One of the battalions has been distributed among the posts and the 3/10th R.M.I.G., which is organically part of the Claire River group, is on maneuvers towards Loc Binh. Given the large numbers the Japanese have at Lang Son — 6,000 to 7,000 men, including nearly a thousand inside our force — the garrison is particularly vigilant.
A first alert was given on the night of March 7 to 8 - before the one triggered by General Sabattier.
A battalion which was to move from Lang Son to Cao Bang sees its departure cancelled. Nothing happens and the end of the alert is ordered, but the elements on maneuvers at Loc Binh (2 battalions) are recalled.
On the night of the 8th to the 9th, the alert was broadcast by the Tonkin division and the personnel again occupied the combat positions. Once again nothing happens and the end of the alert is broadcast in the morning.
No one any longer believes in the imminence of an attack - despite certain indigenous rumors -, especially since Colonel Robert, responsible for the defense of the place, the resident Auphelle and various other civil and military personalities are invited by the Japanese to dinner at 8 p.m. Before accepting, the colonel obtained the agreement of Hanoi (staff of the general commanding in chief).
The attack, brutal and unexpected, was triggered around 8:30 p.m. In a few minutes, the Maipha camp (10th R.M.I.C. and 4/3rd R.T.T.) was captured after a brutal artillery bombardment. Only a few elements will succeed in breaking through the Japanese device and joining the group of the Claire River. At Ky Lua (1 km north of Lang Son), the camp was also neutralized by surprise.
At around 10 p.m. the G.I. camp fell, into which the Japanese had trickled in, dressed as Indochinese guards. The forts hold victoriously, as well as the secondary works of Van Meo and Na Mou, and inflict severe losses on the attackers. The citadel will resist for a long time and will even launch a counter-attack during the night. All the defenders hoped to see the American planes arrive at daybreak.
But the 14th U.S.A.F. could not make any outings due to bad weather conditions. On the other hand, the Japanese planes attacked, around 2 p.m., the fort "Négrier", which fell at the end of the day, March 10.
The other points of resistance, submerged, succumbed during the daytime. Enraged by the losses, the Japanese executed after the fighting nearly 300 prisoners, including wounded.
General Lemonnier, captured during the night, will have his head cut off for having refused to give the troops the order to cease fire. Colonel Robert, resident Auphelle, arrested during the banquet to which they had been invited, will be shot after having also refused to give the order to stop the fight.
We must also mention among the victims Commissioner Paccard and this Eurasian soldier, whom his Asian facies had spared and who loudly claimed his status as French to die with his comrades at Fort "Brière-de -l'Isle”.
Dinh Lap, attacked on the 11th, succumbed during the day. Personnel from the Loc Binh, Nha Thuoc and Chi Ma posts joined China on March 13.