Fire destroyed the main building of the Soviet Embassy in Nanking on New Years Day, a Japanese Embassy spokesman said yesterday confirming an exclusive Domei dispatch from the former Chinese capital.
Flames were first seen emerging from the upper part of the building at about 11 o'clock in the morning. By 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the entire structure, rented from a Chinese general, was destroyed, the spokesman said.
Several attempts had been made by the Japanese consular and military authorities to gain access to the Embassy following the capture of Nanking in order to verify conditions, he spokesman revealed. Both the front and rear gates to the compound were found locked and barred. Re-
"eated calls failed to bring an answer, he stated.
The gates were subsequently sealed snd guards posted to protect the compound which was assumed to be vacant, Indications of occupancy were, however, furnished on several occasions, smoke being seen rising from chimneys, while occasional flashes of Light being visible, the spokesman declared.
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