Some of the warriors' are having tea and light meals at wayside shops, where they seem to be able completely to relax from the grim hi ness of war. They chat gaily, smile and jest with comrades and with the civilians serving them.
The main administration and class buildings of Tung Wen College, a Japanese institution, seem to be intact after Wednesday afternoon's fire. Only two of the larger buildings south of Hungjao Road, and two smaller st-uctures adjoining. have been touched, and they are badly damaged, They contrast with the placid spires of Siccawei to the east, The block on the north side of the road apparently was not involved.
Back on Avenue Haig, many refugees are seen sitting on their boxes and bundles, eating their rice and a few vegetables. They are outside the barrier established by the Settlement police and British military, and they are not permitted to enter at this time.
The French forces have a formidable tall redoubt in Avenue Haig facing Hungjao Road, and they have troops, with machine-guns, in Chiaotung University, Near the French redoubt, slightly to the north where Rockhill Avenue joins Avenue Haig, is the British "Liaison Post," occupied by the Loyal Regiment. Two large Union Jacks are displayed on the sandbags facing west. The post is being enlarged and strengthened, it is now iron-roofed and reinforced, and slightly to the rear a substantial pillbox is rapidly going up. Fresh barbed-wire coils have arrived by: lorry. The "Tommies" are all hard at work.
Another Japanese force crossed in sampans near Rubicon Village on Wednesday night under cover of an artillery barrage, but Chinese rushed to the spot and succeeded in clea ing the area, according to the Chi nese spokesman. At Warren Piece, about 200 Japanese were said to have landed, protected by rifle and machine-gun fire from across the Creek. A Chinese attack is said to have reduced the number to about 80 to 100, who were still, at noon, holding out in the house.
Sporadic fighting was reported from Siao Nanziang, the spokesman said, remarking that the situation on other fronts remained unchanged.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.