Looters njoy Brief Period of Freedom: Return of Order in the Lake City CRINAL conditions probably will be restored in Hangchow, beautiful lakeside city south of Shanghai in "a week or two"
This statement was made yesterday morning to foreign correspondents here by Lieut.-Col. Masutaro Nakai, a Japanese officer who returned on Tuesday from Hangchow where he established a branch of the Special Service Section of the Japanese Expeditionary Forces.
"Upon my return, I found, to my great surprise, that Hangchow had been retaken by the Chinese while I was still there. That, at least, is what the Chinese newspapers said. My presence here should dispel any misapprehension," Lieut.-Col. Nakai declared.
With the formation of a Peace ana it is not unusual to see a man Maintenance Commission in Hang-with ragged clothing under him wear-chow on January l, conditions were ing a silken robe on top. Th rapidly improving, the officer assert-beggars also stole food and hid it ed. The normal population of "Ab result the condition of about 600,000 had, however, dwindled beggars and of the destitute in Hang-to approximately 120,000, he said. chow has shown marked improve-Business Houses Re-opening ment. I should say that the standard "Food shops, bath houses and other of living of beggars has risen con-business establishments are reopensiderably," he added. ing," he said.
"When I left, street This state of affairs, however, war vendors were already active in stag- noe being encouraged, Lieut-Col ing an impromptu market on the streets."
The $5,000,000 main power plant had been systematically destroyed by ihe retreating Chinese, who set of loads of high explosive at the base of the giant turbines, according to Lieut-Col. Nakai. The water-works and the huge Chientang River bridge had shared the same fate, he added.
All municipal and military establishments had also been destroyed "The airfield has been ploughed up, buffaloes being used to furnish the pulling power." the officer said. "The oes are li roaming about the Nakai said.
"In order to separate the sheep m the goats, the Peace Mainten-e Commission is hiring honest ars and other destitute men to act as coolies. We are waiting for the creation of a police force to deal adequately with the looters now enjoying a brief spell of wealth and luxury."
Japanese gendarmes were act ely patrolling the streets to guard y ness. while the m buildings were being guarded AIL foreigners, numbering about 30, with the British in the majority ministration buildings at the safe and well aviation school as well as staff quar- The beauty spots of Hangchow, the were destroyed, while the Che- officer added, were all ini Some Provincial' Library was set of the temples, however, had been by the Chinese, he added. looted of their interior decorations 4 by the Chinese before retreating. The Japanese advancing on Hang-AN banks had evacuated, taking chow er encountered little resistance. all cash and books with them, while all officials and influential men bad rise fled, Lie Nakai said
FORD EXECUTIVE'S
"The fi nese vanguard reached H: the officer on December 24,"
Pwent inside DAUGHTER ELOPED the city to comb it for any Chinese soldiers as a. precaution, against G-Men End Search as "Lost"
bush. On December 25 oth reaps entered the city and were billeted."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.