Shanghai, Nov. 2. BOMBED, shelled, and machine-gunned, the Chinese troops on the south bank of the Soochow Creek were strenuously resisting Japanese army efforts to push home the advantage they had gained by crossing the creek on Sunday.
Late last night a Chinese spokesman admitted that the Japanese, after having been driven back by a number of counter-attacks, had again managed to land men on the south bank. Severe fighting, he said, was still proceeding.
The Japanese claimed yesterday evening that their advance, though slow, had not been checked since Sunday, and that their men were pushing forward steadily towards villages to the south and within the Chinese lines. From the direction of the shelling yesterday, which was southwards and less towards the western perimeter than during the Inst fews days, foreign observers were inclined to credit their statement, though admitting that the Chinese were contesting every foot of the way.
Houses in the western district wary again shaken severely during yester~ day's bombardments, but casualties and material damage in the Settle. ment and the French Concession were comparatively negligible, During the day planes again bombed positions "in Pootung, while the Smaller Japanese warships in the Whangpoo occasionally shelled the trea behind the godowns, Citizens of Nantao continued yesterday to evacuate that portion of the city. In Chapel the Japanese were engaged clearing up the land mines and other explosive traps which had been Uberally Laid by the Chinese, Other~ wise the northern and eastern sec~ tors were quiet, Flying low over the Chinese posttions on the south bank of Soochow Creek, Japanese naval aircraft yester= day "oifectively" bombed and strafed Chinese troops blocking the advance fof the Japanese forces, a communique {issued last might by the Japanese Third Fleet announced.
The poor visibility, low ceiling and the Chinese anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire failed to hinder the operations of the naval air force, the communique claimed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.