The Archive · 1937

Japanese Landing Surprises Chinese

Rapid Progress El edi in Advance Towards Whangpoo River: Chinese Ru: ish Reinforcements Shanghai, Nov. 7.

LTHOUGH heavy fighting continued yesterday in the western district of Shanghai where the Japanese have succeeded in making another crossing of Soochow Creek, major interest in the military situation has switched to another theatre of war following the landing of Japanese forces at a number of points on the north coast of Hangchow Bay, near Chapoo.

Under the cover of a barrage laid down by Japanese warships, troops started landing in the Kingshanwei district early on Friday morning and operations spread swiftly. Only few hundred men were ashore in the initial landing but so quickly was the plan carried out that yesterday it was reported that at least 5,000 men had disembarked. Last night the Japanese claimed to have reached the south bank of the Whangpoo river neat Sungkiang.

The Chinese authorities announced that reinforcements were being rushed into the area and ability to Keep the situation well Chinese command is determined confidence was expressed in the in hand. It was stated that "the to counteract any move which might threaten Chinese positions The extent of the new Japanese threat to the Chinese positions in the Shanghai district. was. reveated by reports yesterday. Friday mora= ing's landings were made at Teaoching "village, ™ Kingshangisa and Chuankangting, all in the Kingshon= Wet area, noriht of Chapoo. The evement started at 4am, and operations were covered by a heavy barrage from five. Japanese warships hile. score of other" warships bombarded Chapoo and other places far south as Chingal, near Ningpo:

About 200 men comprised the tst landing. force and occupied. King: seoningehino and. this force was in-terased to 1,000 between dawn and Tate afternoon. "Yesterday, "the number" was reported" to be 5.000 strong and. the presence of other frangports. indicated the. iketihood of further strengthening.

Chinese. garrison forces stationed at Chapoo and Chelin" gave battle to the Invaders and fierce Aghting ulong this "part of -Chekiang-Kiangsu anticipated. © 'The apparent object of the Japanese Is to reach the south Conte" of Mihe Whangpoo. River, the Chinese military believing that Sung-seven mites. Infand from the coast and abou! the same distance from Sungkiang, on ihe' Shanghal= Hangchow Railway," and Kingshanisten being the Immediate objectives, "Spectacular Successes"

According to a Japanese military communique "Yesterday spectacular successes" were achieved by. the apanese forees, several unite of which had. already reached "the Eouthern banks. of the upper Whang-boo, south of Sungkiang.

"The troops covered 30 kims, to the banke of the Whangpoo River, in 25 26 hours, "At that time approximate.

two divisions of Chinese troops feed the advancing Japanese units.

The Chinese defences In the area the "spokesman said, included, "tw lines" of trenches, all very well dee fended, The extreme facility with

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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