Canton, Oct. 24.
\HE fires which have been regi ing over the city during the past two days were diminishing this afternoon, after wiping out Wongsha and other parts of the city, Pitiable sights were to be seen in the city, as hundreds of those injured in the fire were lying helpless side by side with rotting corpses.
The main body of the Japan ese forces was expected to enter the city this afternoon, or tomorrow.
In the meantime, the commander of the advance forces cal ed on the Shameen authorities this afternoon, informing them that the Japanese had taken control of the city.
It was only this afternoon that the editorially declared this morning that) fires were finally being. got under} the collapse of Kwangtung defences control—despite the desperate efforts inexplicable. of fire-fighters, who toiled unceasingly 'There is something seriously wrong, all last night, Canton was still a raging the paper declared, adding that there this morning, 7 is-mo adequate explanation of the events of the past week in South 'The river Bund area' has already] China, The paper stressed that the been practically completely destroyed. silence maintained by South China French Bridge and right along the Teaders invites severe reproof. Shakee Bund almost to the British Domei, Bridge, and. includes several large Chinese hotels, department stores and Chungking Stunned at Canton Loss restaurants the General Post Ofte, Chungking, Oct. 24. and the Custom House, and involve The population here is still stunned nest the whole downtown shopping at the news of the loss of Canton.
Me prospects of Shameen being! the question on everyone's lips to-Involved are now less kely as whole vay 1s "What comes next?" Even school children have been affected by areas In the vicinity have been burned, out, the news, some asking their teachers Nevertheless, the authorities are not to address them, and explain how the relaxing emergency measures, and joss of Canton came avent 'The Gulld of Cantonese held a mass Volunteers and bluejackets are' keep-ang a constant vigil on roofs and otner meeting, at whicn 500 Cantonese were vantage points. present, yesterday. Among those who Uld residents who have experienced fitiended the meeting were many previous Communist risings and civil well-known Csntonese.
Wars declare that never before have: Among other things, It was arrang-they gone through such a terrible ed that a committee for the forma time, ion of refugee camps be set up, Ihe blaze on the East Bund reach-which would be responsible for rais ed_mammoth proportions last night, Ing the necessary funds among Can-enveloping a tremendous area measurtonese living in Chungking, throughing, several square miles, out China, and overseas.
the conflagration of the Shakeo 'There Is' an increasingly bitter feel Bund died down later as a result of ing against Great Britain and the fall the wind changing direction and the of Canton is attributed in some magnificent efforts of the Shameen Quarters as having been due to too Volunteer fire-fighters, who were or-Great a reliance on Great Britain's ganized by a group of German re-Statements that she was likely to take a strong attitude in the event of Japanese action in South China. The Looters Rounded Up feeling is growing that Great Britain The British, French and American failed China in her hour of need. authorities have sent landing parties Spain and Czechoslovakia are cited of bluejackets to the Shakee Bund as examples, and as an indication round up looters who, after ransacking, that China should look elsewhere for fan establishment, invariably" set re support, or come to terms with Japan, Reuter, 0 It.
Japanese patrols last evening stood Large Flotilia Sighted guard outside some surviving shops Hongkong, Oct 24. on the Shake front, Three or four Escorted by destroyers, 150 Japanese persistent looters, who opposed the vessels, mostly of the trawler type, orders of the Japanese soldiers, were were sighted off Shekko Beach, Hongkong, early this morning, the "Hong-However, when the patrols were withdrawn, the looters returned kong' Telegraph" reported this after-mediately "and recommenced—thelr con. activities, The convoy appeared to be heading According to all accounts of for-for the Canton delta, the paper added, eigners who have visited the city, the behaviour of the Japanese troops has Fires Under Controt hitherto been exemplary. Looting has been checked wherever possible, but
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.