The Ichang Road Fire Station was rayed with shrapnel at 6.30 o'clock yesterday morning during a bom-erdment of the neighbourhood from the southeast, A five-inch shell, which had been presumably ed irom a Japanese naval gun, struck zt Ichang Road and West Soochow Roed, ¢ the Station, and portly exploded, raining fragments over the Station and the American Marine positions in the vicinity, Two Chinese men were wounded and had to be taken to Paulun Hospital in a Fire Brigade ambulance, Panic wa caused amongst the Chinese popul: tion general After ricocheting from a tree, the shell came to rest near the roadway was picked up by the Marines, who made it harmless.
The Fire Station, which is on the ivory bank of the Soochow Creek, was hit in three places by shrapnel. Two holes were made on the ground floor, and one on the first floor. blintered glass littered the pavement about the front and side of the Station, Shortly after the bombardment permission was given for the evacua-of all Chinese women and children from the Station. Besides, several truckloads of other Chinese residents of the neighbourhood left the area for more safe territory. The wives of two foreign fire officers, however, remained.
The Marine personnel in the sector has been strengthened and no visitors allowed into the area exzebt on official business. The Chinese positions across the Ichang Road Bridge gre being strongly maintained by jovernment troops and Paoantui.
sector has been repeatedly me-gunmen fron the air panese planes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.