Japenese institution of higher learning, was virtually razed last night by tle third and biggest incendiary fire there in five days. Thousands of residents in all parts of the city observed the tremendous glare and smoke column sent up by the blaze which raged on both sides of Hungjao Road at once from about 7 o'clock Cnwards. A brisk wind sent sparks flying over a large area, causing hundreds of Chinese civilians to flee from huts and other small dwellings.
The fire started simultaneously several of the college buildings, rth and south of Hungjao Road, an area Occupied by Chinese troops.
The main buildings, north of the road, provided the tallest and most facular flames, the other halls ha already been gutted in the two previous fires. Unlike last week, the Shanghai Fire Brigade was not permitted by the soldiers to fight the blaze and its engines had io return to their station. Two Chinese fire engines also went to the scene but they did not attempt to play water on the flames.
Groups of Chinese soldiers and police watched the fire develop and as isted the occupants of neighbouring Chinese houses in evacuating with their deerest belongings. These residents presented a forlorn picture as they "camped" in a field opposite the main entrance to the college, surrounded by their boxes and bundles and showered by sparks as well as rain. During the early part of the evening another fire, to the west of the Shanghai-Hangchow Railway line, added a glare there to the already crimson sky.
Lightly-wounded Chinese soldiers were observed in the stream of humanity flowing along Hungjao Road, some of them hobbling slowly because of leg injuries. The more seriously wounded were not expected io pass along the road until later during the night. iderable shelling and machinegun fire was heard from the area immediately to the west and to the north of the burning college.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.