CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[I)Y TELEGRAPH —I’KR PRESS ASSOCIATION

CHINESE METIIOHS.

AN AWFUL MASSACRE

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.f PEKING, Eeh. 22

Tim awful massacre of Chinese curried out *in the native city of Shanghai hy the Chinese military, for the purpose of suppressing the Rod agitation and strikes, is shocking the community, due to the, ruthlessness employed hv the native soldiery and police, practically murdering scores of suspected agitators supporting the < tonesc movcinent. Not since the Spanish inquisition has a city the size of Shanghai witnessed the scenes being enacted daily. The heartless executioners have completely terrorised the natives, who fear to venture abroad lest they ho suspected, the executioners’ merciless walking, squad aricsling students, labour agitators, union delegates and strikers, and executing them immediately without trial, youths being dragged from the arms of mothers and thfcir heads lopped off, while their screaming mothers struggled and were hacked to pieces, and escapees were shot while escaping. The executions one being carried out with the intention of counteracting the Canton movement, and it is intended to emharass Sunchunnfang’s defence of Shanghai.

The general strike is waning and the workers are returning. Tlki international settlement authorities are not interfering, appreciating the display of force, though regretting the bloodshed. Under the circumstances there is hardly a whisper of protest from the Chinese. Widespread indignation is expressed at the decapitation of the Chinese editor, of an English printed newspaper, following the publication of Sunchuanfang’s reverses in' fighting the Cantonese. The editor was kidnapped a fortnight ago from the international settlement, in daylight, hy disguised Chinese soldiers, and carried to the native territory. Warrants have been issued for many prominent Cantonese. A reign of terror prevails, as the only preventative of mob riots similar to Hankow. Sunchuanfang has succeeded in checking the Cantonese advance at Ixashing, 70 miles south-west, and the Nationalist occupation of Shanghai is stayed. THE CHINESE WAY. SHANGHAI, Feh. 22. The number of strikers is decreasing somewhat and the situation in the foreign settlements remains quiet. A proclamation posted at the General Post Office that employees not returning to work would he executed, put an end to all picketing, and also brought many back to work, enabling a resumption on a small scale of the service. It is estimated there are still some hundred thousand striking, hut with a partial resumption of the postal service and all international settlement buses, and nearly all the trains running, the situation is a little brighter, despite the fact that local shipping is tied up.

While the executions, which are continuing, though on a much smallei scale, have been effective in bringing back the rank and file to work, they have greatly increased the activities of agitators, who are directing affairs from safety. While it is noteworthy there is still no sign that anti-foreign strike feeling has increased, an antiBritish agitation is reported at Ichang. Chinese pilots were intimidated and American ships threatened for carrying British, passengers, while at Ghiangs, Labour Unions threatened to condemn to death all Chinese remaining in British employ and supplying necessities to Britons. ' Five shells exploded in the French colncession and between sou'nds five others were heard. It is believed they exploded just outside in the native city. All French defence forces have been mobilised. It is believed one of Sunchnnnfang’s gunboats lying in tlie river turned over to southerners, and tried to shell Kiangnan arsenal. It is known four foreigners were hurt. CHINESE POSTAL STRIKE. PEKING, Feh. 22. Foreigners irritation at the non delivery and acceptance of mails for three days culminated in the settlement authorities informing the Chinese postal authorities that unless the postal strike ceased at ten o’clock this morning, it will take over the post office and run it as foreign, until tlie strikers return. Volunteers have been mobilised and ordered to stand by if necessary to assist tlie police to clear the post office of strikers. A humorous sidelight of Chinese indestructable faith in any foreign originated institution, was their continuance to post letters, until the pillar lxixes were rjjnmmed and letters began to fall from the slots. Thieves immediately commenced stealing until the police prevented them. An official estimates the strike has spread to a hundred thousand, but a majority are in the native city.