793.94/10870: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:45 p.m.]
893. My 891, October 25, 7 p.m.68 Despite the most stubborn and determined Chinese resistance the Japanese succeeded yesterday morning in outflanking and capturing Tachang and in pushing through to the railway about 2 miles below Nanhsiang. The Japanese offensive which has been characterized by the most intensive and suffering artillery and aerial bombardment and the liberal use of mechanized units, continued unabated yesterday and last night and [Page 644] resulted in the capture of Chenju railway station and the cutting of the railway at several other points; Nanhsiang itself is seriously threatened inasmuch as the Japanese are within a mile of the town.
The capture of Tachang and the thrust through to the railway threatened completely to close the neck of the Chapei-Kiangwan salient and forced a general Chinese withdrawal from those sectors during the night. This morning Japanese flags can be seen flying over North Station and many other buildings in Chapei. Chapei is a blazing mass of flames being fanned to greater intensity by a steady easterly wind; a thick and immense pall of smoke hangs over the entire area which is generally believed to have been fired by the Chinese to cover their withdrawal.
The extent of the Chinese withdrawal is not yet clear but for the present they appear to be taking up positions south of Soochow Creek from a point just beyond Jessfield Park. Any serious attempt to hold this section of the creek will endanger the western extra-Settlement road district.
Sent to the Department, repeated to Nanking, Peiping.
- Not printed.↩