All eyes were turned skywards yesterday evening and there must have been many stiff necks this morning as a result of this stargazing on the part of Shanghai's Population. There was a reason for it, however, as they all were treated io an intermittent display of fireworks, presumably ignited on the Pootung foreshore opposite the North-China Building.
Commencing at 455 p.m. the first intimation of the free display which was to follow came when a loud explosion and a dark black cloud of smoke appeared in the sky over the river. There was a flash followed by another and, not without reason considering the trials and tribulations of Shanghailanders last year, most people came to the instant conclusion that after an absence of many months &eroplanes had once again made the port their objective.
Long intervals of silence followed the first bursts and then more bangs and smoke. By this time most of the residents had been convinced that an air-raid was, indeed, in progress and the editorial staff of the "North-China Daily News" was busily employed answering telephone callers, who had heard and seen the explosions from all points in the city.
There was no doubt, however, that anti-aircraft guns were being fired, although, as there was not a single sign of any engagement over the roofs of the city, it was concluded that blanks were being discharged. Thi theory was substantiated by the appearance of brown clouds of smoke, at fairly high altitudes. Machine-gun and rifle fire was heard too, but these died away after the initial bursts, and were not heard again. Then came the fireworks.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.