CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] INDIGNITIES OFFERED. SHANGHAI, March 22. The Southern army has occupied Soochow. Foreigners in the streets of Shanghai are being subjected to indignities, including spitting in their faces, stoning and pelting lroin windows. An Englishman walking in a street with his wife, was twice shot at with a revolver, but was missed. Hie latest development is a strike of employees of the foreign press offices in the international settlement. NORTH RAILWAY CUT OFF. SHANGHAI, March 22.

The main Canton army, which recently lias lieoii concentrating the attack on Nanking (on the Yangtze] is now astride of the Slianghai-Nanking railway, thirty miles to the north ot Shanghai. This means the cutting oil of a portion of the anti-Reds who have refused to join the South, and have preferred to evacuate Shanghai. Tltpse include the White Russians and the Shantung Army, many of whom have already deserted, and have returned to Shanghai, where they are now sheltering in the foreign settlement. The evacuation of the foreign women and children from Nanking commenced at daybreak to-day.

150.000 ON STRIKE. SHANGHAI, March 21

All the native police stations have bee,n set afire by southern agents. There was a fire extending over four city blocks.

The Chinese fire brigades proved unable to cope with it. and the- International Settlement Fire Brigade did not assist, fearing that the firemen would he sniped. The fire raged unchecked the whole night. It has rendered thousands of people homeless, and has destroyed important institutions.

Shots and machine gun fire have resounded from the native quarter all' the past night. Many of both sides have been killed. The streets have become deserted by the civilians in anticipation of the ..oublc spreading.

SHELL DESTROYS A CONVENT. SHANGHAI, March 21. A shell hurst in a Roman Catholic Convent inz Shanghai, which is believed to have been burnt to the ground. The fate of the children housed in it. including some foreigners, is unknown. Thus far, none of them has been brought within the International Settlement.

NORTHERNERS BREAK BARRIERS. SHANGHAI, March 22. A party of Chinese troops, who presumably were Northerners, broke through a barrier on the northward side of the international settlement ol" Shanghai. They started looting. CANTON SNIPERS. SHANGHAI. Alanli 22. Up to midnight on Monday, there had been fifteen casualties, including two deaths, in the Shanghai defence force. Both of those killed were Punjabis.

The casualties are likely to increase, fill is is owing to sniping and guerilla tactics being adopted by the Cantonese snipers, who are posted on housetops and in alleyways, ami who picked off British patrols all night.

FOREIGN ARMOURED CARS. SHANGHAI, March 22

Prior to midnight yesterday, two armoured ears were sent out. They were continuously fired on by machine guns. Four of the occupants of the first car were wounded, hut not seriously. The second armoured car was finally towed away by the first car with the wounded, under heavy fire, which was returned by the ears. SHANGHAI. March 22. General Duncan has ordered liis lines facing the Reds to he extended for two mii'es. Additional armoured cars are now due from Hong Kong. LATEST FROM SHANGHAI. 1,500 HOUSES BURNT. SHANGHAI. March 22. The Chinese newspapers report that fifteen hundred houses liave been destroyed in the native quarter of the city of Shnngliai by tlie fire, wliicli started last night. Shanghai is unwashed as natives quitted the waterworks at daylight.

Russian refugee residents of Shanghai are volunteering to restore services by train and Inis. The majority of the public services remain idle. The strikers are now estimated at two hundred thousand. The snipers are still busy.

Plain clothes Cantonese guerillas penetrated the barricade at the Northern District and murdered a prominent anti-Ivuomintang officer in coiU blood in the street of the International Settlement this morning.

* The Cantonese were pursued by soldiers and by police. A street fight ensued. Bullets were flying and wounded three civilians.

The murderers escaped to Chinese territory.

RUSSIAN REJOICINGS. AIOSCOAV. March 22

Tho news of the capture of Shanghai citv by the Chinese workers in revolt lias led to spontaneous meetings at the mills and factories, which developed into ail impressive procession to the city. Numerous demonstrations ni’so took place in Leningrad, Ivhnrkoo, Odessa, Kieff and elsewhere. The newspaper “ Isvestia,” says:— The victory at Shanghai will consolidate the position of the Kuoniintang. The Powers will have now to choose between an agreement . with, or a struggle against, tbe Chinese National revolutionary movement.

HANKOW POSITION. (Received this dav at S a.m.) SHANGHAI. March 22. Hankow reports all Chinese employees of foreign banks struck yesterday. The banks are picketed. Strikers threaten to shut off food supplies to the staffs of foreign hanks, which consequently are closing, j Five foreign-owned motir-cirs were perforated with bullets in the streets in the sniping area. At Shanghai, firing is indiscriminate, and every passer-by is treated to potshots. Britisli soldiers living on the boundaries are replying to snipers from sandbag barriers. It is impossible, to tally the casualties on the Chinese side of the harrier. Native refugees entering the settlements state the streets are littered with dead and headless bodies, the result of a continuous guerilla* warfare between the Cantonese and Northerners refusing to submit. The All AA’hite Russian Shantgun army fled to the settlement overnight, giving up their rifles and ammunition on entering. They declare they were willing to continue to fight the Cantonese hut were deserted futile Chinese troops and themselves deserted in disgust. The main Canton army continues its victorious advance along Shanghai-Xanking railway, sweeping towards Shanghai and Nanking border, completing the capture of a}} territory south of Yangtsze.

BLOODY SCENES. SHANGHAI, March 22. There is the eeriest scene on the settlement boundaries nightlong, British Tommies taking turns to man machine guns pointed at groups ot Shantung troops on the other side ot the boundary. A ghastly sight in the early morning was a party of White Russians deserting from the Northern forces who asked for permission to he allowed to enter the settlement, but one decided to return and blow up an armoured ear lest it “fall into tlieliancis of the Southerners. Ten minutes later he re-tried to enter the settlement with a companion, but Shantung soldiers stopped him and forced him to kneel in the roadway and beheaded him. His head was mockingly stuck on a picket within a few yards of the British - machine guns. Meantime shooting continued incessantly.

BRITISH CORDON RUSHED. SETTLEMENTS SHELLED ’.Received this day at 5.30 n.mA (SHANGHAI, March 22. Northern troops estimated at several hundred broke the.harriers and cordon of the Northern International Settlement and rushed alleyways weakly held -by the British. They had previously attempted to break through, but were repulsed by the Durhams. So far no British casualties are-reported. Several shells dropped in the International Settlement in the afternoon and struck the police station, American Bank on Nanking road and an apartment .house in the centre of the settlement and various small buildings. There are no casualties. A second conflagration started in the native quarter, bigger than yesterday. Roof tops of the settlement buildings were crowded with thousands watching the flames. Denso columns of smoke envelope the settlement. The fire is rapidly spreading, thousands of panic stricken natives storming the barri-\ cades, fleeing from the flames. It is believed the shells were directed at tlio crowds on the roof tops.