FIGHTING IN CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 7

FIGHTING IN CHINA.

VAST FORCES ON MOVE,

THE TUNNANESE DEMANDS.

GUNBOATS IN ACTION. (fly Cable.—rrcss Association.—Cnp.vrljht.) £-£ "i .ttccelved 1.30 p.m.l PEKING, June 7. Advices from Canton state that while still protesting loyalty to the principles of Dr. Sun Vat Sen and Kuo Ming Tang, the Yunnnne.-e generals Yang Hsi Mm and Lan Chun Wan presented a demand to the authorities to order the cessation of troop movements in the cast and north river district, otherwise they would take Ihe necessary measures to resist. The authorities replied, denouncing their insubordination and dismissing them, appointing Chu Pei Teh acting commander of the "YTunnanese forces. This is a virtual declaration of war. Yang Hsi Mm seized the governors of Ta_en, the telephone and telegraph offices and li ht plant. Tlie telegraph line to Hongkong is cut near Sheklung. Barricades havo been erected the entire length of the bund. Y__.ar.eae facing the Cantonese have barricaded the Island of Honam across {ho river. Tho authorities' gunboats command the river, and the Yuunancse control the Canton side entirely. General Hsu Chung Chi's Cantonese army ia approaching from Sheklung. Tho main body of Yang Hsi Mm's troops is advancing in opposition. Chupeiteh, with loyal Yunnanoso and Hnanneso is approaching from the north, and Lan Chun Wan is advancing to resist him. The Baptist mission schools at Tungshan havo been closed, and foreign women and children are leaving. It is gToatly feared that Kuo Ming Tang will call a general strike. A further message says fighting began in the afternoon. All the gunboats are now going up the river to Shamcen, filing directly on the bund. A later message states that gunboats passed Shameen, but did not fire on the concessions. They headed towards Hnnam. Rifle and machine-gun fire was opened from both sides of the river near the cement works. Firing practically ceased late in the afternoon. All Hongkong boats left during the fighting.— (Reuter.) A message from Tokyo says the Japanese Navy Office states thnt the cruiser Tatsuta has sailed for Shanghai with 201 marines. A dispatch from Shanghai reports that the British Consul-General at Chenkiang, near Nanking, telegraphed saying: "Blots are taking place in the concession. Can the Navy send assistance?" To this a reply was sent by wireless by the American admiral, who instructed an American warship, which was proceeding up the Yangtse-kiang River, to put in at Chen-kiang. Later messages stated that the situation was serious. Rioting students several houses in the concession. The Chinese police who were told off to protect foreigners were absolutely useless, and the rioters carried on until the commanding Chinese general brought his own troops on the scene. SERIOUS SITUATION. Four hours after the Consul-General had asked for assistance the Chinese general had restored order, and foreign women and children returned to the shore from the boats in which they had taken refuge.

A message received to-night, however, states that the situation is again serious. Tho American gunboat Paul Jones is now due at Chen-kiang and the British gunboat Woodla.rk should reach there to-morrow. The strike at Shanghai is spreading to the French concession. It was estimated yesterday that the strikers numbered 250,000, but a number of staffs resumed work to-day. They included those of the foreign cable companies nnd the commercial Press, also 600 workers in the Japanese Bahkoong mills and 500 in the riverside power station. l AN INVESTIGATION. The discontinuance of rioting in Shanghai and the resumption of their duties by many of the workers indicate that students are losing their grip of the situation. The arrival of the Peking commissioners, whose mission is only investigatory, should help to clear the atmosphere. The wide nature of tbe students' disturbance is further shown by messages received from Hankow on Friday and Saturday. These stated that 20,000 students were agitating and distributing anti-foreign leaflets. Tlie Chinese authorities had so far prevented big demonstrations. The movement began at Hankow on May 25. Thousands of students demonstrated in the native city of Tsientsin. but there were no incidents. The streets are now heavily guarded by police reinforced by Manchurian soldiers. The professors have joined the students, who made speeches demanding the restoration of Dairen. a boycott of the British and the abolition of the concessions.

MANY LOYAL CHINESE,

U.S. "WARSHIP STANDS BY.

I 1 T ' (Received 1.30 p.m.) PEKING, June 7. The morning newspapers think that . end of tho strike is within sight. Cer- . tainly there has been a remarkable change in the general atmosphere. The Chinese in the streets are beginning to fraternise with the volunteers. TMb is mainly due to the impending departure from Peking of diplomatic representatives, which will lead to discussions by which the Chinese invariably expect to settle troubles, big and small, when the momentary excitement passes. The situation is' still delicate, and little would be required to revive the fires of racial antagonism which extremists are continually fanning. Anc of the outstanding features of the ( riots was loyalty to the Council of Chinese Volunteers, despite bitter attacks by tbe vernacular Press, while only 100 of 1600 Chinese police failed to withstand the strain of continual vituperation heaped on them at every point by the strikers. The arrival at' Chin-kiang of the U.S.s. Paul Jones last night synchronised with the abatement of the riots, which apparently have not been renewed. To-day reports st.ite that the situation is quiet. A brief wireless says that , the students are working up the strike ■ tt Kiu-kiang, but no details are availI »ble,—(Reuter.) UK