CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[ BY TELEGRAPH— rER PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] BRITISH. AND CANTONESE. SHANGIIAf. March 23. British troops killed twelve and wounded eighteen Shatigtungers half a mile westward of the previously mentioned incident. It appears that two hundred Shangtungese were disarmed and entered the Settlement peacefully. Seven hundred more attempted to force an entrance, and tired oil tho Durhams, who were guarding the boundary. r l!ic hitter returned the fire, and repulsed the attack. Two 3th Durhams were wounded.

In response to a Nationalist" request to the municipal authorities for consultation. in order to avoid friction, Colonel Hevwood (Chief of the Intelligence Staff) and Major Johnson ■Com-missioner-General of Shanghai, and Yiscount Gort (Chief of Staff; conferred with the Nationalist Commander in the native city. AVhen returning escorted bv Nationalists, they were held tip for an hour by student demonstrators. these protesting against the intrusion of the British officers into China. An attempt was made to search Coi’onel Hevwood. llis chauffeur was beaten when gunmen arrived, and the crowd took panic. The British officers were rescued in the nick of time by a second escort sent by tbe Nationalist ( (inimander.

It is officially announced that as a result of the negotiations between General Chiang Kai Slick and Pishouclien the latter has agreed to surrender the Kuomintang flag ■ which he hoisted at his headquarters. Many thousands of .Shangtungese at Chapei and elsewhere are still unaware of his action. Regular Nationalist troops are now approaching Chapei, which they are expected to occupy to-morrow.

Tho municipal authorities have issued a. further deei'aration to-day, announcing their decision to take immediate steps to maintain essential services in the International Settlement and inviting volunteer assistance.

'fhe situation here has eased and the sniping has almost ceased. This is owing to the entry to the city- of a large force ol Cantonese troops. They have gone into the native quarter foi the purpose of crushing those of the Shangtung troops who refuse to surrender. and who arS conducting the campaign of terrorism. All the Shantungite forces who recently were roaming leaclerless are now accounted for. 3he majority of them have been interned in tbe International Setti'cment. and the Japanese authorities are controlling their repatriation to Shantung. An intensive armoured ear patrol is maintained'in the International Settlement. where the refugee problem is very acute. Hundreds of refugees arc sleeping ill the streets, being unable to find accommodation.

MOPE NORTHERNERS SHOT BY ITALIANS. SHANGHAI, March 23. Italian marines fired on Shangtung troops trying to break the boundary, killing three and wounding twelve. . HUGE EXPLOSIONS. There was a huge explosion in the native city on the borders ol the settlement, believed to he at the headquarters of the Shangtung forces. Thu neighbouring buildings are burning fiercely. A shell passed over the Buutl. and exploded, fortunately landing in the river, but narrowly missing an Italian launch.

The shooting is dying down at C'iiapei. where the Nationalists are in full control, but it has broken out on tbe other side of the liver, opposite the Hum!. Tlie residents in the neighbourhood of Szechiien road have withdrawn to the heart of the settlement, conveyed in lire wagons and ambulances. Attempts to cripple the foreign newspapers are partly successful.

A PATHETIC RESCUE. SHANGHAI, March 2. General rei'ief was felt when seven nuns staggered bravely into the settlement, bringing the children from tin* burnt orphanages. It was a pathetic sight, when the Nuns, including several Chinese sisters, unaccompanied by any male escorts, arrived at the barricades, followed and surrounded by over three hundred white-faced, silent, terrified children—a mixture of ah' nations, with Eurasions predominating. CANTON ARMY. SHANGHAI. March 22. The main Canton army continues its victorious advance along the ShanghaiXanking railway sweeping towards Shanghai and Nanking border, making complete capture of all territory soutn of the Yangtse. The Southern army has occupied Soot-how. FALL OF NANKING. SHANGHAI, March 2. The American gunboat “Isabel” has departed from Hankow for Nanking, where the evacuation of foreign women and children for Shanghai continues as rapidly as United States merchant vessels are available. The others, meantime, are refuging on British and American warships. Chinese are also evacuating the town. The Nationalist army is now within a few miles of Nanking.