As far as can be ascertained, the prisoners are faced with no charges, ut are being kept under observation, presumably in the hope that they Will reveal information concerning the activities of various guerilla nits, No one is allowed to sce the prisoners although strong efforts have Been made to do so after Chinese residents living near the prison re~ ported that they had heard screams Issuing from the quarters where the ptisaners are being held. According these same sources, the suspects fare being tortured in an effort to make ther talk 'Besieged with' requests for an me vestigation of the alleged torturing of prisoners, the Japanese Lieut, Commander of forces in Hsuchowlu answered that he would look into the fatter, ut to date, this statement has brought no other result than the trest of another prominent Chinese who, It is reported, has been subject~ fed to the same methods of question his unfortunate predecessors Several Villages Burned was also reported that several villages in the vicinity of Hsuchowt have been burned to the ground and their inhabitants left to wander about the countryside after being visited by military authorities in search of guerillas. "In one case it is reported that a small church was entered dur-Ing a service and all members of the congregation were searched, after which, all those men not wearing a small button carried by Chinese Christians in that area were taken outside the church, lined up and shot. 'A foreigner who' arrived upon the Scene about fifteen minutes after the incident took place related the happening to authorities but received no explanation other than the statement that guerillas must be eliminated.
Although country people in the vicinity of Heuehowtu will have a bumper crop of wheat this year, subjection to the frequent sorties of military potice and guerillas threatens te make it impossible for them to reap a harvest, and their situation fs." in most villages, extremely Anniversary of Hsuchow Capture Observed Hsuchow, May 20.
Elaborate celebrations, in which 10,000" Chinese joined " the 2,000 civilians now residing here, wore held yesterday' marking the first anniversary of the fall of this Strategieally vital city to the Japanese forees.
memorial service for Japanese, who died in Hsuchow during mopping-up operations against Chinese stragglers, was followed by an open-fir meeting at the Cheng Huang Mausoleum. A fax parade was subsequently staged through the city.
The Japanese Women's National Defence Society sent its members to Visit. various military hospitals and on Pilgrimages to the graves of war
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.