FLOODS IN TIENTSIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1939, Page 6

FLOODS IN TIENTSIN

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MAROONED CHINESE GUERILLAS ACTIVE. SERIOUS FIRES STARTED IN JAPANESE AREA. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) TIENTSIN, August 22.

The flooded streets are filled with hundreds of craft of all kinds. Thousands are still marooned on housetops. The water is six to fifteen .feet deep throughout the Japanese Concession, which is the worst affected. It is reliably reported that Chinese guerillas, taking advantage of the situation. caused a number of serious tires in Japanese property at Laes. which is a large supply depot. A Hong Kong message states that a nephew of Wang Ching-wei was assassinated there.

HABEAS CORPUS HEARING ADJOURNED IN LONDON. FOLLOWING ON STATEMENTS BY COUNSEL. (Received This Day, 12.14 p.m.) RUGBY, August 22. The hearing of the summons for a writ of habeas corpus in the case of the four accused Chinese at Tientsin was adjourned until tomorrow, after statements by Sir Terence O Connor, for the Foreign Secretary and Sir Walter Monckton, for the applicants. GRIM BATTLE AGAINST RISING WATERS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DROWNED. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) TIENTSIN, August 22. Facing fresh perils of flood, starvation and epidemics, the residents of the British and French Concessions are fighting a grim battle against the rising waters. Hundreds of people have already been drowned and thousands are missing. VAST LAKE THREE MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED. RESCUE WORK BY BRITISH TROOPS. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON. August 22. “The Times" Shanghai correspondent says over three million people are affected by the Tientsin floods. The country for a 30-mile radius has been turned into a vast lake, dotted with mounds that are packed with refugees. Thousands of people has been washed away. The British area is submerged except for a strip along the Bund. The Italian concession and the railway station alone have escaped the deluge. British troops were called out and manned sampans, rescuing those in danger. The Japanese have given up the attempt to enforce the blockade, but are still delaying foreigners at the bridge barrier, and preventing refugees from going to Peking. The food problem is very acute.