TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1926, Page 3

TROUBLE IN CHINA

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.! STATEMENT IN COMMONS. LONDON, September 28. In the Commons Mr Baldwin informed Air MacDonald that Doth the ISritcaptured during the l.mg rzo disturbances were being returned to the owners, and furthermore, (the British Consul had been instructed to expedite a settlement of all outstanding points covering the incident. ■Mr Baldwin explained that it was not till General Yangsen had refused a conciliatory attempt to obtain the release of the British merchant officers, that force was used. Heavy fire greeted the cruiser Cockchafer which returned the Are. Thereafter Yangsen agreed to discuss the return of the ships, after which Britain would undertake to inquire- into Yangson’s idlegation that a British steamer firstly sank a Chinese steamer conveying troops. The present situation did not warrant military intervention or reinforcements. The position is greatly improved. CHINA’S THREAT. GENEVA, Sept. 2S. Chinese nowadays are not afraid of hig guns, says Clin. Ho declares the Government ordered him to attack Britain (cabled on • September 2-1 lb) to prevent a repetition of the bombardment. Unless the unjust treaties were revised the anti-British sentiment and boycott of British trade would continue. CHINESE HAPPENINGS. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) - PEKING, Sept. 28. Scattered reports arc issuing from Wuchang which is still besieged, reports horrors within the city walls. The/ miltiary commandeered all food and a number of civilians turned cannibals, and are reported to be eating female bullies and animals. All foreigners previously unable to leave are reported safe. Negotiations for evacuation of native women and children failed, owing to further disagreement of the rival parties. It is believed Hie defending General is merely playing for time, hoping for assistance. Latest reports state fifteen hundred notorious Red Spear bandits offered their services to the Reds to capture Wuchang, which was accepted willingly. The Red Spears are members of a socict\| similar to the Boxers, who caused the famous rebellion. They believed themselves unvulnerab'e to bullets and carry only swords. They are terrible fighters. It is also reported that four hull'd red of the original Boxers arrived at Hankow for the same purpose. The Boxers are now believed to be affiliated with the Red Lamp Society, which is responsible for the offer of a hundred dollars for every foreign head brought to headquarters. They are fanatics similar to the Thug societies in India and instigators of antiforeignism at Chiming, cruising the evacuation in July. The murder of a foreign woman, Sibolev, who was decapitated and her bead hacked, whs perpetrated by Red (Lamps. The evacuation of Chunking is not premature, as a repetition of Boxer atrocities is probable and a terrib’e slaughter is feared in the event of the Bed Spelrs being successful in the -SJmdhang storming. The populace is panic stricken. The gravest anxiety is felt for five hundred foreign residents in Changtu, the capital of SmTiuen province. It is in. the remotest interior, twentv-livc days journey from Shanghai and ten days chair journey from Chunking. The mountain passes are infected with bandits of the worst, type. A message received at Shanghai says the situation is dailv becoming more serious. The British Consul add others are in a predicament as to lmw to safeguard the pomilatinn, owing to the remoteness of Changtu. Reports received at Shanghai from Kaifeng state another town, Changtsei in the vicinity of the recent massacre was looted and burned. . The fate- is unknown of 'three British niissionkries. a. man and two ladies. Further outrages were committed in Yuman province, and the towns of Yungcliang and Talifu were captured by bandits. Two lady missionaries are ill tbe former. No news has been received of these sine" August ’-Otli. The Bandits demanded a huge random from the population of -which part was paid. The bandits threaten to burn and massacre, unless the balance ia forthcoming.