Evening star., 1940-10-11

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BY the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Oct. II. Despite
japanese denials, usually well-in-
formed sources insisted tonight that
$4,000 Chinese soldiers of the
Japanese-dominated Marking gov
eminent were concentrated outside
Shanghai while rumor had it that
Japan plans to take over the Inter-
national Settlement or the French
Concession October 18.
The puppet regimes troops were
said to have been moved yesterday
to new positions between Shanghai
and the Woosung forts, at the
mouth of the Whangpoo River,
about IL miles below the city.
Rumors of impending forceful ac-
ton against the foreign areas in
this otherwise Japanese-controlled
city were linked with the impending
reopening October II by Britain OF
the Burma road to supplies for the
Central Chinese government.
Seek to Stem Rumors.
japanese authorities sought to
stem the excited rumors circulating
since the United States State De-
partment suggested Tuesday that
Americans leave the Orient.
The excitment was accentuated by
the assassination early today of the
Chinese puppet mayor of Japanese
occupied Shanghai, Flu Siao-en. and
energetic japanese attempts to find
the cleaver-wielding assassin.
Navy and army spokesmen off,
cially denied the rumor that Japa-
nese forces ''are planning to take
over the settlement of the French
concession by force October 18 after
the Burma road reopens."
The army spokesman admitted
there might have been some troop
movements, but declared no troops
were concentrated with the idea OF
moving against foreign areas"
Concentration Camps Denied.
Also denied we're rumors that ''the
japanese are building concentration
camps in which we intend to intern
foreigners"
The army spokesmen refused to
comment on Mayor Fu's death be-
yond saying that investigation thus
far had not determined whether the
motive was political or personal.
Other reliable Japanese sources,
however, said Flu. one of the most
closely guarded men in the Orient.
was hacked to death with a meat
knife by a servant who stole in and
out of the Mayors bedroom in
Hongkew without arousing Nine.
Flu or two japanese and two Rus
sian bodyguards in adjoining rooms.
He was said to have told guards
outside the house that the Mayor
was sleeping and then got on
bicycle and escaped before the alarm
was sounded Fu's family offered a
reward of $4,000 Chinese dollars
for arrest of the assassin and an
additional $4,000 for information
leading to the arrest-S2, 500 and
ST ,250.
Called Inside Job.
Baffied japanese military author
tiles turned the Hongkew section
upside down in their hunt.
The mysterious killing, character
ized by the japanese as an inside
job" climaxed a series of acts OF
violence which have taken the lives
of several prominent pro-Japanese
Chinese in recent months.
The 70-year-old mayors throat
was slashed while his wife slept in
an adjoining bed and 20 armed
guards patrolled the grounds of his
home Madame Flu awakened in
time to hear stealthy footsteps re-
treating from the room but could
give no clue to the killers identity.
Officer Is Slain.
A japanese officer was shot dead
by unknown persons just outside
Hongkew about the same time Flu
was killed, but there was no i'm