Shanghai, Aug. 4, Sixteen armed men, some clad in @ungarees and some in foreign clothes, but none in any uniform whatsoever, who were rounded up by Ualian marines shortly after 9 yesterday morning at the Tsaoji Primary 'School, 1081 Jessfield Road, were re-eased' by the Talian authorities about 4 pin. yesterday when it was Yearned that the men were members of the Ta Tao Government. The men, who were visibly armed, were placed under arrest by orders of the Holian Commander in the Western Sector after they had been spotted by a patrol of marines yesterday morning. The commander could not understand to which particular organization the men belonged, so he ordered them taken to Ttalian' marine headquarters at 62 Robison Road for questioning, The men were originally arrested fon suspicion of being connected with Xerroristle organizations, but when their true status was disclosed to the Hallan authorities they were released and their weapons, which included Mausers and. hand-grenades, and Which, were seized by the marines Guring the round-up, were restored to them, Marines Surround Ballding When the patrol saw an armed man enter the premises of the Tsa0}i Primary School, they informed thole-hoséguarters. by telephone, with, the result that a few minutes later, fa truckload of 50 additional marines arrived on the scene and surrounded the building which is actually situated ina Tao" territory. They entered lid placed 10 armed men under arrest Whilst a Jarge quantity of Mauser pistols," potato-masher type hand-Brenades and other weapons were Seized and taken to the Talian headquarters, with the suspects.
Tt was first believed that the arrested men were members of the terrorist group which was. responsible for the shooting affrays on Avenue Edward VIE and Hankow Roads on the evening of July 20 when an American and three Chinese were killed and 20 persons injured.
The gang, as will be recalled, had fortified hide-out ina building situated inside Lane 95, "Edinburgh Road until a few days ago when the Japanese gendarmerie was stated to have informed the head of the gang, who lives at No, 7 Jessfield Road, that the building in question would have to be vacated, the arms. surrendered and the men accommodated at No, 76 Jessfield Road, Te was therefore presumed that the gang, not wishing' to live in. their nowly assigned quarters, thought that the premises of the Tsao}i Primary School could be altered to serve asa new hide-out and they accordingly went to the school yesterday mor-Ing informing the principal that the Building would have to be vacated within nine days.
'Whilst 25 mon were already inside the building when the Italian patrol came to the scene, the last of the men. was about 10 enter at that precise moment.' Arguing that the armed man had been walking on a Settlement Road, the Italian patrol immediately, informed headquarters in view of the fact that for the past few months, they have had strict Instructions to' disarm anyone found carrying a weapon without a proper icenee within. their sector.
At the time, it could not be known that so many men were inside the building and with scient _reinforcements on the scene to be able to cope with any eventuality, several officers and men entered the promises and made a careful search with the result that 16 were arrested and a. Targe number of pistols and hand was" thought that the men in question could not possibly have any right to carry arms even in "Ta "Tao" territory because representations had been made to the Tlallans by the Japanese-sponsored administration. While the Italians were searching the premises, a number of uniformed "Ta Tao" policemen idly stood by atter having respectfully bowed to the armed men they - entered the school building a few minutes previously.
The Ballan marines meant business and this was probably known inside the school building so that no resist-nee was offered to the Mahan search. Machine-guns were placed at various strategic points in the vicinity. of the building whilst all the marines stood by with cocked rifles and fixed bayonets ready to go ints adion at any moment
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.