Conditions at Ward Road Gaol During Hostilities is Give in the Concluding Article MPHE annual report of the Gaol Branch of the Police Force states that on August 13, when Sino-Japanese hostilities broke out, the guards supplied by the Russian Regiment, S.V.C. were withdrawn and replaced for two days by the Chinese Company, S.V.C. when tower guard duties were then taken over by members of the Indian Staff of the Gaol. Owing to intense shell and rifle fire, one shell penetrating the tower on Chusan-Kwenming Roads corner and another striking the tower in Chusan Road, the guards had to be withdrawn as it was considered too dangerous to keep men on any of the tower posts and, under prevailing circumstances, unnecessary 'At approximately am. on August 17, the Gaol buildings sustained several direct hits from shells of approximately 6" calibre. 'The Gaol Hospital was hit three times, other parts of the buildings were' also hit. The Indian Quarters red one direct hit. The bound-'y._ walls were struck, the shells 'Denietrating and doing' damage to other buildings in the vicinity. The Foreign Junior Staff Quarters were hit twice and two members of the Stal hada narrow escape from death og one shell entered the room. Both' men suffered from severe shock, "Another shell entered the root of the building a short time Tater and damaged the root considerably. "Another shell struck the basement drain of the root of the dull ding a short time later and damaged "the roof considesbly.
"Another shell struck the basement, drain of the Cookhouse causing slight damage,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.