Evening star., 1938-02-03

control of the corridor.
By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Feb. 3.-Japan's armed
forces marked out huge area of East
Central China as a new war zone today
and asked Americans and other for
eigners there to leave.
The japanese Embassy spokesman
announced the decision under which
1t was indicated many points would be
subjected to bombardment in Nippon's
drive to crush Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek's Chinese armies.
The request was issued. he said, by
the Japanese Embassy at Peiping. the
''new capital" where Japan has in
stalled it's provisional North China
government.
Marks on Property Requested.
American and other foreign en-
bassies there received note that, in
view of the spread of warfare, neutral
foreigners in the zone should evacuate
'and mark their properties so Japanese
airmen would not bomb them.
1t was recommended that japanese
authorities be given maps showing the
location of such properties-most of
which are missions-and that the jap
anese be notified of the nature Of pro-
tective markings.
Roughly, the area specified in the
warning extends from the winding
Yangtze River on the south to line
running from the southern coast of
Shantung Province to Taiyuan, Shansi
Province capital, on the north.
1t encompasses about 376.000 square
4, miles. Normally the population of this
area is some 146,O00.O0O. Included in
the designated zone are about 20 towns
in which American missions are
located and 80 which are the sites of
other foreign missions.
Half Million in Struggle
On northern and southern borders of
the designated war zones eastern neck
. half million japanese and Chinese
troops are struggling for possession of
the Lunghai lifeline Railway.
Japanese have told OF puncturing
the southern defenseS of the Lunghai
corridor by capture of Pengpu only 80
miles south of Suchow, nerve center
OF the corridor and at present their
main objective.
This advance came after a month
In which Japan's war machine was
stalled by snow, sleet, blizzards and
fierce Chinese resistance Chinese
were said to be digging in for a new
stand along the north bank of the
Hwai Ho misty river) in the face of
air and artillery bombardment.
Stiff Resistance in North.
From the corridors northern fringe,
however, Chinese sent word of sue
cessful resistance. They said Chi
nese force had driven back japanese
field army 80 miles north of Suchow,
with the reorganized Chinese air force
aiding ground troops.
On the northern coast of Shantung
Peninsula a japanese naval landing
party occupied Chefoo, summer sta
tion of the United States Asiatic Fleet,
without resistance
japanese planes continued their at
tacks along the South China coast,
bombarding Chinese positions and rail-
ways near Canton and Annoy
Near Pengpu, japanese were said to
have bombarded a number of river
tunks, killing about 1000 Chinese SOL
diers.
Northern Boundary Fixed.
The northern boundary of the
wly-designated Central-China war
Zone was given as extending from
Tsingtao, on the Shantung Province
sea coast, through Yenchow, Tanning,
Changteh and Taiyuan. The western
boundary was not designated.
Aside from aid raids, foreign OBJ
servers set the actual practical limits
Of warfare in the designated zone as
about half the total area.
While the largest group Of foreign
ers within the zone were at Hankow,
temporary Chinese capital. many
American and other foreign mis-
sionaries were scattered throughout
the entire area.