While they are taking every precaution to avoid giving the Japanese any excuse to start war on the nouthern side of the—foreign settlements, namely, the Chinese City and Kaochangmiao where is situated) the Kiangnan Arsenal, and have, in an oficial reply, ase sured the Japanese Consulate that they will take steps to prevent any further firing at the Japanese destroyers lying off the Nantao Bund, there ix every' indication that the Chinese military authori ties are fully prepared for an attack on Nantag and Kaochangmiso by Supanose Navy. It, was learned yesterday that the Chinese troops Stationed in the aren referred to have been greatly strengthened and, for the first time since the outbreak of hostilities in Chapei, field guns have been moved down the Nantao *Bund for the purpose of preventing any landing of marine parties from japanese destroyers or gunboats.
Besides the erection of defences such ay sandboys, barbed wire rieades, ete,, the Chinese army, who have taken over garrison duties for the whole of the Nantao and changmiao areas from the since the outbreak of hostility have moved many field guns to the anag Bund. The—Whangpoo shore-line, from the Nantao Bund Kaochangmino, is at present cupied by 3 field. uns] placed in position within short di tanees, a survey of the Nuntuo Bund by a Yepresentative of the "North-China Daily News" revealed yester the troops stationed in the Ci nese City have been increased number to about a division (about of Bund, assisted by sev Peace Preservation orbs, and three othe! ments are distributed in favous of the Second District Public Safety Bureau, accor to oflicinls of the Greater Shanghai Boveay Public Safety yesterday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.