Gen, Katsuki Invokes Boxer Protocol Appendix lent sin, July 29, Lieut-Gen, Kiyosht Katsukl, com-'Japanese forces. in Invoked the The Japanese military authority declared that compel adopt bombing, because "persist tent Chinese attacks" from these bases allowed no alternative. The con= centration of Chinese forees in Tien-isin, they added, was a flagrant breteh of the Boxer Protocol, The Aghting in Tientsin, according to Chinese reports, started early this morning when Japanese troops the east, west and central stations opened machine-gun and rifle fre on niembers of the Peace Preservation Corps stationed on roads leading to these stations, The action, Chinese sources state, was "apparently for the purpose of evicting the Chinese from the approaches to the stations." Later, the Japanese were alleged to have oe cupied a Chinese Police. station in the former Belgian area, "Counter-Atiack" Order Following these developments, the Peace Preservation Corps were "given, general orders to counter attack" and soon fighting became general, 'The fiercest engagement occurred at the Japanese aerodrome, where Tupanese bombers repeatedly mach-me-guinned and" bombed Chinese troops and snipers' shelters in the open country.
Awkened by the fung, the Chinese populace obtained a frst-class view of the engagement from the roots of houses in. the Concessions.
Japanese military communique, issued at 5 am, declared that the remnants of Chinese troops entered the Chinese City and began fung at 2am, Precautionary measures, it added, were immediately instituted, ud Japanese troops "are at present suppressing the Chinese remnants. The Japanese troops did not sustain any casualties.", Protocol in rejecting a protest of the Consular Body against the. aerial bombing of Chinese areas by ese. military craft.
'The Japanese reply to the protest lied the' Identic note served by. the allies in the Boxer Rebellion" day= upon the Chinese authorities in eonnection with the return to China of the administration of Tientsin, This Jcommunication forbade the entry of [Chinese troops into an area within a two-mile radius of Tientsin, in addition, Lieut.-Gen, Katsuki was understood to have pointed out that more than 10,000 Japanese well asa much larger "number of Chinese resided in the Japanese Concession, Threat o Foreign Lives "To protect their lives and property. Is the duty of the Japanese Army." the reply said, "Moreover, the aetivities of the Chinese created a grave threat to foreigners.
"Therefore it was in selfedofence that the Army carried out to-day', bombing."
'The responsibility for to-day' developments, the Japanese" commander contended, rested with tha Chinese to whom the Consular Body should have addressed its protest.
"The Japanese Army has no desire to antagonize foreign Powers," the note continued. "Neither has the Japanese Army any wish to Jeopardiza the lives and' property of foreigners 'oF of the Chinese civilian population."
The demarche was made following. the daily emergency meeting of the Consular Body. The Italian Consul General was unable to attend as the Mahan concession was virtually" iso-tated "because "of "heavy. sniping
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.