TROUBLE IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1927, Page 2

TROUBLE IN CHINA

HANKOW CROWDS

ATTACK BRITISH CONCESSIONS

-Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

HANKOW, Jan. 5. At seven o’clock last evening a Chinese mob entered the British concession here. They occupied the Customs House and the Municipal Library and they expelled tho British from the Concession. Chinese police are patrolling the concession and are keeping order. DETAILS OF THE ATTACK. LONDON, Jan. 5. “The British sailors’ and marines’ behaviour during this afternoon’s ordeal. which has called for supreme patience under the severest provocation, is one of the finest exhibitions of self control that I have seen.” cables Mr Percival Phillips to tho Evening News from Hankow. He continued:—“Naval tones from ihe “Magnolia” the “AVolstan.” and the “Bee” reinforced Hankow volunteers who wore holding the western barracks on the British bund. The seamen faced ihe mob. who, acting undei the incitement of anti-foreign agitators wore repeatedly edging near the barricade, which resembled a miniature fort, until they wore only a yard from the sandbags, all the time showering abuse and stones on the defenders. A Chinese rush reached the sandbags and then a flank movement along the undefended foreshore nearly surrounded the post.

“The marines then drove the mob back by a frontal attack. The mob retired. pulling up the wire entanglements. Twenty members of tbe naval force, on retaking tbe foreshore, were attacked cvitli lioavy poles. Two of them lost their steel helmets, and were lenten on the head, and they had to be sent to tbe hospital. It is feared that they are fatally hurt.

Another marine fell, and the Chinese seized his rific and bayoneted him in the log. Lieut. Ellis, belonging to the “Bee” was struck in the face by stones and two volunteers wore injured.

The British authorities attempted to reach tho Cantonese Government, demanding the quelling of the rising, and they received a reply that nobody had any authority to act. Later, four Chinese police arrived, and they feebly harangued the. crowd, who continued surging around on three sides of the sandbags, still abusing the occupants. Yet not a shot was fired and not a single man lost his temper.

A CHINESE KILLED. LONDON, Jail. 5. It is officially reported from Hankow that, while the marines were advancing with fixed bayonets, one Chinese was killed. LONDON, Jan. 5. « The Cantonese authorities have taken action sending troops to suppress the Hankow disturbances. This is regarded as a hopeful feature. HANKOW POSITION GRAVE, LONDON, Jan. o. The Titnes’s Hankow correspondent in a later message, states that immediately following on an agreement between tbe British and Chinese authorities,’ under which tile marines were withdrawn from the British Concession and were replaced by Chinese police, swarms of rioters invaded the concession. The crowds dismantled ihe sandbag fortifications and defaced the war memorial cenotaph, also throwing stones against the foreigners and shouting “Kill the foreign do go.”

There was a naval detachment temporarily landed again, but they later re-embarked, owilig to the impossibility of them refraining from opening fire. The situation at present is most grave.

BUTCJIEBY A LLEG ED. LONDON, Jan. 5

The Chinese • officials have issued a proclamation at Hankow alleging the butchery of the blood brothers by the British marines.

BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE ATTITUDE. LONDON, Jan. 4. The Daily -News says:—“The British Foreign Office does not attach any seriousness to the Hankow incident, and it is not at present believed to ho necessary to evacuate the eight hundred British and two hundred other foreigners at Hankow. There would he no difficulty in doing this in the event of its becoming necessary, owing to the presence of the three gunboats, and of many river craft. LONDON. [Jnn. 5. The Times’ Hankow correspondent says:—“The incident emphasises the present absurdly-inadequate protection at Hankow, where rowdies have been ordered to attack the British concessions. believing that their masses are sufficient to intimidate the thin lino of naval men stationed in extended order across the Bund to the foreshore. LONDON, Jan. 5. A report that General Wu Pei Fu’s troops have been defeated at Luiloing, 140 miles north of Hankow, is partly confirmed. The Cantonese are hurriedly moving two of their armies northward to hold up an expected advance. WA RS H IPS LEA YING. {Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, January G. Latest reports from Hankow fail to confirm that the British were driven from the concession. Ilong Kong reports naval authorities there state marines were withdrawn to avoid troubles. The warships Wishart, Vindictive, and Carlisle left here this morning for Hhnkow. The Enterprise and the third destroyer flotilla are already there. There are about 3GO British residents in Hankow concession.

HANKOW SITUATION. SHANGHAI, January 5. Ihe latest from Hankow states a big mass meeting this morning was attended by representatives of Government Departments and all the unions. Government speakers and agitators reviewed the previous day’s incidents declaring several Chinese were killed by marines. The object of the meeting was to form a society with the object of disarming British forces and seizing British concessions. Resolutions were carried emphasising British cruelty after the previous clash, when crowds had been driven hack. Chinese authorities promised to send troops and an agreement was reached between Chinese and British that no more marines would he landed, leaving Chinese to

maintain order. Later, all the barricades defending the concession were re-

moved by sections of the crowd apparently work according to organised plan, gradually invading the concession. At the time the message was sent the Chinese defence forces appeared adequate to cope with the situation which at the moment was not dangerous.