The unit, now greatly reduced in number, was commanded by Sergeant Kondo, who led his men in success sive attacks on the stronghold, wielding a Japanese sword.
Early on Sunday morning, the unit reached a point 50 metres from the nearest house. As the men were making ready to make another sally, Sergeant Kondo fell with bullets through his chest and stomach.
Dying, he ordered Corporal Shibata to take over the command of the unit, and charge the Chinese positions with bayonets.
Ignoring a hail of bullets and hand-grenades, the handful of desperate men rushed forward and broke into the first house. The Chinese then retreated out of the village.
At 7 o'clock in the morning the Rising Sun flag was hoisted over the village. When the roll was called, only 20 men were there to answer their names.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.