Evening star., 1937-07-08
CHINESE BATTLE
DRIVE
IN PE|P|NC SUBURB
Defenders Man Old Walls
After Holding Bridge in
Fierce Attack.
T0KI0'S ARMY BATTERS
CITY WITH CANNON FIRE
Ancient Dragon Capital Under
Martial Law-Gates Closed
as Throngs Mill.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Japan maintains garrison of
some 1000 troops in Peipino area
under Borer protocol, by Which
Chinese empire, in 1901, oaue prin-
cipal foreign po,pers right to use
troops to keep route open between
Peiping and the sea. United States,
Britain, France and Italy all mdin-
tain garrisons in North China, but
tn smaller numbers than japanese.
japanese officers hdue said pri.
pately they may hare to dominate
district BY force to carry out apoued
purpose OF aiding Chinese economic
development. Peasants said Jap
dneSe troops haze been maneuper-
ing continuously in district more
than year.
BULLETIN.
TOXIC, July 9 tFriday) P,.-A
spokesman for the Japanese war
office said early today that if the
Chinese continue to aggravate"
the situation near Peiping the
japanese Army would be compelled
to take stringent action. Dis
patches reaching the war Office at
midnight indicated the situation
was still explosive.
By the Associated Press.
PEIPING, China. July s.-Chinese
troops, ignoring a Japanese demand
that they give up their arms and sur
render, bitterly fought a japanese
drive on the little walled city OF
Wanpinghsien tonight, manning its
old battlements with machine guns
and rifles.
Five hundred troops were rushed to
the walls While an additional $500
Chinese soldiers hastily erected de-
fenses across the Yingting River along
a southern line paralleling the Piep-
ing -HankoW Railway to Changhsien-
tien, four miles to the southwest.
The fighting broke out in the west
ern suburbs Of this ancient dragon
capital of China between Japanese
forces and Chinese Gen. Sung Cheh-
yuan's twenty-ninth army after q
skirmish last night between troops
conducting secret night maneuvers. 1t
continued tonight.
japanese kept up steady artillery
fire for more than an hour in the
vicinity of the marble bridge Of Marco
Polo, 10 miles west OF Peiping. and
then turned to rifle sniping at the
Chinese defenders.
The Chinese, nevertheless, held the
bridge at late hour. Protected by its
marble baiustrade, they fortified
themselves behind wall of sandbaes
and prepared to defend it. Reinforce
massed on it and war materials
were moved up.
The Japanese, however, were said
to have advanced tonight on the west
side of the Yingting River, above the
bridge.
There was no indication that either
side contemplated withdrawing. Both
armies speeded extensive troop move
ments and prepared for a new out
break If efforts to negotiate a peace
prove futile.
Peiping Under Martial Law.
Peiping was placed under martial
law at pm. tonight.
The city was quiet though tense
All the city gates were barred, shutting
off traffic from outside Doubled DO
lice guards, augmented by troops
patroled amid throngs of frightened
Food prices jumped 50
per cent.
Japanese soldiers seized a portion OF
the railroad from Peiping southwark to
Handow and repeatedly attacked the
city OF Wanpinghsien.
Soldiers of the Chinese Army said
the fighting broke out about midnight
when night-maneuvering japanese
tSee CHINA. Page A-10l