War Headed South. News of the deal brought quick Chinese action. Troops on the Yunnan frontier moved into IndoChina and were met in a sharp engagement by French colonial troops forced into the odd position of fighting for Japan.
A statement issued by the Japanese emperor on October 5 called the Lang Son attack unfortunate but not important. The French prisoners were released, but 200 German legionnaires who had been separated from the other French prisoners were not released until the 13th of October. The pursuing Chinese army made numerous forays across the frontier, and the French administration remained fearful of a full-scale Chinese invasion until the end of the war. The French had lost 800 men in two days of battle with the Japanese.
