THE CHANGSHA RIOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 133, 7 June 1910, Page 5

THE CHANGSHA RIOTS.

A REFUGEE'S ACCOUNT,

China papers 'by the ' steamer Aldenham, which arrived in Sydney on May 30th, contain, particulars of tue riots in China.

One report says that the'rioters numbered 30,000 men. They had orders to kill the Governor of Chaugsha, and afterwards drive out the missionaries. The itroops, . instead of defending their stations, fought the rioters, and many casualties occurred. Many public builuuigs, shops, and houses were destroyed, the loss oeing considerable, it is eta ted that the troops were utterly inefficient, and were separated in batches, so that they were helpless in maintaining order. Two British gunboats and two Chinese gunboats arrived, and on the following day 20 Chinese guard boats and two companies of troops put in an appearance. '

Just before the Aldenhani. left Hongkong the following significant messages were received from Shanghai:—"Children and ladies have been recalled from all places in the province; men are warned that there is a. great risk in staying. Britishers not allowed to land. Rioting turning up in unlikely places."

A missionary resident hi Changsha at the time of the outbreak gives the following account of the riots: —

"At 1.30 one morning the inmates of the Chiua Inland Mission were aroused by ,the soldiers forming the permanent guard attached to each mission in Changeha, and told that a mob had already attacked the Norwegian Mission 10 minutes away, and wa3 coming to them next. A hurried exodus was decided upon, but the mob had already reached the compound before the missionaries could get clear away by a back door. They were sighted by some of the rioters, and might have fared badly if a cry had not b:vn raised that more missionaries were left inside the building. Their pursuers left them to turn their attention to the mist-Jon, and the missionaries made good their escape. Xext morning they returned, and found their stations wrecked.

The rioters had done their work thoroughly; practically everything was smashed to pieces or strewn about and damaged. A breakfast of some kind wag procured, but towards 10 o'clock a. native Christian brought word that the rioters were once more on the move and were going to set fire to the foreign quarters. Once .more an exodus had to be effected, this time with any portions of clothing that had been rescued from the debris. The missionaries went straight to the river front and were taken on board the C.X.S. Siangtan. Shortly after noon various buildings were fired." According to the latest advices, confirmed by reports received by the China Inland Mission, the situation around Changsha is far from encouraging, and the position is regarded with some anxiety.