Evening star., 1937-10-08
China
Continued From First PaRe.)

arms against Japan the Japanese Army
will show no mercy.
Toward officials and nationals Of
foreign powers who have suffered In
the hoetilities or are threatened with
injuries to their persons and property,
we express our deepest sympathies.
The Japanese Army will leave
nothing undone to respect and pro-
tect the lives and property OF ma
tionals Of third powers.
With the close cooperation of the
naval forces, the Japanese expedi-
tionary force is determined to clear
the skies of ominous clouds and l
am confident the day is not far of
when the light Of peace will shine
again"
An official Nanking spokesman
characterized the Japanese command
er's proclamation as modern decla-
ration of war" and declared it is a
mere smoke screen in an attempt to
excuse invasion of a peaceful
country"
Chinese officials and foreign diplo-
mats generally expressed belief the
proclamation was in reply TO protests
from Washington and other capitals
against Japan's military activities in
China.
Seek to Save Front Property.
In the implied threat against Poo
tung japanese Army spokesman as
serted the Japanese had avoided in
f1icting damage on the Pootung water
front, which is largely foreign owned
docks and factories, but that, il the
Chinese repeated last nights lombard
ment, they would be forced to take
action.
The duel between the Chinese bat.
ter1es and the japanese warships was
the severest night engagement of the
war which was four months old today.
The conclusion Of the heavy shells
shattered windows in scores OF build
ings on the water front, and shook
the city to its foundations.
The deadly artillery battle went on
under black, rain-laden skies as the
Japanese warships ploughed Pootung
with scores Of shells and the Chinese
batteries there blasted the river front
and reached inland to Hongkew.
The American cruiser Augusta, flag
snip OF the United States Fleet, was
again endangered at its exposed posi-
ton at the apex of the row of foreign
warships in the Whanpoo. Shells
passed over the ship repeatedly while
few splashed in the water only a
few hundred yards distant.
While the two armies were mired
Gown IN the indecisive struggle for the
Shanghai sector, Japanese authorities
announced their forces were preparing
Tor the next stage of the North China
ouenslve with an advance against
Shlhkiachwang, junction OF the Peip-
ans-Hankow and Taiyuanfu railroads
Chengtingfu Reported Taken.
"a dispatch from Peiping said
the japanese Domei News Agency
reported the important city of
Chengtingfu on the railroad to
HAnkow was occupied at 1890
am. today. Chengtingfu is $50
miles southwest Of Peiping and its
capture put the Japanese Army
within striking distance of the
Fortified Chinese line at Shihkiach-
wang, eight miles farther south.)
Japanese disclosed the first activity
Of their war planes in North China
In many days, asserting they had
downed five Chinese planes in dog
lights after a Chinese air patrol had
attempted surprise raid on Pao-
tingfu, captured capital OF Hopeh
Province, 80 miles southwest Of Pei
ping.
With the renewal of bombings Of
railway stations and trains along the
march, numbers OF Chinese and six
Americans evacuated Tsinanfu, cap
ital of Shantung Province, for the
Eastern port of Tsingtao.
A Japanese naval spokesman an
nounced air raids on six cities in
South China and several points along
the Canton -Hankow Railroad. Chi
nese denied Japanese claims Of great
damage to airplane manufacturing
plants and munitions factories in that
area, as well as that four Chinese
planes were shot down in Z dog fight
over Shaokwan in Northern Kwan.
tung Province.
Chinese reported that eight jap
anese planes yesterday dropped ~
bombs on the railway station at Soo-
chow, IS miles west Of Shanghai, and
machine-gunned fleeing passengers.
Twenty-six persons were said to have
been killed and so wounded.
Chinese declared that 20 Japanese
planes had raided NH1king, the cap
ital. causing little d&nase and losing
two planes In q dog lHht and from
auti-aircraft are,