War knocked at the gates of the ancient capital to-night, as Japanese and Chinese troops met in a bitter combat at the Kwanganmen, on the western side of the outer wall.
'The hostilities opened almost to a relnute four hours after the Chinese authorities here recelved.a Japanese, Jultimatum, demanding' the withdrawal of the' Thirty-Seventh Division units from Peiping and vicinity withthe next 48 hours.
Heavy casualties were sustained by the Japanese forces in to-night's engagement, as a portion. of the J panese detachment was trapped. between the Inner and the outer walls, subjected to a withering rifle fire, and showered with hand grenades, The fighting broke out. as the Japanese unit, returning to -Pelping from Fengtai, attempted to. enter the Kwanganmen at 4 o°clock this afternoon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.