AT HANKOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19719, 9 December 1926, Page 7

AT HANKOW

SITUATION UNCERTAIN HATRED OF FOREIGNERS AN INTENSE UNDERCURRENT A MILITARY SOCIETY ACTIVE. BRITISH AND JAPS THE CHIEF ENEMIES. by Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright. PEKING, Dee. 7. The Hankow unrest promises to increase, despite the failure of the general strike. The labour unions are becoming bolder daily, and are inflicting the great est hardships on foreign residents, many of whom, residing outside the) concessions and unprotected, have been ejected from their homes and their belongings thrown into the street and looted. The servants, encouraged by the soldiers, are heaping indignities on the heads of Britishers, French, and Japanese. An intense undercurrent of antiforeign feeling prevails. A society sponsored by the military has been formed for the purpose of overthrowing the British political department. The Reds, hitherto working secretly, are now openly inciting antiforeign demonstrations, and have print ed instructions to soldiers naming the British and Japanese as the chief enemies of the revolutionary movements, the objects of which are the recovery of foreign concessions and the driving out of all foreigners, which doctrine is inflaming the populace'. Missionary reports from the interior declare that a strong anti-Christian spirit follows in the path of the Cantonese, and numbers of schools and churches have been closed as a result of ultimatums from the' students.

SEVEN CRUISERS IN CHINESE WATERS. POWERS COULD STRIKE, LONDON, Dec. 4. An Admiralty statement discloses the strength of the Naval forces available in Chinese waters to go to the relief of the foreign communities in the event of an emergency:— De- River GunCruisers. stroyers. boats. Britain .... 4 9 15 America .. 1 8 9 Japan .... 1 1 10 France .... 1 0 6 In addition, there are twelve British submarines on the China station. The naval correspondent of the “Daily News” states that the aircraftcarrier Hermes, with 20 aeroplanes aboard, is lying near the mouth of the Yangtse. She has a speed of 25 knots, and in case of emergency could get within striking distance of Hankow in twelve hours. BOXER INDEMNITY DEVOTED TO COUNTRY’S WELFARE. SCHEME TO HELP CHINA. LONDON, Dec. .5 Methods whereby the whole of Britain’s share in the Boxer indemnity is to be devoted to the welfare of the Chinese are detailed in documents now issued. The papers include the report of the delegation with British and Chinese members whiich toured China this year under the chairmanship of Lord Willingdon. The indemnity fund amounts to £ll,000,000. The delegation’s main proposal, endorsed by an advisory committee and the Foreign Secretary, is that the' control and administration of the funds should be invested in a board of trustees established in China, and consisting of six Chinese and five British members, including at least one woman. Education and Research. It is proposed that £350,000 be expended annually on agricultural education and the improvement of scientific research, medicine and public health/ and for other educational purposes. The committee also recommended an arrangement whereby a sum not exceeding £5.200,000 and not less than £3.500,000, during the years 1927-31, should be available for investment in railway construction in China, the proceeds from the investment to be' devoted to maintain in perpetuity educational and other work which it is proposed to assist. FRENCH TROOPS FOR CHINA A REPORT DENIED. M. PAINLEVE MAKES A STATEMENT. Received December 8, 7.15 p.m. PARIS, Dec. 7. M. Painleve denies the report that French troops are being sent to China.