Further Battling in China

Colonel Ott, a German advisor to the Chinese, has stated that the Japanese are lucky that the Germans are still there. otherwise, it is likely they'd be replaced by Soviet ones. Their continued presence also helps to protect the German citizens who remain in the country. If the officials were to leave, it is believed that the Chinese would be rather harsh against these citizens abroad.

In China there remains citizens of several countries such as Great Britain, of course, France, the US and Japan. Many of these citizens are claiming their extraterritorial rights to protect them from the prolonged fighting.

The Japanese remain unchecked in Northern China. The Japanese commander, Lieutenant General Seishiro Itagaki, while his motorized divisions roared over a Chinese strategic highway built by famed "Model Governor" Yen Hsi-shan of Shansi, announced: "We are pursuing the disorganized Chinese troops so fast that they are unable to reform their lines in the strong positions which they had prepared earlier in anticipation of their retreat."

The Japanese while fighting the battle for Shanghai, are also having to contend with uprising in Manchukuo. The weather has been cold enough to freeze the marshes and swamps of Manchukuo allowing for easy transportation of mechanized vehicles.

German advisors remain

Despite a pact against Communism between Japan and Germany, Adolf Hitler has not withdrawn his advisors to the Chinese military. They continue to help the Chinese strategize against the Japanese attacks.

Conference Concludes

The conference concluded yesterday in Brussels with a chiding of the Japanese as an aggressor. The sanctions Kai-shek was hoping for are likely to only come from the United States.

Things at the Wufu line get worse. The officials who were supposed to be there to meet the exhausted Chinese troops had fled. Chinese forces have been unable to use the facilities for defense thus far.

Chinese withdraw to the Wufu Line

As the conference in Brussels continues, the Chinese have now had to retreat to the Wufu Line. The Chinese have little left to use to fight against the Japanese and the frontline is near collapse.

They have recently lost the town of Kunshun. There is also a severe shortage of ammunition.

There are reports of disarray in the withdrawal.

Nine-Power Conference Continues; Chinese lose more

The Nine-Power Conference continues in Brussels with Germany, Italy and Japan refusing to attend.

In the meantime, the Chinese have taken heavy losses. The Japanese were able to make landings at Jinshanwei in Northern China on November 5th.

On November 8th, the Chinese Central Command issued a retreat from Shanghai despite the ongoing conference. Chiang Kai-shek continues to hope that the conference will do something to contain Japan.

Nine Powers convene in Brussels

With the Japanese closing in on the Chinese in Shanghai, western powers decided to hold a conference in Brussels to discuss possible intervention.

The nine nations are those who signed the agreement of the Open Door Policy on February 6, 1922. These nine nations include Great Britain, France, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Japan, China, The United States and the Netherlands. The treaty has not been very effective. Six years ago with the invasion of Manchuria, the United States could do little more than impose economic sanctions on Japan.

Many of the other Chinese troops have withdrawn to the other side of the Suzhou Creek where fighting remains intense. Chiang Kai-shek continues to stay in Shanghai during the conference.