Fighting between guerilla bands and the Japanese was reported to have broken out in Pootung and Kiangwan on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The former retired yesterday after the arrival of a large number of Japanese reinforce ments, according to information from Chinese sources.
Meanwhile, rumours were current of the execution by Chinese mobile units of Wang Peh-mei and Li Tien ming, notorious bandit leaders wh: first assisted the guerillas and then joined the Japanese.
The two leaders were said to have been captured by guerilla bands stationed at Chalin, south of, Minghong. Accompanied by a Japanese director and another bandit leader named Ho Tse-kwei, the two visited Chalin, where all the four were captured by the Head of a large guerilla army named Ting Hsi-shan. The Japanese. was executed on the spot, while Li Tien-ming met his death on July 3. Wang Peh-mei was escorted to the headquarters of the 66th Division, where she was ordered to be shot immediately.
Fighting in Pootung broke.out in the vicinity of Tenghsien, when over 50 Japanese troops were surrounded by a mobile unit Using heavy machine-guns, the Japanese were able to escape, leaving behind six dead. When reinforcements arrived, no Chinese gunmen were to be seen anywhere.
Fighting also broke out at Kiangwan, nea Wentsaopang Creek, when another Japanese unit was surrounded by guerilla bands on Wednesday morning.
The Japanese appeared to have been prepared for the attack, for soon after the outbreak of fighting, several small gunboats steamed to the vicinity of Wentsaopang Creek and the guns were brought into action. Meanwhile, several aeroplanes were sent to scout and bomb the area, believed to have been infested with guerilla bands.
Heavy fighting broke out again in Pootung, as Chinese mobile units became active yesterday morning. Machine-gun fire could be distinctly heard along the Bund between 730 and 8 am. yesterday. This was again heard later in the morning.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.