Shanghai, Feb. 3.
Japanese naval aircraft on Feb, 1 resumed their attacks on the Yunnan Railway, major communication route of Chungking-controlled. China and the outside world, a Japanese naval spokesman announced yesterday.
In spite of a strong head wind and low lying clouds, a Japanese naval air detachment at dusk on February 1 successfully bombed the railway. between Mengtze and the French-Indo China border, he said. "Three Chinese fighters of the 1-16 Soviet-built type were repulsed by the Japanese ralders, which also braved fire from newly-established "Chinese anti-alr-craft batteries {0 bomb a bridge un-dargoing repairs after having been damaged in an earlier Japanese attack, he added, Japanese craft had relutned safely, according to the Paris Angered at Yunnan Bombing, Paris, Feb. 3.
Political circles here learned "with surprise and indignation that the Gay before yesterday twenty-seven Japanese planes dropped bombs bridge on the Yunnan railway while train was passing, inflicting a num~ ber of casualties on the passengers, who included several Europeans.
These quarters mention also that the same railway was bombed earlier on the same day, and point out that similar incidents had already talien place and had been discussed Tokyo between the Japanese For can Minister, Mr, Hachiro Arita, and the French Ambassador, Mf. Charles Arsene-Henry.
These talks were held in a friendly atmosphere and the French Embassy had gained the impression that the Gaimusho wax unaware of the activllos of the Japanese alr force, and had felt jusiifed in thinking" that measures would be taken to put an end to such incidents, Five French Killed Chungking. Feb. 3.
Twenty-nine French citizens, eom~ prising "five Europeans and 24 Annamites, were among the ¢asul-{ies in the Japanese air raid on the Haiphong-Kunming Railway Thursday, in the' course of which a northbound train is said to have been destroyed by bombs, according an. official announcement. issued here today. Chinese casualties are reported to have totalled 82.
the victims, adds the announce ment. were "seriously injured," but unofficial messages received here state that five Europeans wore killed. and some others are feared to have been injured.
"The European dead are said to be all French, comprising two women. tone child, and two railway agents Reuter.
Act of Indiseiptine Political circles declare that Tokyo referred to these activities as exceptional act of indiscipline towards the central authorities, and ex. press deep surprise that this indis-kipling should "persist after" Tokyo was informed of it.
These quarters add that the French Ambassador had stressed the interest, of France and other countries In the Yunnan railway, which is the only access to Central China. The United States Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Joseph C. Grew, had also been me structed to lodge a. protest on the same incidents on behalf of the Government, because the Yunnan rail way carries large quantities of Amer-jean goods and is also, for American onicials in Chunking, the only means of communication with the outside world. This protest had Just been edgeed when the incident of two days ago oceurrod,—Wavas, Kunming, Feb. 4.
A further severe air raid was made Japanese aeroplanes yesterday on same bridge where a passenger train wae hit on Thursday.
Yesterday's raid cut both railway ud telegraphic communications on thus made the rescue and identification work connected with yaid more complicated The fact that the passen-in which all Thursday's damage was done, was completely destroyed has added to the difieulties of the of is who have rushed 10 the. scene, The only casualty names so far divulged are those of Madame Daviet, wife of a. French District. Inspector ceuneeted with the railway, and their child, Monsieur Daviet is at present
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