Chinese Jubilant Over the News from the North The strong voice of Shanghai was lifted in jubilation on July 28 when a report of the recapture of Fengtai and Langfang by Chinese troops spread. ike witd-tre through the Settlement. French Concession and Chinese territory. Fire-crackers—millions of them—crackled, sputtered, hurtled and boomed to express the Joy felt by the native population over the Chinese victories, Untold thousands milled in streets littered vwilth the remains of crackers, shin-Ing eyes devoured the contents of news posters and extras, and ears trained to catch every least phrase of blaring radio broadcasts.
Streets and alleyways, with magic suddenness, became serried with fags, "and even river life assumed quickly the holiday aspect. with junks and sampans festooned and resonant with pyrotechnics. China's first city was, in a trice, Inexplicably and sweepingly en fete and none' remain ed, apparently, who had not been infected by the exuberance of the hour, The agitation, it seemed, started shortly after 1 p.m, from a focal area In Avenue Edward VII where Chinese newspapers began to issue the report in the form of quickly-off-the-press sheets, Crowds soon gathered outside the newspaper and cable offices there and it took the report mere minutes to mushroom over the city, calling forth jubilant reactions, Up went the national flag, crackling the off-river breeze, over the Chung Wat. Bank snd' other. tall dulldings in Avenue Edward—and soon the whole city. wore the red, white and blue colours. Motor-cars sped by draped with flags and with cotton sheets proclaiming the war news in large Chinese characters, was the firing of crackers, how= ever, which constituted she main feature of the celebration, Nanking Road, Avenue Edward VII, Szechuen Road, North Szechuen Road, Honan Road, Canton Road and many other Impottant streets og well as a myriad alleyways resounded to the explosions for the better part of three hours, Disregarding the hot sun, the celebrants maintained a steady can~ nontde, using all types of fireworks from the tiniest cracklers to heavy booming "cannon" charges. From windows of office buildings and department stores, strings of crackers were burned while crowds below cheered, At Nanking and Chekiang Roads, often a "turbulent" crossing, yard: Jong. strings of big crackers were exploded from the windows of Sincere's and Sun: Sun's stores, spraying passing buses and motor-ears with asto-board and. coloured pape Fireworks of some points seemed be distributed to the crowd. 'The police of Louza Station and other stations had "their hands full' to. keep reasonable order, Japanese "Greetea"
The situation was not without humour, At the height of the mant= testation in Nanking Road Japanese motorcycle patrol holding two members of the Naval Landing Party, by some special gift of intuition, came tearing along Nanking Road apparently oblivious of the demonstration. "At Vu Ya. Ching Road the patrol had to halt because of cross trae and the Chinese crowd was not slow in taking cognizance their presence. Instead of - jeers, however, what was almost applause was accorded the Japanese marines, who continued their journey looking rather baled. In another' instance an officers' car belonging to. the Landing Party likewise passed through milling crowds receiving a similar "ovation."
Hongkew, where thousands Japanese reside, saw proofs.ot the same jubilance, but there was no friction between the two groups. In Chinese territory, generally, the cele~ brations were of a calmer nature and the City Government authorities dia much to hold enthusiasm well in check.
'The Settlement Police, mindful of occurrences during past' cracker de~ monstrations, took every precau fo avoid incidents, and Divisions were mobilized at 2 o'clock and the big red cars of the Reserve Unit were: despatched to Central Station compound at about the same time to "stand by." They were soon allowed to return to barracks, however, as the situation calmed.
While police on trate duty, espectally in Nanking Road, had an active afternoon, the Shanghai Fire Brigade experienced an even more _heetle time while the battle of crackers was at its height. Between 2 and 430 the firemen responded to no less than five calls due to the injudicious burning of fre-crackers. In four instances bamboo matting had been ignited and in the fifth case the contents of a Chinese living-room were
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