CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[by TELEGRAM —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

REFUGEES STRIPPED. SHANGHAI. March 27. Refugees from Nanking believe the atrocities were premeditated and have drawn up a statement declaring attacks on foreigners were obviously under sub official control and directed against all irrespective of nationality. Many refugees arrived here penniless. The majority had only tin* clothes they wore and some were dressed in Chinese clothes having been stripped to their under-clothing. 'Flic statement .adds that following on the Northerners evacuation. the (southerners began looting Joreig-n bouses at six in the morning. They entered the compounds with fixed bayonets. filing as they loreed their nay in demanding money and looting. They then called in the mobs to complete the vandalism. In some eases foreigners who did not deliver up their money were bound and led through the streets until ransomed by triends. Cantonese officials finally appeared and restored ordet.

After the foreign warships had tired on Thursday afternoon and soldiers kept order, foreigners obtained a military escort or accompanied bv Chinese friends assembled at the University where they got into communication with the warships. Alter dark a military detachment was sent to the University and foreigners in various vehicles or afoot proceeded unmolested to the waterfront where they embarked. ' The statement adds that the destroyers bombardment instead ol causing loss of life in Nanking was the direct (Hit.se of rescue of tin* rest of the foreigners. Immediately ihe firing begun, the Southerners.ceased the looting and burning of foreign property and later Southern officials under a llag bf truse asked for conveyance to warships to arrange for the evacuation of the remaining foreigners.

REFUGKES KXPERFENCES. .SHANGHAI, March 27

Even when the refugees wcie escaping over a ten-foot wall, climbing down with knotted sheets, the soldiers occasionally fired. Arrivals hole unanimously praise the Chinese staff servants of the University. Cooties are running out into danger, begging, sorrowing and stealing money to stave off the Southerners’ rapacious demands.

Labour union speakers are concentrating against Britishers, and distributed pamphlets. Resolutions were summarized with demands for the return of all concessions without conditions. They urged the masses to throw themselves on the barbed wire entanglements and allow followers to walk over their dead bodies and storm the barricades. CHINESE COMMANDER’S VTEWS. SHANGHAI March 27. Chiang Kai Slick, interviewed, said lie was sorry the warships sheli’ed Nanking. especially the Americans, as it would do much to cause a misunderstanding of a serious nature among Nationalists, who had thought Americans were well disposed towards them. Nationalist troops were never guilty ot hostility against foreigners, but Northerner propagandists used an old dodge. They dressed troops in Nationalist uniforms in order to discredit us. 1 have strictly prohibited our forces 'footing, hut your bombardment resulted in a loss of many Chinese lives and houses, while no foreign houses were deliberately set afire nor any foreigners killed bv our own forces.”

Chiang Kai Sliek added: “ I am a military man. lam not concerned with the settlement, hut 1 already have given a mobilization order tor the advance to Peking. We have three Vines of attack, first, seawards, via Shantung; secondly, Pukow-Tientsin railway; lastly, through Honan, with Feengyuliis. who has two hundred thousand troops, including many Russians. That is my programme. I will leave the diplomatic work, such as negotiations to Eugene Chen. ALARMIST OUTLOOK. LONDON, March 28. The “ Times’S ” Shanghai correspondent, in a grave warning, indicates that Britain’s faith in the Cantonese is of no avail. The correspondent declares the Cantonese have three thousand troops in Shanghai, but have no [lower of control over the Communists. He says there is a local' Communist Government, with the slogan, “Take bac-k the Settlement!” There is not the slightest reason, says the correspondent, to suppose that the Cantonese will attempt to restrain the Communists, but, instead, will aid Britain’s enemy. Therefore, Britain must look to herself.

He continues:—“The foreign defensive forces are inadequate. The French Concessions is a very weak spot, and it is insufficiently held. The whole position needs reorganisation. Any more weakness shown in the China news will reverbrate throughout Asia, with unforeseen results. 4ho Cantonese are now masters everywhere in China to the south of the Yangtze River, and they control more than hall of the country. The only remaining important militarist against them is Chang Tso Lin. They can he in Peking when they please.

“ The Cantonese want a clean sweep of every foreign treaty, right and privilege. Then they will graciously negotiate fresh treaties on severely equal terms. The Kuomintang sprit has been overstressed. Both elements are working to completely destroy the ioreign treaties. l The Hankow signature is not the slightest use. The Cantonese are only hiding their time to apply the same methods to Shanghai.”

MISSIONARIES GOING HOME. NEW YORK. March 27. The New York “ Times’s” Shanghai ecrrespondent writes: Missionaries who

until Thursday scoffed at Consular advices to withdraw from the Yangtze Valley, arc now hastening to evacuate the whole of that country, leaving behind the work and hopes of lia'Ji a century, with little prospect of their returning unless gunboats are employed to re-open the country as they were in the year 1900. The change of opinion is amazing. Only a fortnight ago the United Protestant Association appointed delegations to England and to America to explain the Chinese Nationalist movement in a favourable light, but now that women as well as iih’ii have been mistreated, their attitude has changed. r lhe question which is asked is: \Vii'l America with Britain, re-establish trading and teaching privileges by force, and, it is answered ill the negative. Hundreds yf

of tlie nationals in these countries are, therefore, hastening homeward, witn Shanghai as only a temporary stopping place for them. Tbus, it can be said, that so far as Americans in China are concerned, there lias been a . sharp awakening to the actual situation.

FRENCH CONCESSION DANGER. SHANGHAI, March 28. General Duncan is considering a petition of residents of the liench Concession, here to take over its defence. The French Concession is Shanghai’s chief industrial centre, and many of the British and Ameiicans, who consider the French plans for defence inadequate, are living in constant fear of Cantonese attacks The total French force, including regular and special 1 force volunteers; colonial, Sengalese and Anuamite troops, is three thousand. There is friction between the French Consul and the French Defence Commanders. The latter arc reported agreeable to let General Duncan tako the defence over.

Hougkew, a Japanese quarter, adjacent to C'hapey, the notorious hotbed of agitation, has been taken over by a strong force of Japanese marines. The Durhanis have thus been relieved, and are being transferred to reinforce the British lines oil the western boundary.

General Butter, of the American Marines, lias declared that lie is prepared to despatch U.S.A. Marines to the French Concessions the instant there is danger. ,

Yesterday many of the French Concession’s residents became alarmed, and evacuated the International Settle me lit.

All have been notified of the concentration plans, of,which bugle blasts are the signal.

Curfew is rigidly enforced at ten o’clock. No Chinese and only foreigners with permits are allowed abroad after 10 p.m. To-day is passing quietly.

ASHMEAD BARTLETT’S VERSION LONDON, March 28. All- Ashmeail Bartlett, cabling from Shanghai to the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “It is now definitely settled that tlie Cantonese forces entered Nanking in perfect order, with no intention to molest the foreigners, but that two hours later definite orders were received to organise attacks and to hunt up foreigners. There was little looting of Chinese property, the whole fury of tlie Cantonese being directed against the Consulates and the European civilians.

AMERICAN ACTION. (Received this day at 9.30 a.i11.) SHANGHAI, March 28. Air Kellog has authorised the Legation to instruct the closing of the Consulates at C'liaiigsliai and Cliingking, and the withdrawal of a number:from there as soon as au adequate op-g portunity is given the remaining Americans to withdraw. Reports of the worsening conditions at Hankow are borne out by Japanese messages stating Japanese women and eliililren residing in the native city there are taking refuge in the Japanese concession, and are preparing t-> heard steamers. American women and children have already left. The Japanese gunboat Adaka has gone to Han—ow. Delayed messages from. Hankow show tlie labour unions there, as in Shanghai, are completely dominating the situaton. JAPAN’S AVARNING. TOKIO, March 28. Two Japanese are now reported to have been killed in Nanking. Government. does not intend landing troops, hut has reinforced the ships at ai'l ports with marines, and lodged a protest practically amounting to an ultimatum with the Nationalists. Conservative elements, officials and newspapers are counselling moderation with stern warnings. Independent action may follow a disregard of Japan’s frequent warnings.