Evening star., 1937-08-07
JAPAN'S OFFICIALS
ORDER CITIZENS
TO LEAVE HANK0W
Command, Held of Toxic
Origin, DEGREES Complete
Evacuation Today.
POSITION UNTENABLE,
SEEN REASON FOR MOVE
500 japanese Have Left Already.
Chinese to Rule Con-
cesslon.
By he Associated Press.

HANKOW, China. August Jap
enese naval and consular officials to-
day ordered complete evacuation of
all japanese in this important COM
mercial city and international treaty
port at the confluence of the Yangt2e
and Han rivers.
The japanese officials, repeatedly
acting on orders from Toxic. decreed
that all japanese nationals must quit
Hankow before noon Sunday ll pm.
f. S. T. Saturday leaving admins
tration of the japanese concession to
Chinese authorities.
Although HankoW is hundreds of
miles south OF the Northern Chinese
hostillteS japanese have expressed
apprehension for the safety of her
citizens in Central China. asserting
that large bodies of Chinese soldiery
We're concentrated in the region.
Other cities along the great Yangtze
waterway to the sea have been eVacu-
ated by the Japanese as a precaution-
srv measure.
The order meant the remaining
japanese community. numbering sew
eral hundred persons and an estl
mated 400 marines and soldiers, would
board ship for the coast in an un-
paralleled abandonment of a long
established colony here
Position Untenable.
The wholesale withdrawal was un-
derStood to reflect the japanese atti-
tude that their position was untena be
at HankoW in the face of mounting
uncertainties of the conflict between
the two great Oriental powers. ana
that the only step was to retire down
river toward Shanghai.
The move was believed also to in
clude japanese naval craft anchored
of Hankow, numbering five small
Warcraft.
When the evacuation is completed
the only japanese remaining would
he those who are expected to arrive
from interior cities, and it was be-
lieved they would depart quickly for
the coast.
Tension in HankOW mounted yester-
day after the landing of japanese ma
rines, and evacuation preparations
went forward feverishly. Five hun
dred japanese, including 400 women
and children. departed from the city
this morning and a ajority of the
remaining japanese were concentrated
on river barge waiting evacuation
down the river.
1t was reported the American con-
sui general had advised all Americans
IN the part of his consular district
above the Yellow River to withdraw
to places Of safety.
100 Americans in City.
The report came soon after official
1ntimations IN Tientsin that the jap
anese campaign might extend to all
Chinese territory north of the river
advised that foreigners in the vast
region should be warned.
If outbreaks occurred in HankoW
numerous Americans would be IN
Voved, for about 100 United States
citizens were reported in that city and
its sister cities Of Wuchang and Han
yang
The Japanese concession. sandbag-
eed and with its defense prepared
for possible attack, appeared virtually
deserted except for the small force of
marines and a few volunteer guards !
Almost 1000 japanese had been eyac-
uated before the official order was is
sued
Japanese asserted that Chinese
forces, taking up strong barricaded
positions around the concession, had
mounted machine guns on rooftops
that commanded an unhampered view
Of the japanese area
They said they feared Chinese
soldiers concentrated in the Hankow
region might attack the small con-
cession and wipe out its Inhabitants.
JAPANESE FORCES AT 4s 400