GRAVE OUTLOOK.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18893, 7 January 1927, Page 9

GRAVE OUTLOOK.

THE HANKOW RIOTS.

WARSHIPS MAY OPEN FIRE

SHANGHAI THREATENED

(FT rABLI—rsES* ASSOCIATION— COFTSIOKT.) (ArSTKALUM ASD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SHANGHAI, January ?. The disturbances n.t- Hankow wero due to the smallness of the British for cos available, the present naval strength ' - on-' sisting of only 250 men. Rear-Admiral John Cameron, who is in command of the forces at Hankow, reports that unless permission is granted to fire he is unable to cope with the situation. Rear-Admiral H. P. Sinclair, Com-mander-in-Chief at Hong-Kong, consequently wired instructions to fire if necessary, without regard for the consequences.

Low-water prevents larger warships proceeding to Hankow, which is completely in the hands of the Chinese, who occupy the principal administrative buildings. They have driven British residents from tho Concession and closed the foreign stores. Looting may be expected uuless the Chinese military intervenes.

Admiral Cameron states that the mob wa3 in the mood for the massacre of civilians. Had the marines opened fire they would have been able to handle the situation if allowed to use machineguns. The co-operation of the Chinese military is not expected. On the contrary, it is believed that they are fostering the agitation in order to secure control of the Concessions. The Hankow events are expected to have a repercussion in the whole Yangtsze Valley. The British in Hankow are at present taking refuge in other foreign Concessions, but evacuation of the town by foreign civilians is likely. Kiukiang is already being evacuated by women and children in expectation of similar incidents.

The situation is fraught with the gravest peril to foreigners residing at the river ports and in interior cities. The Hankow incident requires drastic foreign steps, otherwise Shanghai will fare likewise when the Cantonese arrive, which is inevitable. Owing to the seriousness of events in China, Mr John V. Mac Murray, United States Minister in China, has been recalled to Washington for conference. M. Karakhan, the Soviet Ambassador in Peking, is leaving the capital to establish his headquarters at Wuchang, the Nationalists' new administrative centre.

NOT SO SERIOUS. THE OFFICIAL VIEW. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.S. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received January 6th. 5.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 6. The Eighth Destroyer Flotilla is at present at Rosyth ready to depart at any moment. Its strength was reduced last year on the ground of economy. . The official view is that the Hankow outbreak is not as serious as was first reported. Nevertheless, every precaution is being taken.

IN EXTREME DANGER. PLIGHT OF BRITISH RESIDENTS. (Stdmkt "Sun" SwmcE.) LONDON, January 5. "The British community here is in extreme danger,," cables Sir Percival Phillips, from Hankow, to the "Daily Mail." "Safety depends solely on the Chinese military, which has taken, no measures to check fanaticism. A British naval force was ready to land, when the Cantonese Commissioner of Foreign Affairs sent a message declaring that if a single shot were fired Chinese troops, which were undependable, would attack the Concession. "Native police to-day refused duty. Labour pickets are now patrolling the streets. Chinese stoned marines who wore embarking. A Chinese guard escorted Mr Herbert Goffe, ConsulGeneral at Hankow, to the Consulate. "A mass meeting of workers demanded that the Cantonese Government give Goffe 72 hours to apologise and to disarm the volunteers and police guilty of wounding or killing Chinese. Otherwise a general strike would be proclaimed and the Concession would be blockaded."

WOMEN AND CHILDREN REMOVED. i THE FIGHT FOR SHANGHAI. (ATJSTEAIiIAN A*TD X.Z. CABL« ASSOCIATION.) (Eeceived January 7th, 10.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, January 6. As a precautionary measure all the women and children in Hankow, Ichang, and Kinkiang were removed last evening. Two steamers, with three hundred women and children, are now on the way «o Shanghai. At Hankow all the men are being concentrated on what are regarded as safe points on the waterfront. There have been no disturbances in the Japanese or French Concessions at Hankow, where foreign officials and foreign controlled police continue to function. Everything is peaceful in Shanghai, though Bed Nationalists are endeavouring to promote a general strike immediately after the Chinese New Year, about February 10th. A later message reports that processions of soldiers, picketß, and students, earning banners and yelling, passed through the British Concession at Hankow. The Hankow Cenotaph, which was plastered with Nationalist flags and propaganda, was used as a convenient stand from which orations were delivered To-night the Concession is superficially quiet. A British wireless message from Hankow says the British Concession is now controlled by the Chinese authorities. There has been a lull in the disorders, but the women and children and the naval hospital cases have been removed. The male population is concentrated on safety points along the river front to facilitate future operations. Although Chinese authorities guarantee the safety of foreigners, the message states that events do not inspire confidence, and precautions are fully maintained. H.M.S. Vindictive, with seaplanes, and the cruiser Carlisle and the destroyer Wishart, are being rushed from Hong-Eong

to the relief of Hanltow. The principal Yangtse ports, Kiukiang and Ichang, are suffering in a manner similar to Hankow, and the removal of women and children is occurring, many proceeding to Shanghai and others remaining on steamers in midstream hoping for the trouble to blow over. Meanwhile, nearer Shanghai fighting is in progress for the possession of Shanghai, but the results are so far indefinite.

RENOWN READY. MAY PROCEED TO CHINA. (Stdwt "So*" Ssavrcs.) LONDON, January 5. H.M.S. Renown is bo equipped that sho, could drop tho special furnishings for the Duke of York's suite overboard at any moment, close her hatches, and start fighting.

It is pointed out that if tho China situation is sufficiently serious when the Renown is in the Pacific, the Duke and Duchess of York could he transferred, and the Renown could haston to Chinese waters.

The machinery has been well tested since the ship's reconditioning by service manoeuvres with the Atlantic Fleet.

DESTROYER FLOTILLA READY.

LONDON, January 6. The Admiralty has announced that the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla has been brought to its full strength for possible service in tho Far East. It consists of eight destroyers under Flotilla Leader Bruce, normally manned by two-fifths of thoir complement.

THE MIXED COURT. (ArsTBAI.HK ASD X.". 'tttl 4SB<KfAT«X.) (Received January 7th, J2.5 a.m.) SHANGHAI, January fi. Extraordinary judgment* marked the opening session* of the Shanghai Mixed Court, which has under Chinese control since January Ist. The new Court procedure restricts .foroigu Judges from influencing its decisions, and they are lodging protests against the decisions. The wholesale discharges granted by the Chinese Judges attho first sitting are causing tremendous dissatisfaction in the ranks of foreign police, who are responsible for the a/rest of highway robbers and others charged with major offences. The accused were liberated on small bail instead of being, as hitherto, detained in custody. Smugglers of opium havo been discharged with a caution, though such offences are in direct con-tra%-ention of the Chinese criminal code.