Lotien, the small village fifteen kilometres from Paoshan, which had been the centre of contention between the opposing forces since the landing of the enemy on August 23 at Siaochuansa, had fallen into Japanese hands after three weeks heroic defence by Chinese forces, a Chinese military spokesman declared at the press conference this evening.
The Japanese troops entered Lotien yesterday, the spokesman said, and apparently to wreak vengeance on the village for its stubborn defence, set fire to what remained of the place.
Japanese troops to the north of Lotien, the spokesman said, now number approximately 6,000 men.
Recounting circumstances leading to the fall of the village, the spokesman said the battle for Lotien began in the early morning of September 13. Japanese troops, amply supplied with tanks and other mechanized units, advanced toward the village in three columns. The advance was preceded by artillery and aerial bombardment long duration, Taking, the Paoshan-Lotien highway as their centre, the three Japanese columns approached Lotien from the east, but were repulsed in the first attack.
Those wishing to remove articles of clothing from premises located in Hongkew Areas, ie. the area bound by Soochow Creek, Hongkew Creek, Range Road and North Szechuen Road, may do so between September 16 and September 19 between stipulated hours.
The stipulated hours are between 9 am, and 11 am. and in the afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
All those proceeding to one street Shall assemble together as far as possible and removal shall be carried out under the supervision of members of the Japanese Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Police and Japanese Consular-Police,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.