"rhe reason for the burning of Chinese houses was brought home to. me os we passed one. village. in flames and heard the emeking of Jammunition which had been left there.
"Phe wooden bridges along the Road had been destroyed und temporary bridges erected on the i with approaches which required siderable skill in avoiding trouble.
"The "Rubicon Road bridge had bbeon completely destroyed and burnt, but a temporary bridge made it pos sible' to eross without any trouble. There was evidence beyond the Deldye of a rapid retreat—boxes of Ammunition and discarded Chinese equipment lying along the road.
"The country-side and foreign houses, however, wore undamaged, although as far as T could see there was little left of the villages except charred embers, The village just before getting to Liddetl's house, from: which the frst shot was fired at the two Japanese who were mur August last, was burned to T saw only a few dead outside the two entrance The Limit" and the tea "Although naturally anxious to return to my home, Y could not hel realizing that the Public Works Deoartment and other oreanieations will have to spend some time building bridges and making repairs before it be prasible "The Japanese have asked the natives to return to some of the dis-{triets occupied by them. and if they make the same gesture in the Huns 'n0 area it will relieve the congestion jin Shanghai, open wp territory. in [which are 2° targe number of veuetable gardens. the produce of which is lureently needed here, "In such case, of course, it urgent necessity' that we be allowed to return {0 eir homes or. at any rate, that our Chinese caretakers be allowed to return to prevent further damage."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.