BECOME SERIOUS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10826, 22 January 1927, Page 5

BECOME SERIOUS.

SITUATION AT HANKOW. BRITISH AND AMERICANS LEAVE. AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT. (Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PEKIN, January 21. A private foreign telegram from Hankow states that the .situation there .has developed seriously. One thousand British and "American men are. being evacuated. • No official confirmation! has been received up to the present. PRECAUTIONS IN PEKING. ARMED PATROL IN THE STREETS: (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) PEKBNI, January 21. The American Minister (Mr McQuarrv), who was going to America to confer with the Secretary of State (Mr Kellogg) in regard to affairs in China, has been recalled to Pekin by cablegram from Washington. Hitherto there have been no signs of disturbances,, strikes, dr anti-foreign feeling herd, but the authorities are taking all precautions. It is believed that General Fengtien and Manchurian forces are determined to prevent trouble. Double guards with fixed. .bayonets are posted outside ■Hie foreign residences, anff picked patrols ifiprch the- streets all night with orders ruthlessly to suppress disturbers -Of the peace. : > :. y, r _ The .American .' authorities-., warned -their nationals;:; that the,?signal rof x trouble-in day-time will be a blue peter below the < Stars and Stripes on - ;thfc wireless tower of the Legation, and at night six red lights. On receipt of . the ,t warning, Americans are instructed to concentrate on three, -given points, from which they will be escorted to the Legation. "u THE POSITION EXPLAINEO. POLITICAL COURTESY IN BRITAIN .if. .-u/; «»;• ; JvONDON, January 20.. In accordance with custom,-. Sir Austen Chamberlain (Secretary for Foreign Affairs) had conferences w ith Mr - Ravin--eay. MacDonald (Labour) and Mr Llovd George'. (Liberal) separately, as .Leaders of the Opposition, and ’’explained the position regarding China, especially the precautionary measures which the -Goreniihefft is-adopting. • ' ' H MEGANTIC TAKES MARINES. LONDON, January 20. The Megamtic is fitting out at Liverpor I tortake inarines to China.- - • SPAIN TAKES ACTIONv LONDON, January 20. A * Madrid message states: General Primo de Rivera and 1 his Ministers, after a long conference, decided to send a cruiser to China with’'Orders to protect the religious missions. _ . . The ‘'Daily News' ' Jj ' Madrid correspondent says that a detachment of -troops is also going to Shanghai.