"Tokyo, Oct. 27.
Much attention has been aroused here by reports, of American origin, suggesting the possibility or General Chiang Kai-shek making a formal declaration of war against Japan.
The "Asahi" argues that such a step would be less harmful to Japan than to General Chiang Kai-shek, "who would thus only dig his own grave, and at the same time advertise his death agony to the world."
The paper states that it is possible that the Generalissimo may declare war "from a skin-deep standpoint," his regime having lost Canton, and had its supply of arms cut off.
It thus would lose nothing, the "Asahi" declares but only make Japan suffer.
More possibly, the journal goes on io say, General Chiang Kai-shek desires to render the international and political situation in the Far East more difficult and more complicated, In case General Chiang Kai-shek declares war against Japan, it is stated, Japan will answer in the same way, and thus, in accordance with international law, would be enabled more thoroughly to blockade the Chinese coast, with the result that the Japanese navy would have absolute command of the sea.—Reuter, A large number of buildings in Wuchang were found to have been marked with Chinese characters stating that the properties had been leased to foreigners, and some of them had foreign flags painted on the doors, according to a Domei correspondent. who inspected Wuchang after the troops entered.
Some of the buildings comprising the headquarters of the Wuchang and Hankow garrisons, which are some distance from the Paoyang gate, where the Japanese made their first entry into Wuchang, were destroyed by aerial bombardments, the correspondent reported. Thousands of chrysanthemums were blooming on a hill behind the buildings, he said.
Anti-aircraft batteries were found on top of the hill and near-by were large dugouts. All the stores along the Bund were deserted. Some Chinese troop stragglers had entered the factory zone of Wuchang arfd Japanese soldiers hunted them out.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.