SHANGHAI GROWS QUIETER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 1

SHANGHAI GROWS QUIETER

RIOTS AND MURDERS LESSEN PRAISE FOR CANTONESE The situation in Shanghai has become easier, and it is apparent now that the clashes which have taken place in the International Settlement were caused chiefly by stragglers and the fleeing Shantung forces. The Cantonese have been commended for their behaviour in the city, and with the arrival of a large Cantonese force, the Shantung disorders should become less. An attack made on the northern boundary of the International Settlement by a large mixed Chinese force consisting principally cf Cantonese troops and labour agitators, was repulsed with machine-gun fire by the Durham Light Infantry with substantial losses to the attackers. By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright.

SHANGHAI, Wednesday. The tensity of the situation in Shanghai has been eased and sniping has almost ceased owing to the entry of a large force 9f Cantonese troops into the native city. Their object is to crush the defeated Shantung troops, who refuse to surrender, and who were conducting the campaign of terrorism. All the Shantungese who were recently roaming about without leaders are now accounted for. The majority have been interned in the International Settlement. The Japanese authorities are controlling their repatriation to Shantung. The Chinese are also evacuating the city. The Nationalist Army is now within a few miles of Nanking. CANTONESE PRAISED DID NOT CAUSE TROUBLE SHANTUNGS TO BLAME Received 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday. There is a distinct tendency in official circles to commend the Cantonese for their behaviour in Shanghai. News received at Whitehall shows that the clashes at the Settlement have chiefly been caused by the fleeing Shantung forces and stragglers, and not by the incoming Cantonese. Most of the trouble was due to the breakdown in the arrangements for the surrender and disarming of the Shantung forces. The regular Cantonese troops only reached the northern station at Shanghai yesterday. A few Shantungit.es have been kii ed by rifle fire from British posts. Later, 300 surrendered to the British, and 1200 to 4 - T >e Japanese stationed at Hongkew Park. Official quarters welcome the passages in the manifesto issued by General Pai Ching-hsi, the Southerners’ chief of staff, at Shanghai, in which he appeals to the people to realise that attacks on foreigners do not help the Nationalist cause. The British and Japanese ConsulGenerals, and the chairman of tlie Chinese Chamber of Commerce, are forming a deputation to the Cantonese commander to-day, to ask him to put down sniping and rioting by bands of undisciplined civilian Cantonese supporters within the Settlement. durhamsTattacked RABBLE STORMS SETTLEMENT REPULSED WITH LOSSES (Received 10.50 a.m.) SHANGHAI, Wednesday. The Durham Light Infantry, defending the northern boundary of the

International Settlement, was attacked at twilight by a large force of mixed Chinese, in hiding some plainclotues Cantonese troops and local 1" lour agitators. Four of the defenders were wounded and the Durhams replied with machine-gun fire. It is estimated they killed 40 and nded many me j. The situation is increasing in gravity and guerilla warfare in the native quarter has resumed on a large scale. Regulars in the Nationalist army sent to clear out Shantung s ’anglers in plain clothes, and Can-tr-ese guerillas who had terrorised the Chapei district by itreet fighting, a 1 anarchy during the past two days, are now faced with the task of suppressing the gv rillas and armed labour agitators representing the ext" ist section of the Kuomintang. The Shanghai General Labour Union is reported to have distributed arms in huge quantities to thousands of new recruits in the Labour ranks. The prospects of a prolonged struggle between the Cantonese regulars and plain clothes agitators, which means that the dispute between the Left and Right wing of the Kuomintang which commenced at Hankow has now been transferred to the Shanghai area. Both foreign settlements are comparatively quiet and a fair amount of business is being transafcted. The strike is incomplete and it is reported that it is to be called off. Five thousand foreigners, the majority of whom are Japanese, Portuguese, and a considerable number of British, have been ordered to evacuate the area close to the native quarter. No official statement is offered, but the ordere is interpreted as a preliminary for an expedition into the native quarter to dislodge the snipers who are busier now, though there are fewer casualties than yesterday. —A. and N.Z. TO SAVE BRITISH LIVES SHANGHAI FORCE NECESSARY Received 7.50 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday. “What would have been the fate of thousands of British men, women, and children during the last few days if the Government had acceded to Labour’s demand to withdraw British troops from Shanghai?” asked the Rt. Hon. Sir L. Worthingtone-Evans at a Conservative luncheon. "If there had been no troops to defend the Concession,” he said, “the serious events outside the Concession would have been repeated inside, resulting in the loss of hundreds of British lives. This proved abundantly that the Government was right in its attitude. —Sun.