TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1926, Page 3

TROUBLE IN CHINA

MASSACRE. AT HONAN. HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.l (Received this day at 0.30 a.in.) PEKING, Sept. 26. Reports from Honan describe the most terrible massacre in the history of the province. Thousands of defenceless people in the city of Slicki then were slaughtered by bandits in cold blood. The city was burned and hundreds carried into captivity for rail- , som. Meagre details brought by Chinese Christian runners state the carnage is terrible. The bandits spared nobody, looted the city of portable valuables , and went on with the awful orgie of slaughter, killing right and left. It is not known whether other foreign missionaries in the city escaped death, but it is certain that the China inland mission was totally destroyed. ' At the conclusion of the hellish work of loot, rapine and murder, r tlie bandits set fire to. the city which was reduced to ashes, mercifully covering the corpses of thousands of victims of the Northerly wind.s moderate to strong Honan since the clays of the Tartar massacres. Missionaries stationed in the vicinity were Misses Brook, Poppins, McGuire and Revds. Conway and "Weller and their wives. CONDITIONS' NOT IMPROVING. PEKING, Sept. 26. Advices from Hankow state the most

important interior City appears to have become completely red, citizens reacting violently to the invaders’ propaganda frequently stoning British marines and officers without reprisals. They required to lie dispersed by the Red troops who appear to have lost control of the situation. Alass meetings are held daily. Following the Red incorporation with the notorious Red Spear bandits, who participated in the capture of \Vu Pei Fu,, but were forced to retreat northwards to Sanehuanfang, in order to attack the Reds in the rear, they ordered five steamers with ten thousand troops, to run the gauntlet up the river through the Red batteries. The manoeuvre is believed to be succeeding. Many spies are executed daily under tho auspices of the Labour organisation, and are attended by all grades of society. The streets are denuded even of rickshaws. Revolutionary leaflets are being distributed wholesale. The Reds are ill possession of the telegraph and are refusing code messages and censoring others. Reports from the frynt are in favour of the Reds. Wu Pei Fu’s headquarters at Sinvangchow were captured and their heads were displayed on lampposts.

At Kiiikiang foreigners ore stocking food-stuffs and erecting barricades in expectation of the arrival of the Reds. Firing on foreign ships continues sporadically. There are few native casualties.