There was no hesitation in putting into force a plan
of action. Naval guns quickly silenced the Chinese forts at Woosung on the other side of the harbour, and landing parties dismantled them. Troops marched into Chapel to seize, among other things, the railway station where trains arrive from Nanking. In the huddled and tortuous streets there could be nothing in the nature of a battle, nor was there, we gather, any formation of Chinese troops ; but the Japanese were fired upon from many quarters ; eight men were killed and many more wounded. That is a severe test for any body of men, and they seem to have asked for help. Aero- planes were sent which dropped many bombs on the crowded town and railway station, and must have killed and wounded very large numbers of non-combatants, besides starting fires. While shooting continued on Friday, the 20th, the Mayor begged the Foreign repre- sentatives to mediate. The British, and United States Consuls-General went to work energetically and an armistice was begun in the evening. This was better observed through Saturday and Sunday than most people expected.
