CHINESE TURMOIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1928, Page 3

CHINESE TURMOIL.

(Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.) CHINESE PIRACY. SHANGHAI, Feb. 11. The piracies of Chinese boats on the Yangtsze, in the vicinity of Hankow, are alarming tne business community, and traders. The pirates are he.o.niiio more daring with each suecosslul 11 lit rage. Every vessel, from sampans to steamers of several hundred tons, are preyed on, usually accompanied hy bloodshed. The situation is seriously allotted trade. The gunboat Bee reported an engagement with a junk loaded with pirates, carrying oil' wealthy Chinese and two girls lor ransom. It overtook the pirates’ junk, which was already beached. The crew escaped inland, abandoning their victims. The British and other foreign gunboats are engaged in protecting Chines etrading vessels, in addition to foreign. It is hopeless to try to police 1200 miles up the Yangtze, unless they are reinforced. SHANGHAI. Feb. 11. Recalling the days of the Spanish Main a two thousand ton steamer has appeared on the China coast, armed to the teeth and fully manned by Chinese. preying on coasting, trading and passenger vessels, according to t.l crew of the Zuiho Mom. a Japanese steamer, which has reached Tsingtao. The Zuiho Man. was attacked when crossing to Yellow Sea to Japan, the pirate shin pursuing for many miles, and firing furiously with rides. > i Zuiho escaped in n blizzard. It is supposed the pirate ship is a vessel I seized from the Japanese. Mm ships of the Japanese Fleet at Tsingtao and in the Yellow Sea have been despatcr I ed to search for the pirate.