Evening star., 1937-10-27
By MORRIS J. HARRIS,

BY MORRIS ]. HARRIS,
Associated Press staff Correspondent.
SHANGHAI. Oct. 27-Historic
Chapel, world-renowned since the clash
of Chinas 18th Route Army with the
Japanese in 1882, met its final doom
tonight.
Whipped by southerly wind. miles
of flame swept through what was left
of this one-time humanity packed city
which again became battlefield Au-
gust 13 The fires started early today,
when the Chinese resistance to the
japanese collapsed.
The scenes here tonight were vir-
tually identical to those I saw in 1882,
when the terrific struggle ended. as it
did today, with a sudden Chinese with
drawal before the relentless punish
ment of the japanese mechanical army
and navy.
Fire RACES Uncontrolled.
Stretching from we'll toward Kiang-
wan southwark into Chapel to the
very edges of the International Settle
ment, thence westward for an unde-
termined number of miles, uncon-
trolled fire swept whatever was in It's
path.
Patches of shell-torn but thus far
unburned buildings dotted this huge
area in which courageous Chinese
troops, refusing to retreat before the
japanese thrust, fought on.
But they seemingly were destined
to be engulfed in the flames if jap
anese bullets did not bring a speedier
end
Vast sheets of flame shot toward the
sky. The heat was so intense it was
felt throughout the city.
Firemen from the International Set
tlement, deployed on the south bank
of Soochow Greek, continued to fight
to save the foreign area from de-
struction. In single area where the
flames jumped the creek $50 build
ings were burned, but the firemen
said the fire was under control
Flames Light Horizon.
Beyond the western borders of the
Settlement, where the Chinese and
japanese seemingly were preparing to
resume their fighting, additional fires
lighted the horizon. All Shanghai to
the south of the creek watched this
awesome sight, braving the dangers
of stray bullets and shell fragments
which continued to come.
1t was a repetition of 1882 on a
erander scale. Being a survivor of
Japan's great earthquake September
/, 1928, 1 saw Toxic and Yokohama
burn in fires resulting from that dis
aster. Tonight recalled those horrors
Chapel will be blackened ruins
devoid of life before the flames,
threatening all Shanghai, subside.
Flames penetrated the Settlement at
one point and by midafternoon had
consumed square block of closely
packed houses on Tibet road.
Both Sides Start Fires.
The fires were started by both Chi
nese and japanese. Chinese put
torches to buildings to cover their
retreat from positions they had held
for more than two months. Japanese
did likewise to drive Chinese rear
guard snipers from barricades and
blasted ruins.
British and American defense forces
guarding settlement borders against
possible military emergencies became
fire guards as well.
AS the flames roared ON, japanese
warplanes strafed retreating Chinese
with bombs and machine gun bullets.
The japanese announced their forces
had occupied Chapel, but said num-
ber of isolated Chinese units re-
manned.
Foes Face. Across Soochow Greek.
Just west of the Settlement boundary
Chinese and japanese Armies faced
each other from opposite banks of
winding, muddy Soochow Greek.
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek's war
riors dug in along the southern bank
of the creek, prepared to force jap
anese to wage another major engage
ment.
British defenders closed barbed
wire gates and refused to permit any
more refugees fleeing from Japanese
to enter the Settlement. Thousands
of Chinese surged against the barri-
cades, screaming in terror, but Brit
ish declared opening the gateway
would imperil the Settlement.
Because machine gun fire endan-
gered the Settlements western border,
the British consul general warned all
British nationals to be ready to
evacuate dangerous territory. Ameri-
can officials were considering possible
similar action.
British troops holding an outpost
at railroad bridge across Soochow
Greek, just outside st. Johns Uni
versity campus, fell back to a safer
post near Jessfield Park. The troops
reported that japanese airplane
had machine gunned approximately
tSee CHINA, Page A-4)