CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by telegraph—per. tbess association

CHINESE NEWS.

{Received this day at 3 a.m.) PEKING, Feb. 23. Sunehnnnfung lias abdicated as the Kiangsi Army commarnlcr. Liiihsiang Tins is reorganising the remnant of the forces. 'With the arrival of Litt.shiang Ting from fjhnngtnng, accompanied hy a fresh Brigade, Shuatung’s long expected entry by the northern forces into Southern Kiangsn, commences, hut whether to oppose or join tlie Cantonese is problematical. Masses of Shantunge.se crossed the Vangtse. and entrained for Shanghai, preparing also to ship an armoured train. Tt is stated that Cantonese commanders have arranged that Shanghai will he a neutral area. Furthermore. C'hangtsoliii's

1 son, Ohangtsungsliang, has agreed to divide Shanghai surtaxes with the Cantonese in exchange for the Governorship of Kiangsun.

SHELL AT FIELD HOSPITAL. SHANGHAI, Feh. 23. A shell, fortunately a dud, was discovered in the British field hospital in the heart of the settlement. It feli during the bombardment. French authorities have requested another 500 troops from Saigon Settlement. Volunteers have lieen issued steel helmets. SHANGHAI NEWS. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.f SHANGHAI, Feh. 23. It is reliably reported that Sunchuangfang, Shanghai’s military governor, has agreed to hand over Ihe defence of Shanghai to Changtsingchang, governor of Shantung. Several thousand white Russians in armoured trains similar to those employed in a dramatic coup for the capture of Shanghai earlier in the war are reported to be stationed within twenty miles rearly to enter and. protect Shanghai. Sun admits his inability further to hold Shanghai against the Cantonese and is rapidly evacuating Chekiang province. The troops are looting as they retreat. It is stated twenty thousand Shantungese have crossed the Vangtse on the way to Shanghai. Sunehuangfang’s local authorities recaptured the gunboats responsible for yesterday’s firing, after the escape of tlie crews from both vessels.

Addressing a meeting of Chinese notables at Nanking, prior to the entry of •Fengtieners Sun wept as he declared the disloyalty of his officers alone accounted for his defeat. Chatigsungchang’s move tends to confirm Yangyuting’s declaration that the Northerners nro at hist action in earnest against the Southerners and it remains to he seen whether thev are proof against the dissensions and disentegrating forces which hitherto have operated in all the armies opposing tlie Nationalists. Changsungeliang’s army includes a, Russian brigade, so called because it includes fifteen hundred white Russians.

EXECUTIONS RED IJCED SHANGHAI, Feb.

Possibly as a result of protests from prominent Chinese public bodies, the executions in the Chinese City have not 'been on such a large scale publicly, but it is reported that many are taking place privately at tlie military headquarters. Tlie number of strikers is diminishing appreciably. Thirty thousand mill workers havo returned, while the trams in the French Concession have partially resumed.

There was a slight clash between a mob and Chinese police, otherwise everything is fairly peaceful. Despite the Hankow agreement, and the Nationalists’ promise not to discriminate against British interests, reports from Hankow state the boycott heretofore indiscriminate, is definitely turning against tlio British, Labour Unions promising death to anybody supplying food and necessities to British people. The American Steam Comapny lias been warned that it will receive similar treatment if it continues .to] evacuate Britons.

NANKING ENTERED

PEKING, Feb. 23

Chrtfigtsungchniig entered Nanking to-day and assumed control of the city, by arrangement with Sunchuanfang. Arrangements are being made for Fengtien troops taking over and garrisoning the railway southward of Nanking, thus enabling the Northern Army approximately thirty thousand men which at present are entering Nanking, to be rapidly thrown into the defence of Shanghai. There are indications that Sunehuanfang is now practically eliminated ns a factor in the military situation. The strike situation is unchanged.