Evening star., 1937-10-23
JAPANESE THREAT
IN SHANGHAI AREA
IS HELD CHECKED
Effort to Capture Tazang
Declared FoiIed in TO-
Hour Struggle.
LOSSES ARE SEVERE,
BOTH SIDES ADMIT
Chinese Make Slight Gains in
Street Fighting in Chapel Sec
tor Despite Shelling.
By the Associated Press.

bs the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI. october 23.-The grea
battle for Shanghai swayed madll
back and forth in the moonlight to-
night in a maze of small creeks ano
meandering canals north of Tazang
miles northwest of Shanghai.
Both sides admitted severe losses as
the Japanese fought desperately tc
smash the Chinese lines and open
the way to Marking. Just as des-
perstely the Chinese battled to hold
Tazang. loss of which would compel
retreat from Chapel and kiangwan
their strongholds on Shanghais north
ern fringe
Both sides tossed heavy reinforce
ments into the battle and each claimed
success.
Declares Threat Checked.
A Chinese Army spokesman declared
the Chinese had definitely checked
the japanese threat to Tazang after
20 hours of combat.
A japanese spokesman asserted de-
tails did not matter. because the Japa-
nese were slowly, but surely pushing
the Chinese back and gaining their
general objectives.
The struggle surged through scores
of thatch-roofed farm villages, from
which terror-Stricken persons fed,
driving their oxen and pigs before
them.
Military spokesrnen admitted it was
impossible TO designate the exact po-
sition of the front lines. Possession
of a dozen specks on the map was in
dispute.
An Associated Press correspondent
crawled through the British defense
lines on the northern edge of the
International Settlement last night
into disputed Chapel and found that
the Chinese had made slight gains in
bitter street fighting in spite of a
terrific rain OF japanese shells and
bombs.
Foes Only 80 Yards Apart.
The Chinese had advanced along
North Kiangsi road until opposing
forces faced each other along Range
road behind sandbags only 80 yards
apart.
North Of Shanghai the center of
fighting shifted from Tazang. where
japanese were trying to cut of
Chinese communications about miles
northwest of the International Set
tlement, to Kwangfu, well to the rear
of the Chinese 25-mile front.
At Kwangfu heavy japanese forces
apparently were attempting to smash
sng. China's powerful Winter line. "
japanese troops were reported TO
have reached within miles of
Kwangfu. The Chinese Army spokes-
man declared, however, barbed wire
entanglements along creeks and irri-
cation bitches were impenetrable and
that Nanziang was not believed in
danger.
THE worst is now over and we are
confident of holding out in Chapel
indefinitely the Chinese spokesman
declared.
Chinese authorities reported JAP
anese casualties on the Shanghai
front have totaled $1,000. including
24,200 killed. About 5000 wounded
Japanese. they declared, have been
transferred to Dairen, Kwangtune
leased territory, rather than to Japan
Fall of Town Held Unlikely.
The Chinese spokesman conceded
that the japanese forces were within
one and one-quarter miles of Tazang
where a japanese victory could cut
of Chinese in the important ChapeI
sector and open a path toward Man.
king, Chinas capital. The possibil-
ity that the town might fall, how.
ever, still was considered remote, he
declared.
Although the Chinese claimed cap
ture Of several more villages by real
attacks on the japanese lines, strong
Japanese forces we're reported to have
captured the village of Chenchiahang
an important point on the way tC
Nanziang, which is about 10 miles
west and slightly north Of Shanghai
Death and destruction virtually en-
circled Shanghai as both forces in
tensified their attacks and lombard
ments from land, sea and air, both il
the Tazang sector and at Kwangtu. al
important point on the route TO Kia
ting, well in the rear Of the Chimes
25-mile defense line.
All Weapons Utilized.
Both sides utilized every possible
weapon. Observers predicted that th
changing war map would remain I
tumble of confusing counter claims 70
days with both armies launching at
tacks and counter attacks, losing ant
regsining villages.
Observers were barred from th
bloody scene for a distance 10 mile
outside Shanghai.
The city itself endured five Chimes
air raids before today's foegy dawi
and was within earshot and sight o
part Of the infantry battle.