TRIPLE DANGER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 7

TRIPLE DANGER.

SHANGHAI BESET. Victorious Reds Sweeping Onward. MOBS WITSilt CITY. (By table.— Press Association.—Copyright.) •Received 11 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 20. Shanghai has to face danger of a three-fold character, namely, the retreating troops, the advancing conquerors and the mobs within the? city. The length of the settlement boundaries make them difficult to guard. A mob of 50,000 people eduld pour into the settlement at a hundred different points o n all sides. The British forces are stationed at the most important public utilities in specially erected huts. Seaplanes from British warships reconnoitre the Chinese military lines each day. Three route marches are being carried out by British soldiers and marines in Shanghai every day. The men march with fixed bayonets through the settlement and the streets of the citv. These demonstrations have had a salutary effect on the natives. It is estimated that TO per cent of the British subjects in China are in Shang- j hai. The protection of the British Army I and Navy synchronises with the reverse suffered by "Marshal Sun Chr.an-fang in the Chekiang province. The municipal authorities are taking every precaution to prevent the entry of the soldiers into the settlement. Pickets on the boundaries are disarming them as they arrive. The situation only needs a soark to start a serious conflagration" The British troops arrived in the nick of time. They are considered to be sufficient for any situation which may arise. Secret meetings of pro-Canton groups are held every day. the Labour unions feverishly agitated for the general strike which has-now been called. northerners' Retreat. The latest reports from Chekiang state that the Northerners are retreating upon Sung-kiang. They are looting the towns en route. Sun has sent many appeals to General Chang Hsueh-liang, son of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, imploring his assistance, but so far there has been no response. The anti-Red debacle is not surprising. Sun's army consists of a rabble who enlisted for the purpose of indulging in looting. Sun is frantically establishing defences 50 miles from Shanghai in the hope of checking the Reds. Reports from Japanese sources state that Sun is prepared to compromise with the Reds in regard to Shanghai in order to avoid fighting. Several high Chinese officials have fled to Japan as a result of the latest developments. Others are taking refuge elsewhere. Defeat Denied. A manifesto issued by the Chinese Defence Commissioners denies that Sun has been beaten. It states that he is prepared to defend Shanghai to the last man. The Hangchow railway is a scene of confusion. Only military trains are running. The Cantonese supporters in Shanghai are jubilant at the turn of events. They are planning demonstrations to celebrate them. From these trouble may be expected. Thousands of refugees are pouring into Shanghai from the war-stricken areas, including hundreds of soldiers who have deserted. Marshal Sun Chang-fang's anti-Red army is expected to break up and flee to Shanghai at any moment. Its moral has been vitally struck by Kuomintang propaganda. FURTHER RETREAT. SUN'S DEFENCE FORCE. (Received 12.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 20. Sun Chuan-fang's troops are reported to have retreated to Hashing, about 50 miles south-west of Shanghai. Between Hashing and Snngkiang Sun is stated to have 40,000 men.