Among the premises known to have been burnt down were fire stations in the eastern, southern and western districts, the National Vocational School, the Utopia University, the Chinese Iron Works and rows of houses close to the Nantao Bund.
The Chinese Telephone Administration and the Wen Miao Park were likewise razed. As blazes had also been seen raging in Boon Lai Road. the Chinese Police Bureau Head-
Huchow were compelled to withdraw to a new position, when a Japanese force, in naval launches, reached the "northern gate of the city by way of Siaomeikiang, a tributary of the Taihu Lake. Chinese defenders, who engaged the enemy, failed to stem the Japanese advance from this direction, Having thus been outflanked, Chinese troops to the east of the city began to retire on Wednesday evening. A small unit fought a rearguard action to cover the withdrawal, and street fighting was reported to be proceeding at an early hour yesterday morning, according to Chinese Wusih Captured By
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.