The Japanese troops in Lungchow, the spokesman said, had shown meticulous care not to cause damage to third-party property on land as well as on water. The latter, he said, Included launches and other craft on the West River. Calling at Japanese headquarters on December 23, the French consular representative Lungchow had complimented the Japanese commander upon the strict iseipline maintained by the Japanese forces. He had further requested the Japanese commander to transmit to the French authorities at Hanoi and at Hongkong a telegram reassure ing them regarding the safety of French property in Lungchow, which was intact, Lives "and property under French jurisdiction were. also safe, the message drawn up by the French consular representative stated, the spokesman declared on the basis of the report.
Japanese vanguards reached the bridge spanning the West River south of Lungchow at about 8 o'clock in the evening of December 21, the spokesman recounted. The Chinese, who had piled combustible materials on the bridge, thereupon poured gasoline fon them and set them on fire, At the time, several fires were' seen raging in the town of Lungshow, which is located on the north bank Shanst Operations Closed Taiyuan, Jan, 27, Sixty-one Chinese soldiers were captured and. Chinese forces "left 8,102 dead behind during Japanese mopping-up operations at Changtze Kaoping and Hukwan in southeastern Shansi "Province, it. was announced today. Operations in these areas were brought to a close on Wednesday.
Booty gained by the Japanese forees included 24 heavy and light maching guns, 271 rifles and a large amount of ammunition, of the West River, the report said, according to the spokesman.
Japanese troops, immediately took steps {o put out the fire on the bridge July More than 10,000 Chinese troops had been active in these areas when Japanese mopping-up operations were British Embassy at
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