Fairly large crowds of foreign sight-seers poured into the north-of-the-creek areas all day yesterday, the combination of the partial throwing-open of the district with the Christmas holidays, not to mention the fine weather, forming a temptation too hard to resist. No untoward incidents were reported during the day, and the visitors were allowed to pass freely wherever they chose, save in certain specified sectors, After 11,30 o'clock last night, however, the streets were silent, for curfew is still in effect between that hour and 5 o'clock in the morning.
Hongkew and Yangtszepoo clearly show the sternes of the battle which raged around there for many, weeks before the Chinese troops finally retreated to other positions. Houses have been smashed and broken, literally pulverized in many. cases, and the area as a whole has not yet even started to be cleared up.
And yet, at the same time, there are many buildings, notably those owned by foreigners, which have came through practically unscathed. And this despite the fact that their immediate neighbourhood shows signs of heavy fighting and strong contests for positions, Few Chinese were to be seen on the streets yesterday, for the area is only open to those domestics possessing passes issued by the Japanese, although foreigners are allowed to enter freely. Hongkew Market was almost its old thriving self, with large quantities of fresh fish, vegetables and other commodities on sale at reasonable prices,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.