changteh,
in Northern Honan Province. (Japa-
nese at Peiping declared the Chinese
attack was repulsed.)
Claim Pass Captured.
japanese asserted they had cap
tured Niangtzekwan Pass, the gateway
to the Shansi provincial capital, Tai
yuan. Chinese, however, declared
that only small japanese force had
penetrated the pass and added that
Chinese along both sides held back
the main Japanese column.
Along the Tientsin-P -Pukow Railway
Chinese asserted a counteroffensive
was pushing Japanese back to line
So miles north of Tsinan, Shantung
Province capital.
At Peiping japanese communique
said Is divisions of Chinese troops
were in fight as japanese adanced
toward Taiyuan. Two divisions of
Red Army troops were reported re-
treating in Northeast Shansi.
Aerial Activity Continues.
Despite deadlock land battles, Japa-
nese continued widespread aerial sc-
tivities. A scouting plane new over
Tsingtao, Shantung Province seaport.
which previously had been untouched
by warfare.
Twenty bombs were dropped at
Sungkiang, southwest of Shanghai.
with a heavy toll of lives and dam
age to q power plant and q girls
school. Three points along the Can
ton-Kowloon Railway were raided.
Fourteen japanese planes bombarded
Soochow, 50 miles west OF Shanghai.
A japanese spokesman announced
that negotiations for proposed neu-
tralization of Nantao, Chinese Sec
ton south of the French concession,
were proceeding satisfactorily.