CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

CHINESE BOYCOTT.

ATTACKS ON MISSIONS

(Received this day at 9..10 a.in.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 3. Messages from Kinkiang state the situation is pregnant with danger for foreigners. A general strike was declared in the British concessions to starve out the residents, necessitating food supplies relief being rushed from Hankow in an attempt to break the boycott. .Six naval vessels guarding lives, landed every available man for protection, and to demonstrate. The concession is picketed by strikers to prevent food entering. Chinese authorities declare their helplessness to restore order at present. Lighting is cut off. IT.M.S. AVyurn and other vessels are assisting with searchlights. Anti-Christian feeling and outrages in the outlying provinces have increased to such an extent that all missionaries arc advised to proceed to the safety ; zone. Hitherto peaceful countryfolk have been stirred lo high fanaticism by agitators perpetrating outrages and incendiarism. All Catholic Bishops and Nuns in district's surrounding Hankow were or-

dered to evacuate, after the mission al I Vangshinsan was attacked by a mol / of six hundred. I’riests were assaulted and driven out, the c-lmreli fired and destroyed. Priests and Nuns escaped over the walls of the town, pursued by a howling mob.

A seminary in the vicinity of Shasi was looted and destroyed.|Priests were stripped of their clothing. A church at Husseeh and mission homes were burned. A mission at Tungchansien, in the vicinity of Wuchang was destroyed. Nuns in a convent at Shinsliikni were compelled to flee owing to continued interference by soldiers.