The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-08
Nanking Is Almost
 EncircLed By Japs
CcOntinued from Page n

tCOnJlnueu fan of the capital appeared inevit- able. although no one was able to nredict when, The Japanese were confident that 1t would be soon, per- haps today.
 To Take Important Ports
 Yt was rumored in foreign quar- 'ters that the Japanese, following the capture of Nanking, intended to occupy the remaining important ports of China, including Canton, Annoy, Pakhol, Foochow and Swa- tow. It was not believed that the Japanese would make an attempt to take Tsingtao, in Shantung prov ince, The Japanese control valuable mills there and they were said to have abandoned a campaign against the city for fear the Chinese would destroy the mills.
 weldon James, the United Press stan correspondent in Ranking, re. ported that the Chinese withdrawal retire at into the city through the east gate was orderly, indicating that they would make a desperate final stand.
 Chinese May Be Trapped
 It was thought possible that the Japanese advance from the east had ben slowed up purposely pending the capture of Wuhu, about 60 miles to the southwest, which seemed im- minent.
 The Japanese occupation of Wuhu would cut of the Chinese within Nanklng and force them to flee di- rectly west, across the Yangtze, under an aerial and artillery bar- rage.
 Military sources indicated that the Japanese were in no hurry to enter the capital because, "in ac- cordance with the Samurai spirit" they did not desire heavy non- comhatant casualties
 Chinkiang, key Chinese city in Chinese defenses 80 miles down the Yangtze river from Ranking, was reported in flames from end to end after several Japanese warships broke through the Chinese river blockade farther down the river at Kiangyln.
 Chinese Are Burners
 Japanese sources declared that Chinese incindiarists were responsi- ble for the fires because they had adopted "scorched earth" policy of not leaving anything useable to the Japanese.
 Some reports said that the jap- anese high command was preparing to urge General Tang sheng.C .Chih commander of the Chinese forces in Nanking, to surrender with all of the 300,000 Chinese troops said to be in the Nanking. .Wuhu area.
 Foreign observers doubted whether the 300,000 Chinese would be able to make an effective stand against the Japanese. Most of the Chinese troops do not belong to the central governments armies, 1t was pointed out, but were members of poorly trained provincial forces.
 Japanese consulate agents re- quested foreign representatives here to order their nationals to leave Nanking in event General Tang re- fuses to surrender.
 Yankee Gunboat Stlll There
 Reports from Nanking said tho British river boat Scarab had fled up the Yangtze with Q number of foreign refugees. The United States gunboat of the Yangtze patrol not only was the only remaining gum boat at Nanklng but the only ship of any size visible from the water. front.
 United States embassy officials and l3 "dio.hard" Americans and q few other foreigners remained in tho city.
 A reliable diplomatic source told tho United Press he believed that pr. Oscar T'rautlnann, German ans baSSador to China, was sounding out Chinese leaders In Hankow concerning peace talks, possibly to start after Nankings fall.
 Japan Co Celebrate
 Tokyo, Dec. 6 --- (UP.) -- Jap. ans millions waited intensely today to begin mammoth celebration of tho fall Of Nanking while govern- inent leaders conferred on what would Do tho empires future post. ton in China.
 Residents of Tokyo prepared to swarm into the great plaza in front of tho imperial residence of Ernper- or Hirohito after staging "victory parades" In oil parts of the city.
 Government leaders considered the fall of Nanking as inevitable and hoped to announce it as Q fact