Tsingtao, July 20.
The Japanese garrison troops are trying to disband the troops some 1,800 strong, under the command of General Liu Shi-lu, which were driven back by the troops commots ed by General Fang Ying-chang and destroyed a portion of the Shantung Railway yesterday, about 14 li south of the Chilanchoang district, This led to a fight that lasted for a few hours. It is estimated that casualties on the Japanese side will be more than 30—Toho.
Peking, July 2:
The Japanese report that thei casualties as the result of the clash near Kaomi total five killed and 23) wounded, three seriously. The Chit ese casualties are unknown but are believed to be heavy.
All the Chinese troops have now. withdrawn from the forbidden zone and a staff officer belonging to General Ku Chen, whose tops were involved in the clash, has promised, to take measures to punish the offenders in response toa demand made by the Japanese—Reuter.
In view of the fact that certain merchants have refused to pay the special kerosene tax, the Kerosene Oil Tax Collection Bureau has issued a notice that such persons will hereafter be fined in a sum equivalent to twice or three times as much as the regular tax, received from the committee in charge of the memorial {othe Nati id down their lives for the cause in the field of battle the following statoment:—'Since the capture of Peking and 'Tientsin, which marked the. final story of our punitive expedition, Gen, Chiang Kai-shek, the Com: mander-in-Chief, has' constantly bean thinking of the great sacrifices made by our soldiers, who shed their blood that we might gain a glorious victory and live, Even in the mi and rejoicing, this matter has always been before the Commander-in-Chief, who realized that, without these sacrifices, the" whole Nationalist movement would have been a failure, Their devotion to the cause and to the welfare of the nation has not and will never be forgotten, Ever will it remain in the minds of our people. Reently, Gen. Chiang addressed a telegram to his chief of staff, Gen.
Ying-ching, ordering preparations for a memorial service for thy dead.
Upon receipt of this, Gen. Ho fat once called a meeting and it was decided that a suitable service shall bbe held and the form of ceremony was discussed. It was decided that a committee of four departments should be placed in charge of the preparations, namely, general, management, propaganda and social, 'These departments will be divided sub-committees, viz,, busine affairs, accounts, sanitation, statis-ties, demonstration, investigation, entertainment, ete.' The days set for the service were also decided upon—August 1, 2 and—and the services will be held at the Publ Recreation Ground at West Gate, The various military I officials throughout the feountry have been invited to send representative The committee is now engaged in_preparing a book of those who died and this will be classed the "Memorial Book" in order that the memories of the soldiers may thus perpetuated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.