NORTH v. SOUTH.

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1927, Page 5

NORTH v. SOUTH.

SHANGHAI’S FATE. Soon to be Decided. FANG’S RABBLE. CANTONESE RACING THEM. SHANGHAI. Feb. 24. A few retreatfiig Sun Chuan Fang troops have -arrived by train from the front. Disquieting reports reached the officials to the effect that Sun Chuan Fang s men were looting the rice and silk shops twenty miles south-westward, and many soldiers were executed by order 01 lucir own leaders in the effort to maintain discipline in face of the southern advance, which effort, if it- con iinues, may become" a race between Chang Tsung Chang an dthe Nationalists for Shanghai.

Northern Forces Arriving.

5000 A DAY. SHANGHAI, Feb. 24. Shantung troops are arriving by train fron Nanking. Their destination is believed to be the Sungtsiang front. Three thousand Shantung troops are now here from Nanking. It is understood that five thousand will be coming daily in the next few days for the defence of Shanghai. nang Tsung Chang has now taken over the complete military control of Kiangsu.

A Deciding Battle.

EXPECTED SOON. SHANGHAI, February 24. There is considerable Chinese military activity at the front, but there is little fighting. The opposing forces are now jockeying for position in what is expected to be the deciding fight for the possession of Shanghai. A WARNING. WHAT IS BEHIND IT? (Received February 25 at 7 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 24'. The authorities in the Foreign Settlements are now circulating confidential notices to the foreigners residing in Chinese territory in outlying districts ami settlements, warning them to be prepared to centralise on short notice in the event of the present situation developing seriously. U.S.A. SOLDIERS REACH SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI, February 24. Thirteen hundred United States ma fines have arrived here from San Diego. THE EXECUTIONS. SHANGHAI, February 24. The situation at Shanghai at present is quiet. The executions of agitators are decreasing. REFUGEES BARRED. FROM FOREIGN QUARTERS. PEKIN Feb. 24, The roads separating the settlenv n< and the native city were black this afternoon with a mass of Chinese attempting to take refuge in the settlement at Shanghai, but barricades prevented them. The Punjabis took up stations on the settlement border last night and prevented the mob, a hundred strong, armed with pistols and iron bars, getting further than fiercely attacking thnative police station, capturing one policeman and injuring another so severely that ho is not expected to live. Chin cse police reinforcements captured twe ringleaders and beheaded them to-day.

FRENCH BECOME “WINDY.” LONDON. Feb. 24. It is understood that the Government reciprocally consented to an urgejnt Paris request to allow British troops to be used in the defence of the French concession at Shanghai. PARIS, Feb. 24. At. Briand specially addressed the Senate on foreign affairs. Regarding China, he reiterated France’s intention of maintaining the strictest neutrality unless French Nationals or propertv were thr?atneed. The newspapers which hitherto have entirely ignored Chinese developments, reflect the present anxiety. “La Gaulois’’ points out that th solidarity of the Great Powers in China is a. vital necessity. It would be better to defend Europe than to have to fight a big Russo-Asiatic invasion later. “Le Figaro” says: — The moment is not distant when France will have to consider measures against those foment ing war in Asia against Europe. “Le Matin” advocates Franco-Brit-ish co-operation in Shanghai. THE BOMBARDMENT. LONDON, Feb. 24. ; The “Times’s” Shanghai correspond ent states: Evidence has been unearthed that the gunboats’ bombardment of the French concession was carried out delib • lately for the provocative purpose of inducing the foreigners to reply. When the shelling did not provoke a foreign reply, the captains of the gunboats disappeared. Chinese naval circles claim that they have conclusive evidence that the cap tains were in the pay of the Cantonese, who were eager to force the foreigners to drastic action, which might be represented as imperialistic aggression. SHANGHAI STRIKE CALLED OFF. SHANGHAI, Feb. 24. The strike has been called off. A Labour Union communique state 1 -: “The general strike lasted five days and as the result, of self-sacrificing efforts of fellow workers it met with considerable success. In view of the continued appeals of the merchant body, the General Labour Union has undertaken to take steps with a view to ending the strike for the time being. This, however, does not necessarily mean that the movement is aver, because we wifi

continue our efforts to attain our ideals. ’ ’ Ten thousand strikers, mostly Canto~ miU hands, have returned and now only fifty thousand of the original 120,000 are still out. The Post Office position is unchanged. It is generally believed that the strike will finish in a couple of days. The collapse is due firstly to lack of funds; secondly, to the refusal of the Chinese merchants to close the shops; thirdly (this applies only to the native citv) to the terrorism.

Stil! no Chinese papers are publishing, although they are Hot prohibited from doing so. The conductors fee] that under the present circumstances it is impossible to publish news of the situation which will not offend the authorities, or the The Chinese military authorities recently warned editors and proprietors of Chinese newspapers that they would be shot <f they published the Labour manifestoes.

Both the foreign settlements have been tranquil. Every precaution is being taken to keep the troops outside the settlement boundaries. All foreigners, living more or less isolated outside the extended settlement limits are being brought ia, in case of eventualitise in view of the arrival of Sun’s retreating treops.

STRIKERS RESUMING. SHANGHAI, February 24. The general strike has been officially called off by the General Labour Union Fifty thousand workers have returned to work. The balance are expected to return to-morrow. The Post Office amt the trams have resumed. A DIVERSION ALLEGED. RUSSIANS IN AIANCHURIA. TOKIO, Feb. 24. Harbin reports authentic information that Siberian troops are massing on the Manchurian border, augmented by troops from European Russia. Russian officers were recently reported to be on the Afanehurian edge of Mongolia, securing accommodation as quarters for troops. There is other evidence that the Russians arc instigating or assisting Afanehurian bandits to attack the Chinuse garrisons in North Manchuri;. White Russians in Harbin believe that a Red invasion of Manchuria is coming, with a revolution against Chang Tso Lin. Other foreigners believe that the designs are merely to worry Chang Tso Lin, and prevent him weakening the Afanehurian garrisons, in order to' send his full strength against the Can tonese. Harbin police are busy housesearching, arresting Communists and suspects, and seizing r. volutionary lit mature.