In What the Chinese authorities claim to have been a deliberate Communist effort to precipitate an armed Jcombat between the police and student element, two men were killed and four wounded in front of the Fifth District Police Station, Paoshan Road, Chapei, on Thursday night when suddenly a volley of shots rang out and swept the street.
Both the killed and wounded, of whom three are expected to die, are coolies but just a few moments [proceeding the outrage a students [corps were marching up and down jthe. area, the Chinese authorities declare..'On the other hand, how-fever, reports from other sources state that the shooting followed clash between the Fifth District Police and a body of students and F;|loafers who demanded the return to their custody of certain Japanese manufactured goods which had been held previously at the station, As the result of the im} -oglio, inertial law was declared. immedi ately in. this section of Chapel by] authorities of the Municipality. of Greater Shanghai, This step was declared necessary due to the thousands who were attracted to. the scene of the shooting and the belief whe|that Communists were behind the outrage.
'According to an official report the Chinese authorities declare that the Reds intended their shots to reach the students' ranks in front of the station snd. create the impression that the police had fired on the mar-ichers purposely. The police deny firing, the official star a Another report hi composed of who appeared at the situated near the Pre that the police should hand over to them a quantity of Japanese goods which had been seized by the pickets.
this the oticers replied that they were unable to do so inasmuch as the goods had been returned to ly] responsible parties.
The mod would not be satisfied with this statement and went about jin an attempt to find the cargo, whereupon the Chinese officer had his constables lined up against them. The mob became violent and shouted their demands, urging each other on against the forces of Law and order.
As the crowd, numbering more than 100, swarmed into the station, the order was given to fire. Shots rang out and two fell dead, while a number of others were wounded. This police action quietened the mob Jat once and they broke away. 'a few minutes the roads were clear, except "for householders who gathered round.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.