The contesting forees have created terrible havoc in the district around Siccawei and Lunghua. The retreating troops have been burning down all the buildings in their path, and smoke can be seen curling up from all quarters. Houses have been looted and their occupants shot out of hand. Neither have the foreigners been left alone, or foreiizn flags respected. A Mr.' McGorvy, who was flying the American flag from his house, which is close the Siccawei Railway bridge, was warned to get out by the soldier at about 10. o'clock in the morning. At first he did not do xo and attempts were made to manhandle him. One soldier who threatened him with a rifle, Mr.
MeGorvy knocked down. Ie had to out later in the day, however, and when he had gone soldiers: came in and looted the whole place.
Foreigners, unless having business the scene of operations, should' keep right away, as there very real danger." A "North-Daily News" representative, companied by two companions, nearly paid a heavy price for venturing' too far into the open country. The: three had not gone far when at, least six shots were deliberately fired at them by retreating soldiers, one whistling past the face of one man, und hitting the overcoat of fa second. Similar reports are to hand, and foreigners should take warning by them and keep out of soldiers have made a ghastly mess of Siccawei railway tation. The votation Imasters's quarters have been completely wrecked, and everything of value! taken away. Uniforms,—badges caps and all descriptions of military' clothing litter the station itself, the railway line and a number of railway coaches in which the men have been billeting. There is terrible stench here coming from these men and the carriages. Whole' pails of rice were tipped on to the ground and walked in, windows Were. smashed and the remains of bonfires of furniture can be seen on the station itself. steadily up the railway line towards Lunghua at the time of writing, though at six o'clock in the evening they seem to have met with a slight set-back. Firing broke out with renewed fierceness and_the fighting was brought back—some way towards the French Concession. 'Mr, C. L. Boynton, Principal of the 'American School,' whose house is situated at No. 11 Avenue Petain, was startled while at tea with his family by a bullet striking—his} house, He and his family went out] on to the porch, only to be met by a stream of bullets around the house and the compound. Consequently they retired indoors once more'and for some minutes afterwards they could hear bullets striking the house and the fence. One of Mr. Quin's servants "was also) wounded, the bullet entering the house. This is actually in the] French Concession. There is no suggestion that this was done deliberately. The house just happened to be in the line of fire.
'The most conspicuous thing' about the fighting is that the men go into it as if they mean it Both sides have much to gain and much to lose by the result of the conflict, and it is this knowledge which makes them so determined.
The casualties must have been very. heavy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.