Las Vegas Age

JAPAN'S ARMY OPENS HEAVY OFFENSIVE

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after a series of new violences on Monday. These included the Japanese seizure of the Hongkew district, a raid on the central post office and an attack on the American-owned Texas corporation (Texaco) buildings at the mouth of the Yangtze by a Japanese destroyer, which was allegedly retaliating against snipers.

Snipers continued to endanger the residents of the settlement as mobs of refugees increased in number, threatening serious disorders.

Announcement in Tokio that a Japanese army unit would reinforce Japanese marines here, increased the tension in the city. Monday was another day of increasing tension and alarm in the international settlement.

The fresh outbreaks of violence were many and far-reaching, but perhaps the most important development before dusk was the action of the Japanese marines in taking complete control in the Hongkew section of the settlement. This section is normally guarded by Japanese, but their aggressive action in taking it out of the hands of the settlement police and putting it in strictly military control foreboded new and more serious developments for foreign residents, including the 5,100 Americans in the settlement.

AREA MENACED

Japanese Captain Baron Samejima, commanding marine headquarters, notified the settlement police that all police stations in Hongkew must be closed and that no police must be seen on the streets between 6 p. m. Monday and 5 a. m. Tuesday. This area has been seriously menaced by snipers who have terrorized the entire settlement for five days, and the Japanese used this as a pretext for taking control.

Japanese marines shot out all street lights in Hongkew after occupying it and it was believed they intended to take the most drastic action to clean out the snipers, possibly following the methods used on the Chapel (native) district,

which included Son- and our- ing the sniper positions. Sandbag barricades were erected along Minghong road, 100 yards from the Hongkew police station gate, and machine guns were mounted, pointing toward the station.

Barbed wire barricades were erected by the Japanese around Hongkew and they appeared to be determined to subdue all opposition in the district.

ORDERS EVACUATION

Japanese Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu, who returned today from conferences in Tokio, unofficially advised all Japanese women and children in Shanghai, totalling some 18,000, to evacuate. Previously most of them have moved out of the threatened parts of the Hongkew district. Many of them will go to Japan and others will sail for the Japanese-owned area of Dairen at the southern tip of Manchuria.

Other incidents of aggressive violence occurred when the Japanese closed the central postoffice and when a Japanese destroyer opened fire on the Texas corporation (Texaco Oil company) buildings at the mouth of the Yangtze river. Both acts were alleged to have been caused by Chinese snipers.

In addition the Japanese landed 300 marines at Kaiochow creek, in the Pootung section, across the Whangpoo river, downstream from Shanghai. Mayor Wu Teh-Chen announced. The landing point was near the Vacuum Oil installation.

The Japanese marines seized the postoffice late in the day, closing the doors to all residents of the settlement and refusing permission for employees to collect or send out mail. All persons calling for mail were curtly ordered to move on.

RUSS GUARD POSTOFFICE

The Japanese claimed that snipers were operating from the central postoffice building. A Russian detachment of Shanghai volunteers had been guarding the post office, but the marines took command for several hours while the police attempted to avert a clash. Later the marines withdrew, leaving the Russian detachment on guard but isolated from other foreign guards by the Japanese marines patrolling the district.

The incident at the Texas corporation buildings occurred after Chinese villagers in the neighborhood had set off a large number of firecrackers in some minor celebration. According to the best account of the affair, the Japanese apparently mistook the sound of the firecrackers for shooting and sprayed the American company's buildings with machine-gun fire.

The windows were shattered but otherwise there was slight damage. An adjacent Chinese installation and the nearby Asiatic Petroleum corporation plant also were reported to have been fired on.

At dusk the city was prepared for another night of terror, although hopeful that no major fighting would occur. Snipers continued active, smashing the glass in two automobiles in front of the Bank of Communications, which is on the waterfront in the settlement.

An American girl, whose baby had been taken to the French concession for safety, attempted to cross the Garden bridge to the concession, but was halted by Japanese marines. They refused to permit her to continue, despite the fact that she was escorted by the settlement police.

The French concession, which has been least menaced by snipers, was more tense than previously. Barbed wire barricades were erected at all approaches, while tanks and French soldiers armed with machine guns patrolled the streets.

A curfew law, forbidding all assemblies and banning any loitering on the streets, was in effect throughout the settlement, in sharp contrast to the gay night life of the