Shanghai, Aug. 14, A few sporadic rifle shels were hoard in the vicinity of the Japanese Barracks, Kiangwan Road, just before 4 o'clock' yesterday' afternoon.) They were followed, quickly, more steady firing supplemented by machine-guns. The top of the Barracks was black with men crouching Behind sand-bogs. 7 "The representative of the "North-China Dally News" who witnessed the scene from near the S.V.C. Rifle Range, next heard the heavy boom fof trench mortars and then noticed smoke Issulng from a point west of the Japanese. barracks, not far from the Shanghai-Woosung oilway. Simultaneously, a long line-of Japan ese tanks, armoured ears and eld ariiery swung out from the bar racks and turned north into Kiangwan Road.
'A fire alarm having, apparently, been turned in to the Settlement Fire Brigade, engines from Hongkew Fire Station' drove up to a point across from the Japanese barracks, but soon turned' back upon learning the fire was well within. Chinese territory.
Operating Against Snipers At 420 the "N.C.DIN." reporter left hig observation post behind the Rifle Range and proceeded towards North Szechuen Road. The street was clear of people except for a solitary CP.C. fon trail duly, some Japanese mem= bers of the Setlement Police and Tapanese marines and reservists. The marines were operating again: snipers at the intersection. of North Szechuen Road and Dixwell Road and were taking up positions in door~ ways, inside Japanese shops and on the top floors of Japanese houses, Some of them carried sub-machine guns. From time to time a rifle shot was heard in the immediate vicinity All the houses In "North. Szechuen Road were stil and not a soul stir~ zed behind the closed windows, was known, however, that Chinese snipers were posted in buildings just off North Szechuen Road.
'A. large search-party of Japanese marines came running "up Nort Szechuen Road in single file and enered an alleyway in. the Japanese trench-mortars Placed along the entire distance from Dixwell Road to the Settlement gate. Armoured cars were operating in the istrict as welt as numerous. motor cycle patrols and search-parties, Tt was noted that all the search-purties Were In rubber shoes and that Japan= ese infantry officers were in charge. The emeers had. rod shoulder di tinctions and black markings om their collars,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.