RED BUTCHERY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 109, 18 February 1935, Page 5

RED BUTCHERY.

CHINESE CITY DEPOPULATED. THIRTY THOUSAND KILLED. (United Press Association —Copyright) SHANGHAI, February 16. The news of one of the most atrocious butcheries of defenceless Chinese by Communists has readied Nanking in a report from General Liaochan, divisional commander of the anti-red force engaged in bandit suppression in Northern Szechwan. . General Liaochen reports that it is estimated that 30,000 men, women and children were slaughtered m the most cold-blooded manner in the city ot Wanyue, in Szechwan, before the Reds evacuated the city under pressure oi Government troops. Within a radius of 3o miles the population has been almost completely wiped out. The trail of the marauders is marked by smouldering ruins. Death by starvation is facing the survivors unless relief is immediately forthcoming.

The first outbreak of the Reds, who now control most of the central part ot southern China, occurred in May, 1920, since when they have slaughtered tens of thousands of fellow Chinese. 4he Red policy is anti-foreign, anti-imper-ialistic ond-anti-Christian; and the object of the massacres apparently is to establish the Reds more firmly. Ghiang Kai-shek has been waging war on them for some years, with little success, foi they are well supplied with wireless, know his movements beforehand, and keep his army at bay. They rule witnin their own borders with rough justice and some efficiency, though with cruelty. Even the two Kuang provinces which are not Communist have a government independent of Nanking.