CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1928, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

HORRORS IN CHINA. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) SHANGHAI, Feh. 14. Atrocities surpassing in their horror the period of the Spanish Inquisition and exceeding anything heretofore recorded in China, are recounted by a missionary, who is the correspondent of a local British paper, in a dispatch from Swatow. This information was obtained from refugees from afflicted districts in Taifung, Ltlfung and Northern Kwantung, where the Communists. following an orgy of bloodshed and massacre, established a reign of terror so terrible that the regular soldiers in several instances mutinied rather than obey the Government’s orders to restore Order. The O.Ve witnesses tell of disembowelled corpses in the streets being eaten by mongrel dogs; of babies chopped to pieces in front of the mothers, who themselves were executed afterwards. Women approaching child birth were murdered in an unmentionable manner. Men’s ears and strips of their flesh were cut. off and fried and eaten before the men finally were killed. ( hildicn were compelled to execute their parents. The uncle of one who had refused told him to proceed and obey the will of heaven. The boy tried to behead the uncle, hut bungled the job, which was finished by Communists, and the youth was then executed because he was unable to kill his uncle. The Communists, he says, are endeavouring to identity the whole population with the movement, and the inhabitants are thus compelled in sell protection to inscribe on their houses an admission ot sympathy with the Communists. Where any refused, they were immediately murdered by a variety of methods. The population ix organised in groups according to ago, hoys up to twenty being compelled to spy upon the movements of their parents: Those over forty were considered as useless, and being classed together with cripples, lepers, diseased ami blind, were slain by hundreds. This is according to a programme ol economy, to reduce the population b\ one-third. The CtjmniuiiistS’ headquarters are iti two fastnesses iit tile mountains; where they hold huge stocks of ammunition aiid machine guns to eoici the points of approach; Hundreds of Roman Catholic Mission proteges escaped and arrived at Swatow, whence they have migrated to Siam and Singapore. It is reported that two Presbyterian missionaries were killed and that six chapels were burned, while numerous native temples were destroyed. I lie inhabitants of one village who resisted the Communists were horded into a temple piled high with combustibles soaked in oil. It was then set afire. CHINESE PIRATES SHANGHAI. Feh. 13. The Japanese steamer Hiroa Mam answered signals and awaited the approach of n Vessel, which subsequently proved to he ii pirate ship, The hittor was identified sis the Kaitsti Marti, recently seized from the .Japanese Shipping Company. The crew of the Kaitsu poured a fusilade ol rifle shots on the Hiroa Mam, killing two sailors. The Hiroa Mam then went full steam for Tsingtao and outdistanced the pirate ship. A Japanese destroyer later discovered the pirate which took refuge in the Bay where the depth of Witter prevented the destroyer approaching. The ships exchanged shots. The pirates refused to surrender, hut. threatened to kill six Japanese sailors held as hostages, in Hie event of ail attempt to send a hoarding parly from the destroyer, COLDSTREAM GUARDS LEAVING EhinA. SHANGHAI, Feh. 1.1 The Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards is proceeding Home tomorrow. on the conclusion of ten months duty, safeguarding British interests here, during the most critical period of the Cantonese invasion. The citizens are planning an elaborate send-off.