Evening star., 1937-07-26

6@ the Associated Press.
T1ENTSIN, China, July 26-Japa
nese army headquarters reported to-
night that battle was raging at {
gate in Peiping's outer wall aftel
Chinese permitted half column O.
japanese troops to enter the gate anc
then fired on them
The japanese column of about SOC
men intended to enter Peiping by the
southwest gate to protect japanese
citizens" The japanese here said
the Chinese announced they would
permit the entry. then let half the
Japanese troops come in and opened
up with machine guns and grenades.
Heavy japanese casualties were re-
ported both inside and outside the
gate.
There already is a japanese EN-
bsssy guard Of about 500 men in
Peiping)
Chinese reports said the japanese
attacked the gate shortly after Jap
anese ultimatum demanded that Chi
lltSc tlOOpS 4uIb ClPiAlS hiia Aeo IA
virons or face drastic action.
Reports OF the new clash followed
japanese air bombardment of the 38tl
Chinese Army Division at Langfang
midway on the Peiping-Tientsin Rail
road.
The Chinese government Contra
News Agency declared in Peipint
dispatch that japanese used machine
guns and light artillery in the en-
gaeement just outside Peiping walls.
Chinese defenders patrolling th'
walls called out reserves. opened th'
barred gate, rushed them out ant
fought off the attackers. the repor
said Chinese estimated the attacker
numbered about 500, and said the.
came from Fengtai, japanese felt
headquarters southwest of Peiping.
Probers Go TO LansfanE.
Two Chinese and two japanese Arm,
officers left Tientsin on special train
for Langfang to investigate the mail
Sino-Japanese encounter.
(At Nanking. China's capital, the
foreign office expressed indignation
at the japanese attack The cap
ital heard reports that Chinese
were taking up new positions and
strengthening their forces south Of
Peiping indicating there was no
intention to bow to the japanese
ultimatum.
(The japanese Embassy con-
CURED with Chinese officials in
viewing the situation as most
grave" both factions processing to
believe that war is inevitable')
At Langfang. japanese bombs an.
machine guns were believed to hav
taken a terrific toll Of Chinese lives.
Reinforcements Arrive.
Early this morning, after battl
had ragged for several hours, Japanes
reinforcementS OF men and planes ar
rived. Chinese officers said that /
japanese war planes subjected tn
Chinese Langfang garrison of abou
1000 troops to such punishment the,
were forced to withdraw after IL hours
Chinese casualties were believed sew
eral hundred. japanese officially listet
fewer than 10 dead.
Lieut. Gen Kiyoshi Katsuki, com
mander in chief Of the Japanese Nortl
China Army, demanded of Gen. Sum
Cheh-yuan, Chinese warlord in tn,
Hopeh-Chahar district:
l. That all units of the 37th Divisio,
Of the 29th Chinese Army Withdraw
southwark to Changsintien from tn
Lukouchiao- ao-Wanpinghsien area south
west of Peiping before noon Tuesday
2. That all other 37th units now i,
Peiping or in the west barracks gar
rison withdraw west of the Yungtinl
River by noon Wednesday.
Otherwise said the japanese general
there will be drastic punitive action b,
the Japanese Army. Already, Gen
Katsuki let 1t be known, all available
japanese strength was drawn up TO
such a punitive campaign.
Resistance Reported Ordered.
Gen. Sung, the Chinese warlord VIII
commands both the 29th Army an,
the Hopeh-Chahar Political Council
was reported without confirmation t.
have refused the japanese ultimatun
and to have ordered his men: Resist!
Chinese said the Langfang battl
started when japanese attacked troop
Of the 38th Division en- route to Peipin
to take over the Chinese garrison from
the 37th in accordance with Japanes
demands.
japanese, however, declared the at
tack was in reprisal for a Chimes
assault against a japanese signal corp
detachment which was attempting t.
restore military telephone service.
Chinese positions at Langfang wer
reported blown to bits. Hundreds o
Chinese soldiers and civilians were re
ported killed.
The Japanese ultimatum followe,
efforts Of the Hopeh- -Chahar Politics
Council to reopen truce negotiation
with Japanese after the IAngfan,
clash
Chinese proposed to suspend hostil
tiles Immediately. Domei Japanese
news agency said.
Gen. Katsuki was quoted as de
scribing the Chinese overtures as
"makeshift attempt" He refused t
neuotiate until Chineke a7th Diyisio,
troops were withdrawn from thei
! positions.