Office of the Historian

793.94/4087: Telegram

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

Shanghai, February 9, 1932—8 p.m.
[Received February 9—5 a.m.]

25. Continuing my daily report No. 18, February 8, 7 p.m.

1.
Last night 7:30 the Chinese artillery opened on the Japanese positions in Chapei and during the ensuing bombardment some 23 shells exploded in the vicinity of the Dixwell police station which has been evacuated by the police. The Chinese artillery does not seem to have damaged the Japanese positions very materially. Some 20 shells have fallen within the boundaries of the Settlement within the last 24 hours one of which slightly wounded a British woman in North [Szechuan?] Road district. Intermittent artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire continues in the Chapei sector.
2.
The attack of the Japanese across Woosung Creek has met with spirited resistance. The Chinese are entrenched on the north side of the Creek for a distance of about 1 mile from the Whangpoo River. The Japanese are finding difficulty in throwing pontoons across the creek on account of the strength of the tide in the face of rifle and machine-gun fire. Fairly reliable estimates give the strength of the Japanese in the Woosung area as 2,500 for the army and 600 bluejackets. The Japanese state that 600 additional army troops were landed on afternoon of February 8th. The Chinese forces in that vicinity are estimated between 5,000 and 6,000. Reenforcements are being brought up. The latest unconfirmed report this afternoon stated that under heavy bombardment Woosung Village was on fire and had [Page 266] been taken by the Japanese forces who were advancing on the forts. Japanese destroyers were participating in heavy bombardment of Woosung Village. Naval vessels further up river were firing on that section of the country allotted to the new civic center.
3.
Over Woosung there are reported to be 33 Japanese war craft. Inside the Whangpoo Harbor limits there are 11 other Japanese war vessels. The total number of war craft in and around Shanghai is 67. The number of foreign troops in Shanghai excluding approximately 5,000 Japanese is some 10,500. The cruiser Idxumo, flag ship of Vice Admiral Nomura arrived here at 5 p.m. yesterday, berthing at the N. Y. K. Hongkew wharf. Nomura takes over command of Japanese forces in Shanghai area. Rear Admiral Shimottowa [Shiozawa?] remains as Chief of Staff.
4.
Otherwise things are fairly quiet. Two hundred and eighty wounded Chinese and two hundred and thirty-eight wounded Chinese civilians have been admitted to hospitals in the Settlement and French Concession. A few communist circulars have been distributed, one advocating the uniting of Chinese policemen, soldiers and the masses, the seizure of arms from Imperialists and the Kuomintang Government and the convening of a general meeting of soldiers, laborers, and peasants for the purpose of organizing their own government. This so far is not serious.
5.
About 20 percent of the stalls in the various markets opened for business. There is sufficient stock of meat, and vegetables are plentiful in all markets. Some native banks are refusing foreign drafts. Thought to be saving funds. No reason has been given.

Repeated to the Legation, Nanking and Tokyo, for information.

Cunningham