NORTH v. SOUTH.

Grey River Argus, 1 March 1927, Page 5

NORTH v. SOUTH.

THE CLASH COMES. A Fierce Battle. 30 MILES 1 ROM SHANGHAI. NORTHERN REIN Fold I \l KM ■' ENGAGE. , SHANGHAI. F.-l-r-iry 27. During the week-end rhe troops oi GenOrnl Chung Chung Chang iroiii the province of bhangtuhg, in ihe .\orih went to the from, south of Shanghai thvuwing themselves on the Cantonese Hvuth-wcst front at Sunkiang, thirl v miles from Shanghai, where Herce fight ing is progressing. (Aliens, a Busman military adviser, is reported to I e di reding the offensive again>t Shanghai. “THE TIMES” FEARS FOR CAPITALISM. L(>N DON, February 27. The Times say.-: The Chinese Civil War has never before reached such an acute stagt! as it has now reached, deep ly concerning the civilised World, noi has it ever before assumed a form when in all the long t staldished foreign in tvrests in (’himi Lave been so <iirectl\ involved as now. MORE BRITISH FORCES ARRIVE. WITH GENERAL DL’NCAT. SHANGHAI, February 27. The lin.r Alcgantic, with General Duncan and his headquarters staff foi the British Shanghai defence force, and sixteen hundred Home troops, crept to tiie British wharf in the darkness, following a record trip from Sing.”port', speeding up on account of the change for the worse in the local situation. Shanghai harbour is f:rt hemming con rested with transports and warships. All the British troops arriving parade the main streets of the International Settlement prior to bilb ting. The First Bedford and Hertford, and the Second Border Regimens have a! e an ived. SHANGHAI PORT. CLOSED AT NIGHT. SHANGHAI, February 27. A pipipunß situation has aiiscn by the action of General Lipaochang, the Shanghai Defence Commissioner, issuing a proclamation that tin 1 Woosuug rut rance to Whaigpoo, which is the only approach to Shanghai from the Yangtsze delta, will be closed from six in the evening to six in the morn ing, to all shipping, in order to prevent a possible atack on Shanghai by the Nationalist naval forces. Notice of the proc Tamation was serv v<l on the Consular Body, which protested, although no other action so far has been taken. It is generally rocognis <‘d that Lipaoshang has a goo prima facie case as he is in the position oi defender of Shanghai, and he nnist. have svme sort of examination of shipping entering, but it is equally well recognis el that Shanghai’s immense shipping, v hich enters and leaves the port as the tile dictates, cannot thus be interfered w th. It is generally » xpected that th;* matter will be settled by an amicable co npromise, but, at present, all >hips viilating the order are subject to a thorough search by the Chinese author! FOREIGN FORCES. DISPOSITION AT STTANGH \L SHANGHAI, February 27. Fritish soldiers suupported by detach meets of Italian, Japanese and French matines, continue to hdld the strategic points beyond the boundaries of the foreign settlements. This is vitally necessary, although a contravention of the treaties! because hordes of defeated soldiers and civilian mobs have been allowed to reach the boundaries al nadv. British troops at the railway con porting Shanghai with the Sungkianffront, disarmed many deserting troops, endeavouring to seek protection in th< foreign settlements. SHANGTUNG FORCES. TAKE UP POSITIONS. SHANGHAI. February 27. Shaigtung troops occupy most im portan‘ points in and around Shanghai except the foreign territory. A large force took over control of the forts al the mouth of the Shanghai River where the shangtung Fleet arrived ir anticipation of an attack by the (’an .topese from the son. NORTHERN DEFENCE. WILL IT STAND? SHANGHAI. February 27. Generals Chang Chung Chang am Sun Chiinn Fang, together, arrived a Shanghai from Nanking. It is believer that the presence of Shangtung troop: f n th,. Sueghiaag front w ill hold th. Cantonese advance a few days, but wil eventually crumble. In such an enter geney, the Shanghai defence force Wil be sent. The latter is continuously po lieing the Shanghai countryside, am ■watching the anticipated rr.sli of dofea ert troops to Shanghai, with the r'.i'lH' on their heels.

Canton Advance.

ALLEGED OUTRAGES. AFTER CAI'TI KE OF HANGCHOWSHANGHAI, February 27. I If us apprehended the Canton Arm} < rushes at the heels of the northerner.towards Shanghai, it is feared tnat| scenes similar to those described by the I Presbyterian missionary who escaped "I I Jlam’chow, following the arrival of tie , Cantonese, may be expected in Chine d territory. The missionary states that; wholesale murder of anti beds by cantoaese followed the capture ol Hang show. Civilians suspeted of Northern were executed instantly, sympathies wm . Shops and homes were looted, Hugo] sums, demanded from the authorities in lieu of a complete sacking of the city

I were paid. The missionary saw civilian.' ( with merely a Northern accent tramp I led and beaten to death. Two hundret captive anti-Reds were lined up ant 1 slaughtered by machine gun fire, the , I’cds laughing. The missionary state, j that several Cantonese wore frock coat; jl -itish rain capes and carried Mill.- ■ bombs. After the butchery they emburt i' d <Hi an orgy of looting and rape, few I '.'.omen escaping. Resisters were niur I'tcred. The recent warning of the Brit i ish Consul to foreigners to evacuate | Haug (’how appears to have been time THE SHANGTUNG REINFORCEMENTS. '[ A HORDE OF BARBARIAN-?. SHANGHAI., February 27. i The Shangtung Council openly declared that the Shtangtungites are here tc protect Shanghai, yet they are known as the worst rapists, looters, pillager;and murderers in China. Chang Chung (’hang, the Commander, is a. notorious ex-bandit, with a shameful record oi governorship of Shangtung Province, having executed editors, bankers ana merchants wholesale, without trial, for resisting ami denouncing his governmen tai tactics. The Council, therefore, is /taking no chances. Already Shangtung soldiers in the Chinese city have shot shopkeepers for refusing to accept worthless Shangtung paper money-

Chen’s Order.

TO PROTECT LIFE. PROTEST AGAINST FOREIGN FORCES. SHANGHAI, February 27. Air. Chen, Nationalist Foreign Minister, Inis issued an order tlpit only those '■ p. r.alli- authorised by the Nationalist Government ran make agreements with llm- Powers respecting Shanghai. He declares that the Nationalist Government will not use force to effect ehang ■.S ill the status of the concessions and I iiiternatii.r.al settlement, but says the presence of.the British army at Shanghai has roused national indignation, which found expression in anti-Britis'i 1 pr<.p:igand:i and the general strike, lie [stresses the importance of not endanjJ .ring the lives of the Japanese, as ,1a an has not landed; troops, and adds that the loss of foreign lives must I" Inverted. I'l.,lcd.ly the British force will Ibe ordered not to attack'the Nation:.l list forces unless themselves attacked life strictly warns the populace agiuu-l i possibilities of accidental t iring and the necessity of reporting any unforsei n I outbreak wire i, • M lead to an out break of hostilities. THE WAY TO PEACE. AMSTERDAM, February 2G. The International Federation of Trade Unions is endorsing the police rd' the British Trades Union CongresLed Labour Party, declaring that the Chinese settlement depends on the abo llifion of concessions, autonomy of Chin es< customs, and repeal of treaties m favour of others based on China's equal itv with other Powers.