Slowly, an undaunted- Chinese populace is trickling back into devastated Nantao, trying to find shelter and perhaps a livelihood where bombs, shells and flames have left little bearing a semblance of human habitation.
Independent investigation made by the "North-China Daily News" shows that the Japanese military spokesman's assertion that Nantao is rapidly taking on the appearance of a "revived metropolis" is somewhat ovetenthusiastic at this time. The destruction south of Fong Pang Read, the southern boundary of the "Jacquinot Zone," scarcely permits of any rapid restoration of trade or industry. Sporadically, it is true, buildings or grips of buildings have been spared, but generally the picture is one far from consistent with the idea of prosperity.
The "Ta Tao" Government ("Ta Tao Shih Cheng Fu") has a force of Chinese policemen on duty throughout the area, working under the direction of the Japanese military Police. These policemen, who are armed with wooden clubs only, keep a sharp look-out for looters, search all Chinese entering the district and maintain order generally—a difficult task in view of the large lawless element now in Nantao.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.