Evacuation of third party nationals from a vast strip of Central China between the Yangtze on the south and a line' extending from Tsingtao to Taiyuan in Shansi by way of Yenchow, Taming and Chengte, has been requested by the Japanese authorities, a Japanese Embassy spokesman revealed yesterda:
The request was made in identical notes despatched to various embassies and legations in Peiping by the Japanese Embassy there, he said.
"In consonance with the policy of the Japanese Government to prevent the lives and property of third-party nationals from being endangered as a result of the present hostilities," the spokesman declared, "requests have been made that foreign property be marked by insignia clearly discernible from the air and from land."
Property to be Marked In addition, the spokesman said, a description of the buildings where such insignia were used, as well as all other data tending to aid their identification, was asked. If possible, a map on which the position of such properties was marked was also requested.
This step, the spokesman declared, was being taken in view of the possible extension of the present zone of hostilities.
The various diplomatic authorities approached in Peiping, the spokesman stated, were also requested to counsel the evacuation of their respective nationals from the specified zone.
Chefoo, Feb. 3. Chefoo, from which the Chinese garrison withdrew some weeks ago, was occupied without bloodshed in the early hours of this morning when Japanese troops, who had journeyed overland from Tsingtao in lorries, entered the city Japanese flags are now flying on all Chinese public buildings, and the five-barred flag of the "Provisional Government" at Peiping is to be seen everywhere.
No incident involving foreigners attended the occupation of the city, which was carried out peacefully.
A number of Japanese warships arrived in harbour this morning, and while Japanese naval planes circled overhead parties were landed from the men-o'-war to help the Japanese troops to maintain peace and order.
Chefoo is the last important port north of Shanghai to fall completely into Japanese hands, The Japanese occupation of the city had been expected for some time, and consequently caused no surprise. The troops who entered the city consisted only. of about 100 men, who made the journey from Tsingtao in ten trucks. They reached Chefoo at 230 am. and immediately occupied the Public Safety Bureau, the Chinese Post Office and the main police station,
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