The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-07-27
JAPS SUFFER
HUMlLIATINC
PElPlNC Loss
400 Chinese Troops Are
Slaughtered After Re.
bufing Onslaught
u. S. MARINES ARE
ON DUTY In PEIPINC

FElflNG, July ~ (UP)-Com-
bat ammunition today was issued
to United States marines here
while foreigners and panic strick-
en- Chinese crowded the embassy
quarters in fear Of formal war
fare between China and Japan.
The atmosphere was more nerv-
Gus than it ever has been since
the Boxer Rebellion 81 years ago.
Japanese troops after suffering u
humiliating defeat at the city's
southwest gate attacked a Chi
nese regiment and slaughtered 400
troops.
Peiping was GU. off from Tient-
sin and the coast by railroad, bus,
telephone and telegraph.
American marines were order
ed out under arms today to escort
American citizens to the embassy
for safety, as Japanese and Chi
nese forces clashed at the gates
of the city.
Japan and China appeared to
be rushing headlong toward war.
The marines brought out am
munition supplies and formed in
squads in front of the marine
barracks near the embassy after
Japanese troops invaded the
southern gate Of the walled city,
blazing their way through the
gate with trench mortars.
Military observers believed war
was inevitable, as Chinese detach-
ments attacked the Japanese, fol-
lowing an air raid yesterday in
which japanese bombers destroy
ed the Chinese military barracks
at Langfang, repeatedly killing
more than 1000 Chinese soldiers
and civilians.
Col. John Marston, in command
of the embassy guard, instructed
all American residents of Peiping
to be prepared to assemble at the
Methodist mission, the Peiping
Union Medical College, or, the
Marine Compound at the embassy
as soon as warning signals were
given.
Meanwhile fighting ragged along
the southwest wall, where a de-
tachment of japanese tried to
fight its way out Of trap inside
the gates Of the lower city.
A Chinese report said a score
of Japanese were killed in the
hand-to-hand fighting along the
Changyimen (south gate) area.
The rumble of cannon could be
heard throughout the city, and
during the early morning hours
the sky over the Chinese quarter
was Redeemed with the glare OF
exploding shells and burning
shacks. ~.
The invasion Of the ancient Chi
nese city, II hours before an
ultimatum demanding withdrawal
of all Chinese troops from the
"war zone" had expired, appeared
to have wiped out the last vestige
of hope that war in North emma
can be averted. ",
A Central (Chinesel News
Agency report said Langfang was
demolished as the japanese planes
rained bombs on the military bar
racks. killing soldiers and civilians
alike. .,.: hoa
spread along the entire south
western wall of Peiping. where
5o0 .Japanese were hemmed IN py
Chinese soldiers of the 31th divi-
sion who were cutting them TO
nieces with machine-gun ana
hadn-gernade fire. ,.
Chinese sources said the Japa-
nese troops, who rammed through
of fire from their big trench
the chanyimen gate under cover over.
mortars, had surrendered alter
being trapped by Chinese between
the inner and outer wall OF tne
cry Shortly after the japanese
snna shed into the Chinese city, the
largest section of Peiping, con.
tineent of Chinese troops swept
ont of the darkness and struck
the japanese from the rear.
The Japanese answered WIN q
roar of trench mortars, and fight
inc south of the city became gen.
eral.