CONFLICT IN CHINA

Wairarapa Age, 17 March 1927, Page 5

CONFLICT IN CHINA

THE CANTONESE OFFENSIVE.

DESPERATE ATTACKS. BATTLE ON TWENTY-MILE FRONT PEKIN, March 15. Heavy fighting is taking place in the vicinity of Isliing, the Nationalists launching desperate offensives on a twenty-mile front. Thus far there are no details as to how

the fight is going. The Aeting-Chinese Customs Commissioner of Wuhu was dragged through the streets for two successive days with a placard reading: “Accepted a bribe from Jardine, Matheson aud Company to release the steamer Kutwo, on whic'n were British refugees,” the mob beating and stoning him.—(A. and N.Z.) NATIONALIST MANIFESTO. PROMISE JO RESPECT SHANGHAI SETTLEMENT. (Received Wednesday, 5.5 p.m.) PEKIN, March 15. General 11. Yeugyin, Commander-in-Chief of the Southern forces in Chekiang, has issued through the local Kuomintang a .statement concerning' the Cantonese attitude towards the Foreign Settlement. After requesting the foreign authorities in Shanghai to observe the strictest neutrality, it declares that the Nationalist Army firstly, wfll not attempt to seize the Settlement; secondly, will protect in the fullest measure the lives and property of foreign residents, and schools and hospitals owned by foreigners within the Settlement; thirdly, requests the foreign forces at, present in Shanghai, to keep within the Settlement boundaries, thus avoiding any unnecessary misunderstanding, which would inevitably lead to a situation inimical to She peaceful intentions of both parties; and lastly, the Nationalist army in its campaign against the Northern militarists declares that it has no intention of disturbing the peace and order of the Settlement. However, should stray bullets unfortunately fall in the Settlement, the foreign authorities are asked to view such accidents in the light of reason and tolerance as being beyond the Nationalists’ abilite to prevent.— (A. and N.Z.)

INCIDENT AT WUHU.

AMERICAN INTERVENTION.

PEKIN, March 15. Chinese soldiers interfered with a Standard Oil Company’s launch near Wuhu. The United States destroyer Preble Intervened, and put an. armed party aboard. Later she was escorting the launch when soldiers fired on tho vessels. The Preble’s bridge was hit twice. There were no casualties. The preble replied with machine-guns.—(A. an£ N.Z.) k ATTITUDE OF FRANCE. POLICY OF NON-INTERFERENCE. (Received Wednesday, 7.55 p.m.) ( PARIS, March 16. “It is not a good thing for one country to interfere with the internal quarrels of another,” said M. Briand when questioned in the Chamber regarding the French policy in China. “There have been no happenings in China to cause France to change her attitude of neutrality, but French interests will be protected if the Shanghai Settlement is invaded by bandits and pillagers. When China is unified in a manner that will enable her to give guarantees, she will find France desirous of treating her as a great nation.”—(A. and N.Z.)