SHANGHAI RIOTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1925, Page 1

SHANGHAI RIOTS.

EXPERIENCES OF A DUNEDIN GIRL. DUNEDIN, July 27. Writing on June 12th. to a Indy triced in Aloriiingtoii. a Dunedin girl now in Shanghai stales:— “Lust time 1 wrote iL was war as usual. Then cairn- business as usual. Now iii> have a nice little riot and a miniature battle m the mam street, and a general strike ami boycott of English ami Japanese goods. Everything mis as usual on I lie Friday, not a sign or sound ol any trouble, yet on I lie Saturday, when we Were al the races. 11 few miles out. we heart! there bad been a riot and that students lout been slml by oiir police. That was oil May 3Utli. and ibis is June 12th. and the trouble is still going strong, and likely to go stronger. ••The Chinese used no discrimination whatever, and attacked the lureigners ami siom d ami smashed the Manual's. Any mreigner venturing down a side street was likely to get stoned. This state of affairs has calmed down, as the streets are well patrolled by marines and volunteers ol all nationalities. Lewis guns are perched on the roofs of the Nanking Road buildings ready for anything. "You will have read the account ui the fighting in Tibet and Nanking Roads. Bullets were Hying about. The Chinese had a machine-gun bidden in their new buildings on the corner ot Nanking Hoad, and without a word commenced tiling into the street. I a sers-hy tied for .shelter. Those playing tennis on the racecourse got a great flight, as bullets went whizzing over their heads. Soldiers arrived amt entered the building, but could find nothing, the Chinese having escaped bv various routes. One mounted American was bit, and his horse was shot, while others scampered madly

away. "All this in our shopping street—our Primes Street! Now ii has changed from riot to strike, which i-. rapidly spreading to all parts of China. All shops are shuttered and barred, and a foreigner cannot change a dollar at nnv exchange simp. 'Hie seamen have now struck, thus crippling business completely. If they commence a boycott of British and Japanese goods things will he serious. The students demands are preposterous, and now the Chamber of Commerce has also taken a hand. It is developing into a pohlical allair. delegations arriving from Pekin to go into the question. “The trouble started Indore the filing and shooting of the students ott May JOth. as the printed matter they were distributing must have been prepared davs before, and all arrangements for a procession planned lor the Saturday. House boys have not yet struck and are not anxious to. but. unless they do their families are threatened. and' it just amounts to how much intimidation they can .stand. .Many of the hotel bovs have left more from fear than desire. All the coolies from th big works have left. They are just like sheep, following the leader who has promised to pay them their wages if thev join the strike. On all nails are posters in Chinese, and any the council put up are torn down immediately. There are pictures and sketches of the tortoise everywhere. This is supposed to be a great- insult. Ihe newspapers are on strike and our papers are being run by the foreign stall

and typists. , “All the markets are shut and me council is controlling the food supply, so there have been no shortages, save in fresh meat. The Chinese will not allow cattle through, nor will they work in the slaughter house. One saw an interesting sight the other day, a herd of cattle guarded by volunteers be in" taken down the Nanking Road t 0 i*. slaughtered. -Just imagine that in Princes Street.