Kaifeng, May 17.
On May 12, 26 Japanese planes &ppeared over the city and dropped 184 missiles. As a result, 155 houses were destroyed, eight innocent people were killed and 20 injured. On the same afternoon, sixteen Japanese planes visited again and dropped 79 bombs. According to an investigation, 615 houses were set. on fire, 55 people were killed and 141 injured.
Since then, the Japanese planes have kept on bombing Keifeng without cessation. The air-raid siren used to be sounded four or nve tunes daily. On May 16, two bombs were dropped at the northeastern corner of the American Free Methodist Mission compound, but no damage was done.
From now on, when enemy planes appear the air-raid signal will be given by striking bells at the main Crossroads, if the electric siren is interrupted. For this reason, all churches as well as Buddhist temples are. instructed not to strike the belis at any time when they have meetings in order to avoid mjsunderstanding.
Despite the rapid development of the tense situation in eastern Honan, people here remain quiet, without showing much hurry and confusion, Owing to frequent air-raids and: severe bombings by Japanese planes, Government offices as well as the shops in the city suspend Work in the day time, and eresume operations after 5 p.m.
According to a statement, made by the local Police Bureau, the population in the city numbered 253,000 during March and 244000 during April but recently considerable number left for safety zones.
Gen. Wang Che-min, former g risen commander of Kaifeng was transfered to serve at the front, and Gen. Tang Chun teh has been appointed to succeed him. General Tang assumed his new office on May li. In the course of his speech, General Teng encouraged all officers of the garrison headquarters to take strict watch over, the activities of the traitor ud robbers.
The Provincial Government has recently adopted two resolutions:
To issue $10,000,000 provincial bonds io improve the currency so as 10 develop rural areas.
To allot $20,000 to relieve the lamme and war victims, in eastern honan.
Gen, Chen Chien, Governor of the province, stated, at the weekly memorial service, that Honan province has mobilized 500,000 adults to join the army, and raised at least $12,000,000 for the war.
"Measures to: Prevent Cholera Spread In order to prevent the spread of cholera here during the summer, the Provincial Government has allotted $200 and instructed the Police Bureai: to purchase dead fies. It is just learned that a cleanliness movement will be held, when all government organs will assist in cleaning streets. At the same time, an investigation will also be made of restaurants, bath-houses, theatres, barber shop and public amusement places One-fourth of the area inside the city is' covered with ponds, the water of which smells badly, fish float on the surface and young trees wither. This is because the Government authorities are too busy carrying on military work, and find no time to siphon fresh water from the- Yello' River through the Lipien Dam to replace the foul water.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.