BRITISH FORCES ATTACKED.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17166, 24 March 1927, Page 5

BRITISH FORCES ATTACKED.

-Plmb AgBCciatioi.-

(Auitualir.n and K.S. Pmsj Association.)

SHELLS IN THE SETTLEMENT. BIG FIRE RAGING.

(Cable—

— Oopyris'iit.)

SHANGIIAI, March 22. Northern troops estimated at scveral hundred hroke the harriers and cordon in the Northern International Settlement and rushed alleyways weakly held hy British troops. They had previous attempted to break through, but were repulscd by the Durhams. So far no British casualties are reported. Several shells dropped in the International settlement during the afternoon and struck the police station, the American Bank, an apartment house in the centre of the settlement, and various small buildings. There are no known casualties, A second conilagration has started in the native quarter, bigger than that of yesterday. The roof tops of settlement buildings are crowded with thousands of people watching the flames. Dense columns of smoke envelope the settlement. The fire is spreading rapidly, and thousairds of panicstrilcen natives are storming the harricades fieeing from the j flames. It is believed that shells j were directed at the crowds on the j roof-tops. The Northerners who rushed the settlement were forced back by Durham reinforcements after a few Chinesc Wfcre killed and several wounded. The_ number of killed and wounded at the first atteinpt is unknown, but must have been largc. A Durham detachment, guarding the barrier, were forced to use a Lewis gun, besides rifles, in reply to the \ attackers fire. The fact that there l are no British casualties at present i is due to the retreating troops ex- ! citedly firing into the air rather | than at the defenders, Later, 300 Northerners were al- j lowed to enter after they were dis- ; armed. Japanese naval men are still i disarming and admitting several ! bundreds more further northward. | The Northerners' rush to the set- j flement is due to the arrival of the j vanguard of the Nationalist regu- ! lars. j ' i