Office of the Historian

793.94/3977: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, February 5, 1932—6 p.m.
[Received February 5—12:30 p.m.]

4. Continuing my daily report of February 4, 9 p.m.

1.
Heavy machine-gun and artillery fire at intervals throughout the night. Beginning with increased vigor at 7 a.m. and by noon had shown no signs of dying down. It is reported by police officers that three-quarters of Chapei has been destroyed. Reported but not confirmed that 4,000 Japanese troops were landing today at Paoshan Village outside Woosung. According to the best reports available regarding Woosung forts Chinese forces have not been wiped out nor forced to evacuate. It has also been reported that Japanese are starting a slight turning movement on Chapei from the rifle range. If this movement is pushed too rapidly it is liable to bring the western section of the Settlement guarded by American marines under fire. It is reliably reported that the Japanese placed additional artillery in the vicinity of Chinese public isolation hospital west of rifle range. So far as is known the Chinese forces are still holding the line opposite the Japanese. In the last attack the Chinese report that they drove the Japanese back behind their position along Shanghai-Woosung Railway leaving 30 Japanese dead. The Chinese suffered heavy casualties. Chinese later were forced to withdraw their lines on account of burning buildings set on fire by Japanese bombs.
2.
Chinese today closed the Hungjao Road to traffic halfway between Settlement boundaries and Rubicon Road. St. John’s University reported that Japanese aeroplanes were bombing in their vicinity about noon and that bombs had fallen within 200 yards of university compound.
3.
Shipping in and out of Woosung is far below normal. February 4th, 10 vessels, including 2 Japanese destroyers entered and 18 departed including 7 Japanese destroyers. Average for month of November inward 23 and outward 22.
4.
Three Japanese planes brought down by Chinese fighting planes, two out [of] control, third not accounted for.
5.
Martial law has been enforced in Nantao and Chinese City between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Kiangnan dock ceases operation from today. There are now 65,000 war refugees in the Settlement.
6.
The Shanghai special district court is only nominally functioning. Court officials are in state of panic.

Repeated to the Legation and Nanking and Tokyo for information.

Cunningham