Singapore, July 23.
With a view to counteracting the bitter feeling manifested between the Chinese and Japanese communities here, the Government to-day prohibited the public collection of war funds by the nationals of either country involved in the current crisis. In order to emphasize the Governments neutrality, an official communique stated:
"In the event of hostilities, the Colony Government will maintain an attitude of complete impartiality but will not hesitate to use fully M5
One Chinese company js..still at Papaoshan, but others evacuated during the night to as far as Huang-tsun, a few miles to the rear. The Chinese troops at Yamenkou have also withdrawn, The Japanese expect all these troops to cross the Yungting river shortly to join their comrades at Chochow, thirty miles south-west of Wanping, but it is stated that the men of the Division are still in a fighting mood and may yet return to aid their comrades in Wanping.
While this cannot be confirmed at present, it is regarded as quite possible in view of recent events.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.