London, Aug, 23.
Although no final replied have been received from China and Japan, it is understood that China has approved in principle the British proposals for the neutralization of Shanghai provided her defensive position is not prejudiced.
Japan's attitude, which does not favour the proposals, has greatly disappointed the British Government, Foreigners' Narrow Escape in Nanking Road A graphic story of the explosion is told by a foreigner who was riding in a bus at the time.
He told a "North-Ching Daily News" reporter "I was travelling on the No. 1 Bus about 1 o'clock, and we were just passing Chekiang Road when a blinding flash occurred, followed immediately by a terrific explosion The windows of the bus were shattered and the bus itself was severely damaged. The conductors bolted.
"Two foreign ladies were helped off the bus and managed to make their escape. Two Americans were seen to be badly shaken and were covered with blood but they did not seem to be more than badly hurt. I, myself, escaped and found later that I was wearing the hat of one of the conductors. The bus driver behaved with great bravery and stuck to his post. After the first shock he actually managed to steer the bus into safety under its own power. Dead bodies were lying all over the ground. and the explosion was evidently terrific."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.