CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by telegraph—l’eh press association.] A BLOODLESS VICTORY. SHANGHAI, March 2-1, A naval wireless message reports that the Southern Chinese forces have captured the city of Nanking and Chinkiang. SHANGHAI, March 24.

There is a great surprise apparent at the bloodlcssness of the southern victory 'in capturing Nanking, seeing that the Xorthem troops had been pouring in here for weeks past. It was estimated that the Northern troops there totalled one hundred thousand. However, yesterday they began a. big exodus across the A angtszo River. The only explanation is that tliero has been a surrender of the city, as the result ol an arrangement-between General hiang Ivai Slick (Southern Generalissimo) and General Chang T'sung Chang (Northern leader). The Northerners’ departure is described as having been most bunded ami disorderly, the Northerners commandeered all the available! craft for their light.

I lie. Northerners’ poeupation of the city had been accompanied by much looting and brutality. I lie Northerners haw also retreated I rout Chekiang. This movement was similnrlv hurried.

The southerners occupied the town of Chekiang this morning.

canton .manifesto. SHANGHAI, March 23. General Paichingshi. who is commanding the Southerners at Shanghai, ami who is also General Chiang Kai Slick’s chief of staff, lias issued a manifesto, addressed to the Chinese people. lie says, inter alia: —“For eighty years the Imperialists, under the protection of the unequal treaties, have reduced China to vassalage. After the revolution of 1911, the Imperialists have continually supplied the Chinese linperialsts with rilies and guns, with which they .have waged war for the past fifteen years. On (lie one hand, these Foreign Imperialists have checked the development of Chinese education and industries. On the other hand, they have secured for themselves special privileges. But the Chinese are now awakened, and the city of Shanghai, which is the greatest commercial centre in the Ear East, will become not only a strong base lbr Chinese Nationalism, but one for world revolution. The people must distinguish between attacking Imperialism and attacking foreigners. They must not insult foreigners, or destroy their property.”

General Paichingshi urges the use of arbitration in order to avoid strikes, and be also deprecates any exorbitant demands by the workers, which, ho says, will only result in the closing of the factories altogether.

FOREIGN COX’S ELS. REASSURED. SHANGHAI, Afa roll 23.

The British, French and Japanese Consuls have succeeded in getting into touch with General Paichingshi (Southern Commander in Shanghai), thus establishing official contact between the foreign authorities in Shanghai and the Nationalist forces.

General Paichingshi lias affirmed Canton’s intention to protect foreign life and property, and to suppress violence and disorder.

ARABS AIENACE BRITISH TROOPS HAYGHAI. March 23.

An armed mob of five hundred demonstrated opposite British posts in the north-eastern districts of Shanghai. The crowd aimlessly fired rifles, but the British posts did not reply. Finally the crowd retired. Then another partially-armed mob of three hundred approaches! the Coldstream Gua’ds at the Markham Road Bridge, but they also went off after a while without incident.

1 he total number of Northern troops disarmed by file British on their admission (o the Settlement is officially given at two thousand, which, with twelve hundred more disarmed by the Japanese, are being shipped to Tsingtao immediately.

CHINESE PIRATES HONG KONG. Alareh 23. Ihe Mireraft carrier “Hermes” and two cruisers have returned .here, after successful operations in the Bias Bay legion against pirates, whose nest they have destroyed without bloodshed.

SH AXG HAI HA OPENINGS. (Received this day at S a.m.)

. .SHANGHAI, March 24. Ihe decision to call off the strike is file result of pressure by General Pnicliunglisi, but so iar only a few Ininured seamen have returned to work. Ihe railways and other suchlike services are still remaining idle. Nine square miles oi the foreign settlement are [sheltering sixty [er cent of the foreigners in Cliinl. Ten thousand British civilians are held at bay by a horde of* anti-foreign Chinese including thousands of armed fanatics. In addition the Cantonese Army is 'thin a circle of barb wire guarded bv soldiers and sailors of a dozen nations.

The International Settlements are trying to continue business under appalling conditions. The radical o'eiilent of Kuom in tang is rapidly cinitgrating hum Hankow to Shanghai where a scramble is proceeding to fill the atfices vacated simultaneously with the capture of Shanghai. There, are dozens ot nominees for each post, Ihe Nationalist Foreign Alinister mid his colleagues are on route from Hankow to establish administration authorities. It is. anticipated that methods will be adopted similar to those at Hankow .and they are conferring regarding future administration of the settlement to meet the changes inevitable to a new regime. Events are rapidly shaping themselves in a parlous manner. Communist organisers arranged a procession and distributed a manifesto and handbills. Ihe longer alleges the British were really responsible for the sacking, burning and murders because had they not given refuge to the Shantung General Pi.shoucheu, the latter would have been able to order Shantungers to keep quiet, whereas the true facts are tint the settlement could not ieitise entrance to Pishoucheu who was unarmed, and that British officials and soldiers risked ;their lives in order I to save the lives of others.

U.S. DESTROYERS. AIANILA. March 24.. Throe American destroyers are leav ag lor Shanghai immediately.

WANTON RIOT AND Ml'RDElt. SHANGHAI, Alareh 21. Three days of Cantonese sway in 'he city worked an orgy of bloodshed, murder, incendiarism, and wanton destruction, mostly of Chinese lives and property. Hundreds of criminals wee treed when the prisons were seized and the inmates were allowed to inn amok to celebrate the Nationalist victory. The latter disclaim connection with the guerilla element, whose tactics arc regarded as the chief lactor leading to the capture of Shanghai oi Nationalists by compelling ibc aniiHed commander to surrender the city. The correspondent adds that Britain's foresight in sending a strong force to Shanghai saved it from a worse late. Local police volunteers and even the Allied Navies could not have coml.itted the nfaddened mobs overrunning the foreign settlements in a campaign of slaughter and destruction.