Chinese shops ablaze in Nantao just across the border from the French Concession lit up the night sky in a sweeping wall of flame last night over an extensive area and sent up columns of smoke and showers of sparks. The fire broke out at about 3 p.m. and gradually spread from near the French Bund to other buildings across the boundary from Boulevard des Deux Republiques. Japanese troops occupied this area after the final evacuation of Chinese soldiers from Nantao on Friday night.
Precautions were being taken by the French Fire Brigade last night to ensure that the fire would not spread to the Concession, four fire engines being stationed at the boundry. By midnight, the flames were within a very short distance of houses along Boulevard des Deux Republiques, and the fire was still spreading. Ammunition left behind in buildings close to the boundary by Chines troops exploded when caught by the flames.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.