TENSE SITUATION

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 14 March 1927, Page 5

TENSE SITUATION

— Press Association-

BRITISH TIGHTEN LINES. NEAR CHINESE BATTLE AREA. TROOPS DISPERSE FACTION FIGHTERS. i

T Australian. and N.Z. Press Association)

( Oa'xle-

— Oopyrig-ht.)

Received Sunday, 11 p.m. SHANGHAI, March 12. In anticipation of demonstrations on the anniversary of the death of Sun Yat Sen. "the Father of the Revolution," special precautions were taken but rain damped the ardour of the Chinese and the day was marked with few incidents. The expected general strike failed lo Kiaterialise, Five hundred arnied Shangtungese atsempted to enter the Internatioaal Settlement. This was resisted by the British guards and 200 British iroops stoodL by ready for action 74-yi-e rushed up. The Shangtuivgose, reali/iing tho futility of attempting it forco a passage, retired lnto tiie Frtyachxaection. A dispute took piate between the extreme and saodemle sections at Kuomlutang. Shois were fired and two wounded. Tho French police intervened and restored order. The Kuomintangs wero busy distributing handbills inciting the populace against foreigners. Large crowds assembled which the police, with difliculty, dispersed. Received Monday, 12.50 a.m. SHANGHAI, March 13. The British defence forces a^e extending the lines round the International Settlemepl and strengthening the forces - closest to the Chinese battle areas in anticipation of a climax to the present tense position between the contending armies.