The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-28

General Sung Cheh-Yuan, Chi mese commander and the Chinese troops who did the shooting apolo- gized and explained that they thought the party was Japanese
 Indicative of the fierce struggle outside the city, the Japanese an nounced they occupied Manyuan, eite of the Chinese barracks ano wireless station five miles south oI Peiping, and Chinghochen.
 Both Claim Victories
 Japanese asserted that they were evinning. and that their units were Joining as fighting went on so tlla' they could pursue retreating Olili- But Chinese reports differed radi- callv. and the continued tlghtlng gave evidence that any vlctorles were won dearly. It was reported that Chinese war ulanes arrived at the battle lrollL' fhat one Japanese bomber was ShoI down and that the Chinese destroy ed an important bridge on tne Peiping- -Tientsin railroad soutn l ol Peiping, thus delaying Japanese endorsements and cutting OH u nossible Japanese retreat.
 The Tientsin bureau of the Unlt- nd Dress noted that most Japanese rlanes remained grounded there thls afternoon, after bombing the Pelp- ing area in the morning.
 Planes Forced Down :Jananese sources at Tientsln salo that three Japanese bombing planes S,ere forced down outside Tientsin by a storm. Another was destropea when a bomb exploded III forced landing here, and two men were killed. ,. ,.o Chinese sources said that nine Chinese war planes, arrived rom fine south. were sighted south Of the city and landed at a nearby ar Held. . o. In Peiping, where thousands ot Roreigners and 1,500000 Chinese were crowded, the strictest sort oi martial law was clampeo ooWn'
 Foreigners Seek Refuge
 Foreigners took refuge in the em- bassy quarter. There, behind sand bags in full war equipment were the United States marines and tighung men of other foreign nations, ready to repel any attack. .-.., As the battle proceeded all round the city, the crackle of rifle ire was heard near the Grand Hotel De- Pekin. opposite the north side ot the Embassy quarter ana across street from the Italian compound.
 This firing soon ceased. But an- other outbreak was feared at any moment, with armed Japanese Ill the quarter and thousands of Chin ese troops, steeled to die rather than bow further to the Japanese war Gods, in the city at large.
 There were persistent reports that despite frightful casualties from air plane bombing the Chinese hurled back their attackers at several places in fight that began at o:3o n. m. and continued unabated as the sun sank low.
 Chinese Communique
 A Chinese government Commum- oue issued at Ranking, the national capital, asserted that the Chinese stormed and took Chungtow, It miles east of the city, and unoff1- cial sources asserted that the Chin- csc captured seven Japanese wal planes south of Peiping and shot down one bomber.
 The American marines, eager TOT a fight, stood their guard at the west gate of the embassy quarter in the American embassy side
 This position was a dangerous one. The gate is just north Of the Chunghwa gate which leads from the Tartor or northern part Of the city to the southern part or Chin- ese city. The embassy quarter lies on the Tartar side of the boundary wall.
 Almost all of the 600 Americans took refuge in the embassy quarter behind the sandbag Notifications thrown up at all entrances.
 500 Marines There
 America's contribution to the de- fense force was 500-odd marines under Col. John Marston, compact hard boiled and ready for any em- ergency.
 The position was made more dan verous because more and more chinese troops filtered into the city It was said in usually reliable quar- ters that Gen. Sung Cheh-Yuan chief of the North China govern ment, had decided to bring troops from the Nanyuan area. south ol Peiping, into the city to strengthen the defenses along the 28-mile sur rounding wall and the Is outel gates.
 It was reported at Teintsin 60 mile! southeast of here toward the coast that Gen. Sung had ordered genera mobilization of all troops in north ern China against the Japanese.
 All around Peiping, 1t was war IT all but formal name.
 That Chinese casualties in tht fighting were terrible was certain and wild reports circulated 1T Chinese quarters Of victories bS Chinese troops, to spur the i'll armed disorganized defenders, some armed oniy with big swords against tht Japanese machine guns, tanks ane airplanes. to their hopeless fight against Nipponese war machine.
 Japanese Confident
 The Japanese were contemptous we will easily wipe them out, A Japanese spokesman at Tientsir said, "They are very stupid people. .Japanese airplanes flew over Tient' aif1. the United Press bureau re. rorted. scattering handbills whict said that the Japanese army was in- yincible and would annihilate tht chinese troops unless they submit ted to Japan's demands.
 "Japan's demands are not az gressive and are chiefly concerned with the welfare of the Chinese peo- pie. who are our most beloved frieads." ended the message
 Japan suffered its first airplan' raaiialty when a bomber was deS.