IOLLOWING. three days of preparation and an intensive artillery barrage and aerial bombardment, which brought tragedy to the Settlement's western areas, the Japanese yesterday, in a furious engagement, crossed the Soochow Creek, near Rubicon Village, and established themselves on the south side, despite vigorous Chinese attempts to prevent them.
Chinese reports of having repulsed the Japanese attacks were late last night discounted by foreign observers in the western districts, who could see and hear machine-gun and rifle fire well to the south of where the positions were the day before, and obviously on the south side of the creek.
With this crossing, the Japanese are expected to attempt to renew the offensive which started nine days ago at Tazang and to the west, and which resulted in the Chinese withdrawal from Chapei.
Yesterday's crossing was said to have been under cover of a smoke screen.
It began shortly before 2 p.m., following an artillery barrage from noon.
Japanese reports state that a pontoon bridge has been thrown across the creek at the point where they are now established on the south side.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.