With the war-searred frame of the former Shanghai Civie Centre background, Gen. Shunroku Ha Commander-in Expeditionary Force in Central Chin yesterday morning reviewed a part of the troops under his command, in celebration of Army Day, the a niversary of the battle of Mukden, of the Russo-Japanese War.
Included in the column, which took {wo hours to pass any given point, were all branches of the service, from infantry and cavalry to motorized units.
During the review, several planes engaged in aerobatics over the passing troops. Three planes roared over the column, nearly touching the torn dragon on top of the stration building.
Mounted on a bay horse, Gen. Hata remained at rigid attention throug! cut the review Despite the sun, it was' bitterly cold. A hard northern wind bit the faces of the soldiers, as they marched through the slush, Many Guests Attend Among the invited guests were Vice-Admiral Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Commander-in-Chief of the China Sea Fleet; Rear-Admiral Denshichi Ohkochi, Commander of the Landing Party; Rear-Admiral Tadao Honda, naval attache; Mr. "Masayuki Tani Minister-at-Large; the Japanese Consul-General, Mr. Suemasa Okamoto. and representatives "of the local Japanese community.
No foreigners were invited or present at the impressive demonstration of Japanese military might Following the review, a buffet luncheon was served to the guests the Ceremonial Hall of the Administration Building, Many Yapanese ships in the H harbour were dressed for the occasion hile Japanese business houses showed extra flags crossed over their doorways. The festivities did not reach the south of the creek to any appre ciable extent, but Shanghailanders during the day saw enough to make them realize that some sort of celcbration of major proportions wa going on in the northern district Air Armada The Central District yesterday morning re-echoed to the roar of powerful aeroplane engines as a big fleet of Japanese planes flew up and down the Whangpoo and across the Settlement about 10 o'clock. As many as 27 machines were seen in the air together, flying in formation flights of three, and the impressive sight caused many people to pause and watch them speeding over the Pootung "waterfront and turn back towards their base beyond Yangtszepoo. The first impression was that an air raid was being undertaken but it was Jater learnt that it was part of the display marking Japanese Army Day.
Aerial activity later in the day was marked b the appearance a of a bia four panese flying boat. No. 73, which has been used for some time: in service between an, Shanghai and Nanking.. The machine flew several times over the river, ug down very low which enabled spectators to abt sight of the ship.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.