CHINESE GRIDDERS BEATEN

But They Won't Admit Japanese Eleven Did It

By Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO Monday, Dec. 25. -- It was a merry Christmas today for almost anyone you can think of except the members of the Chinese football team who lost a 13-12 decision to the Japanese team at Kezar Stadium here yesterday.

It was a drab day especially for James Lum, manager of the Chinese team, who said the decision brought "great trouble" upon him. Lum said he planned to leave the city immediately.

The Sino-Japanese game used to be an annual conflict. Then the political situation grew strained along the Sungari River and the Japanese and Chinese here stopped speaking to each other. The East-East classic therefore was abandoned.

It was revived this year with much opposition from the merchants of Chinatown. The merchants, who have contributed generously in the past to funds for the war materials to be used by Chinese forces against Japan, declined to support a mere football game. There were few Chinese rooters in the stands and only eighteen of the squad of thirty-three Chinese appeared for the game.

While the official score was 13-12, the Chinese claimed at 13-13 tie.

Bennie Lom, former University of California football star and coach of the Chinese, asserted the Chinese tied the score by virtue of a forward pass conversion completed on the goal line.

The Japanese said no. The officials agreed with them. Many of the spectators are still wondering.