Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1932, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/4368: Telegram

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

Shanghai, February 23, 1932—6 p.m.
[Received February 23—12:15 p.m.]

101. Continuing my daily report 97, February 22, 5 p.m.

1. Yesterday’s intermittent exchange of firing between the opposing forces on the Chapei front was succeeded at 9 p.m. last night by heavy gunfire from the Chinese side. Shells were fired easterly in the direction of Hongkew, the objective appearing to be the Japanese Consulate General or the flagship of Vice Admiral Nomura who is tied up at Yangtze Road Wharf, since several projectiles passed over that neighborhood, one of which struck the Italian cruiser Libia causing slight damage to that vessel. During last night’s bombardment one shell landed in the compound of the Shanghai Baptist College and another injured some Japanese marines at the Japanese aerodrome adjoining.

2. This morning two squadrons of Japanese planes bombed the Hungjao aerodrome causing some damage to the property. No Chinese planes were in the aerodrome. Japanese aeroplanes also attacked Soochow where they claim to have brought down a Chinese plane.

3. This morning Japanese headquarters reported they would be in Tazang Village west of Kiangwan by sundown. They later reported that they had come upon strong Chinese defenses two and a half kilometres east of Tazang and it would take some time to reduce these. Parts of Kiangwan Village are still in the hands of Chinese snipers who are harassing the Japanese. The morale of the Chinese appears to be extremely high and the Japanese are finding it more difficult to advance than they anticipated. It would appear that they will have to use considerable reenforcements, possibly three divisions, before they can make any headway against the stubborn defense of the Chinese. The Japanese advance has been running into trench pockets, their artillery not being able to obliterate these. Snipers concealed in these scattered trenches have been able to seriously harass the advancing Japanese. The boasted turning movement against Chapei has not come off and it is doubtful if the Japanese, who are extremely anxious to conserve their men, can advance against Chinese determination to sell their lives at the expense of as many Japanese as possible.

4. The majority of Chinese soldiers being admitted to hospitals in the Settlement are from Kiangwan area and most of them come from the 88th Division. They arrived in the Kiangwan area on February 19th. According to the wounded, the 88th Division formerly manned the second line and had not come in direct contact with the Japanese troops until yesterday. This division was formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek’s emergency corps recently reorganized into the 88th Division.

5. The situation at Woosung remains quiet and is unchanged.

6. Last-movement reports are to the effect that the Japanese offensive has definitely come to a halt as Lieutenant General Uyeda does not want to sacrifice too many troops in the face of the large number of Chinese defenders. The Chinese have begun a series of attacks along the Japanese front. Lieutenant General Uyeda’s headquarters which had been moved from Fuhtan University of [to?] the northwest came under a hail of sniper’s bullets.

Repeated to the Legation and Nanking.

Cunningham