Twenty-four bombs were dropped on Peihsingching village and the vicinity of Rubicon Road by two relays of Japanese planes yesterday afternoon, doing an unascertainable amount of damage.
Visitors to the Hungjao area yesterday morning and in the late afternoon reported that there were no Chinese soldiers to be seen. Previously Chinese soldiers had been much in evidence, but none showed himself yesterday, according to these informants. It was stated that plain-clothes men were still in the vicinity, büt men in uniform seemed to have vanished during the night.
Brussels will be postponed if Japan desires, the Belgian Ambassador to Japan, Baron de Basompierre, told M. Koki Hirota, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Tokyo correspondent of the "New York Herald Tribune" reported to-day.—United Press.
"The /Times" Is Pessimistic London, Oct. 23.
In all the circumstances it cannot be said that the outlook of the Nine-
Power Conference in Brussels is particularly hopeful, says "The Times" to-day at the conclusion of a leader in which it analyses the prospects of operations in China.
Japan has indicated in advance, the journal asserts, the resentment and distrust with which she views Outside attempts at mediation.
China has waged a struggle for existence with considerable success, and neither the temper of the people nor the considered policy of the Government will at present tolerate for a moment the idea of peace save on terms wholly unacceptable to Japan. It will be folly, therefore, the newspaper proceeds, to expect from the conference a magical formula to separate the combatants as pepper breaks up a dog fight.
Nevertheless, much can be done at Brussels as proposal for a peaceful settlement, though they cannot be entertained by the belligerents now, may one day serve as a pretext and basis for a compromise. The evolution of war-proof means of applying economic pressure is conceivable, but most unlikely.
"The Times" hopes that nobody at Brussels will indulge in long-range recriminations against Japan which cannot be supported by action, because a plethora of dogmatic condemnation will enable Tokyo to persuade the Japanese people that Japan is being maligned and misunderstood—Reuter, Stockholm, Oct. 22.
The Swedish Minister in Brussels, Dr. von Datdel was authorized tọ- day to represent his government at the Nine-Power Conference—Trans-
Ocean.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.