SHANGHAI STRIKES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 302, 28 September 1940, Page 6

SHANGHAI STRIKES.

CRISIS EXPECTED AT WEEK-END.

WORKERS’ FAMILIES THREATENED.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, September 27.

Strikes have spread and. now include municipal garbage and night-soil collectors, thereby presenting the threat of disease throughout the city. M. Essen, head of a French bus company, and his Russian staff, have been missing for two days are are believed to have been kidnapped. A Portuguese foreman of the same company, Avho was kidnapped yesterday, was released after ordering his men to quit work. Authoritative circles expect a crisis at the week-end. Directors of utility companies declare that agitators are threatening that workers’ families will he harmed unless the workers in power, gas and waterworks companies strike at the week-end. It is understood that the Japanese have so far not presented formal demands on the French Concession.

A BOMB EXPLOSION.

TRAMCAR SET ON FIRE.

SEVERAL PASSENGERS HURT

(Received This Day, 9.5 .am.) SHANGHAI, September 26

An incendiary bomb explosion on board a French tram-car under police guard wounded several passengers and set fire to the car. Three more Chinese were wounded to-day in Shanghai’s strike.

Pickets tried to prevent a tram working, and the police fired in the air before the fracas was quelled. The strike spread to a number of private concerns.

A Korean, believed to be an adherent of Wang Ching-Wei, is reported to have been seen haranguing workers last night at several offices where strikes occurred.