Wuchow Citizens a2'N,, aL OF "VID388
Wuchow. Sty Apr. 18.
Yesterday at noon while business men were resting after their noonday repest they were aroused from their siestas by the shrieking of alr raid alarms and arose to learn that sixteen Japanese war planes were reported moving westward from {he const. Presently the urgent alarm Sounded followed in a few minutes by the murmur of the distant planes, Soon eight bombers appeared on the horizon, the other eight having turned off In another direction. The approaching planes soon reached the city, They circled round as if mak-Ing observations and then flew away without dropping a single bom Some reports state that bombs wer dropped on other places but these reports have not yet been verited.
Lal, Kong, high ranking military offieet and second In command of the Wuchow forces is tonight lying In the Stout Memorial Hospital in a very critical condition white military officers and friends anxious await each report issued from the ward where the commander 18 suf fering from three gunshot wounds fired by himself in a fit of despond-fancy or anger. One bullet io said to have pierced a lung and the other two tore through tissue fu vital parts of the body. Doctors in attendance today reported that there was little hope of recovery, Reasons given for this act are somewhat "eonficting- Some who are supposed to know whisper in subdued tones that a much ranking officer recently made so Uncomplimentary remarks regarding Lal's administration of provincial matters. while he himself Is said to have stated to friends by his bedside in the. hospital that the reason for his attempted suicide was caneed through family matters the nature of which, he does not care to reveal, Pending an investigation Lal's wite is being held In custody and the soldiers who guarded the entrance to military headquarters where the shooting occurred are also. being detained for questioning.
Few visitors are being allowed to see the officer. Meanwhile many people are being questioned and every effort is being put forth to secure all the information available regarding the tragedy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.