CHINESE TURMOIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 June 1925, Page 2

CHINESE TURMOIL.

THE STRIKE SPREADS

JAPAN DESPATCHES CRUISERS

lAustralia A N.Z. Cable Association.]

PEKIN, June 5. The Shanghai Chamber of Commerce decided against a general strike, but has agreed to a lniyeott of the goods and the hank notes of the <mtntries concerned in the withdrawal of deposits from their hanks. Strike circulars to-day call on all tho domestic workers to walk out. L nentplovod Russians. Boy Scouts and foreign volunteers me minimising the elicits of the strike as regards foreigners. The food situation is merely inconvenient. whereas poorer Chinese are beginning to feel the pinch ol hunger and danger looming up front their looting of provision shops. PEKIN. June 5. About four hundred ( hiueso of tho European Settlement at Shanghai, belonging to the ranks, are now absent without leave. The absentees form less than 20 per cent of the Chinese in tho police force. .PEKIN. Juno 7. Advices I'rtun Shanghai state the strike i' -till spreading in the French concession. It \v;*s estimate:! Unit yesterday strikers numbered a quarter of a million. A number of stall's resumed, including those of the foreign cable companies and the commercial press, also six hundred workers in the Japanese Rahkeoug mills, and live hundred in Riverside power station. The defence situation is contirttally being strengthened. ' Approximately fifteen hundred m" vines and bluejackets bare been landed from three British, one French and one- — Italian cruisers and from seven American destroyers, and ten English, French and Japanese gunboats. Four hundred mere Arnold nil marine; are due to-morrow, The ahsenee of riots and a resumption of duties by workers indicate tho students are losing their grip of the situation, while the arrival of l’ekin Cnmiiii.-xiniiors. whose mission is only an investigatory one. should help clear the iilmu-o'.heiv. PEKIN. June 6.) The wide nature of the student dis tin hanees is further shown by messages from Hankow on Friday and Saturday. saving that twenty thousand are agitators and are distributing antiforeign leaflets. The Chinese authorities so far have prevented any big demonstrations. The mot cmenl began at Hankow on May 25th.. when a thousand students' demonstrated in the native city of Tientsin, hub there were no incidents. The streets are heavily guarded bv polive, reinforced by Manchurian i;oldiel'rt.

The i rolessors have joined the students. who have made speeches demanding tlie restoration of the Dairen, boycott, of the British, and the abolition of the foreign concessions.

FOREIGNERS,’ SERIOUS PLIGHT. SHANGHAI, June 7. The British Consul-General at Chinkiang. near Nanking, has telegraphed: “Riots in the eomession here. Can Navy send assistance?’’ To this a reply was sent by th lfc> Ameriean Admiral, who wirelessed instructing an American warship that win proceeding up the. Ymktse-Kiang River to put in at Chinkiang. Fat,:* messages stated that the situation there was serious. Rioting students had w recked three houses in the concession. Tin. ( iiinese puli e who were told off to protect the foreigners were absolutely useless, and the rioters carried on until the cumimmdiiig Chinese Gen- f ,i;d there brought bis own troops on ib,. v. ..ue f.>ni- booi's alter the C eu-sid-Gciieral had asked for ax4stan.e.

The Chinese Genera! restored order, and the foreign women and children returned to the shore from boats in which tliev had taken refuge.

A message to-night, however, states

that the situation is again serious. The American gunboat Paul Jones is now due at Chiiikir-ii.tr, and “HALS. Woodlark” should reach there <>n Monday.

CANTON FIGHTING. RF.KIN, June G. Fighting occurred at Canton, the Cantonese driving out Yiinnane.se mercenaries. RF.KIN, June G. Changtsolin. the Manchurian C hit-f, wlio is in Tsienlsin, assured the Chief of Police that he will back every effort to maintain order, ami will assume full responsibility in the event of the Pekin Government countermanding the polite measures. TOKYO, June G The Japanese Navy Office states the cruiser Tatsutn has sailed for Shanghai. with two hundred marines. PEKIN', June fiT'elegl'tiplii • communication with Hongkong is suspended.