The wharf staff had run out two small hoses. but it was obvious the situation was beyond their control, and the Brigade took over, hose lines being connected up to fight the fire at the rear. As the actual fire was out of hand, the firemen concentrated agency as being missing. A graduate of the Officers Academy in Japan, Commander Chang had directed a part of the Chinese artillery units in Pootung for the past three months before he was ordered by the highest command to make a stand in Nantao after the fall of western Shanghai. their efforts on saving the wharf, staff cottages and residences, and due to the extent of the wharf property they were forced to operate on a wide area, At about midnight, the fire around the wharf area was under control and the menace to Butterfield Swire property averted, but in view of the large fires still raging in the neighbourhood and the danger of falling sparks, the Harbour Brigade was unable to relax its efforts, and so, under Mr, German's orders, firemen were placed at vital points with fire jets.
The Japanese soldiers, meanwhile, had been investigating every four or five minutes, but when Mr, German told an N.C.O, what was being done the latter instructed his men not to interfere with the firemen. At frequent periods during the night, however. the later were challenged by sentries, probably due to the changing of the guards.
Thousands of Refugees Mr. Tarby and other officials of Butterfield & Swire remained on the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.