At this moment a rather grimy-looking elderly gentleman appeared out of the police-station " and took over the negotiations, explaining to tke students that they' could not pass this way, as it was against orders, He was not the chief of police, as perhaps you might think. but the police-station coolie. It probably did of make much difference to anybody in the general excitement. All this Hime not a single senior police affeer was to be seen. I asked one of the policemen who appeared to be taking no part in the proceedings—probably a trafic cop—where their officers
any here. We've telephoned for were and he, replied: "There arent them. They'll be here soon." And" one of the armed police came running distractedly out of the telephone-box saying "Why don't they come! Why don't they come!" Tt must therefore be placed on record that these police men opened fire with ball cartridge, entirely on their own initiative, and without the slightest justiNeation, as neither they nor the police-station were at any moment inthe slightest danger. That nobody was hurt or killed by the firing" was simply miracle.
After a time several lorry-loads of police reinforcements arrived, and the police began to quieten down. At last, "now that there was no chance of the students" being able to rush the gates and there was no necessity for desperate or important decisions. the police chiefs began to arrive on Scene in capes and full military Aitire, looking full of Importance, they were received with a great deal saluting and clicking' of heels.
Shouting Slogans came upon the demonstrations at the Tien Chiao (Heavenly Bridge), near the Temple of Heaven, where a meeting was being held. were obouut two to three thou these "students" as they a for short, though certainly the average fare well below eighteen, both boys fand girls, 'They were behaving ina perfectly' orderly fashion and with rear good humour. Some of them were carrying banners, strips of white calico inscribed with large characters in black ink; which called for th preservation of the uriily of th Country. and declaimed against the new autonomous government, At intervals their leaders would give a signal and they would shout fu unison slogane auch a8 "Down with Japanese Imperialism," or "Down with autonomous' government of Hope! Certainly nothing more warlike or provocative than. that. They then proceeded along the Chienmen main Street towards the gate in perfect order and good discipline, keeping carefully to one side of the road, although there were no police in attendance, s0 that the traffic could pass without any hindrance.
Exoctly what orders the police post the gates had or whether they had any orders at all will probably never be known. They were obviously taken by surprise and lost their heads. The procession had gone out by this gate, and the four gates were standing wide open, as. the procession approached them on its return, The students made for the "When it was the police desperately tried to close the gates. But they had never and could bro all swords tried to the police
tread of the column.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.