STAMPEDE TO CANTON.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 9

STAMPEDE TO CANTON.

<s> ! HONG KONG POPULACE i TERRORISED. i | UNWILLING STRIKERS. •BT CA£^r—rr, ess a^ltiatign—copyright.' i: vr E?." S TELEGA Ait S J j .Tu:io i*:?. -'ho lourth day of the general strike in. Hour; Kfinsx i- witno'-ing a condition unparalleled in, th v history of'tlie 1 hrough secret: <-.rgani«ations iinaiv'cd irom Cauun. C'hine.-e in liritish and loreign employment. have been intunidatcd in a. manner dislocating all shipping. commercial. and domestic life. Emphasising Canton's connivance atthe aiiti-.Hritish movement, the secretary of the Chinese Seamen's Union declared in an English newspaper: — ''The union lias 110 sympathy with the | movement. hut is acting on orders ironi Canton.'''

The strikers generally admit that they havo no grievance against their employers, and wero unwilling to give up service. Nevertheless, agitators, styled the "Darc-to-Die Corps," have terrorised the Chinese populace, resulting in a. .senseless, frantic stampede to Canton. All available trains and Chine?e steamers aro crow (fed. The Hong Kong authorities state that they are fully prepared to meet any emergency and arc ass,uring essential .sendees.

On tho recommendation of a leading British banker, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange settlement lias been yjostponcd till further nolico. because of tho j.envy withdrawal of funds from native banks by Chinese going to Canton, resulting in the wholesale withdrawal of the credits necessary for tho lion of a settlement. BANKS CLOSED. (REUTEII'S TEI.F-Gr.AMS.) (Received Juno 23rd, T.'J.j p.m.) PEKING, Juno 22. ' All the Chinese baidts at Hong Kong havo been closed, the-object being to prevent a run. Strong armed guards are posted at the bank entrance?. STREETS PATROLLED. (AUSTRALIA;,' AKI> X.Z: CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received Juno 23rd. 11.3 p.m.) HONG KONG, Juno 23. Volunteers are patrolling; the streets. Nearly all tho Chineso in tho English newspaper offices struck, and the dailies arc issuing reduced editions. AT SHANGHAI. MARTIAL LAW EXPECTED.

(AUSTRALIAN A.N-D X.7.. CABLE ASHOCIATIOH.) PEKING, Juno 22. The anii-foreign agitation and tho strained relations between students and tho Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai are revealed in tho extremist propaganda partly directed against tho chamber, while moderate strikers suggest the reopening of shops and banks in order to contribute adequately to thej cost of the strike. A report states that General Chang-sueh-liang, commander of the Chineso troops at Shanghai, will shortly declare martial law in tho districts adjoining the Settlement. At. Swatow, Amoy. and Fooehow, the situation is fair. Demonstrations aro continuing, but the strikes aro not spreading. At the Yangtze ports tho position is unchanged.

Coolies at Wuhu assaulted a Japanese salt-commissioner, wliom the- 't.hln,ese police thereupon arrested on a charge of being in possession of aims. At Hoihow and throughout Hainan Island there is great unrest.

EMBASSY RAID. t POLICE MAKING ENQUIRIES. (AL'STK.U.IAS' and z. cadlk association.) PARIS, Jmic 22. The raiders of tlio Chinese Legation yesterday wero apparently nearly all workmen. seemingly hailing from all provinces of China-. The Legation believes that the motive of the raiders was the patriotic ground that the Chinese diplomats were not taking active enough steps to submit- tho Chinese demands for emancipation from foreign control to tho Governments to which they ore accredited. Members of the Legation deprecato tho methods adopted as harmful to til" Chinese cause and emphasise tho point that the rtr.ders in no way represent, tho whole Chinese colony in Paris, but roth-cr an extremist group affiliated to tho extremists in China.,

Tho Legation suspects that nonChinese elements were behind the coup, which had evidently been most carefully planned. They hint that the band of Moscow is possibly working against France,

Tho police are enquiring into tho matter iu;d interesting revelations nro possible.