CIVIL WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 7

CIVIL WAR.

ORGY OF SLAUGHTER. protection from Onrushing Deserters. gEANTUNG TROOPS ARRIVE. , s - Cable.— Copyright—Press Association.) (Received 1.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 27. Shantung troops occupy the most Important points in and around qianghai except in the foreign toryi large force took over control of the Huts'.at the mouth of the Shanghai jj ver ,. where the Shantijng fleet has jrrived in anticipation of an attack by jje Cantonese from the sea.

British soldiers, supported by small detachments of Italians, Japanese and French marines, continue to hold strafe points beyond the boundaries of -jjg foreign settlements. This is vitally necessary, although in contravention of the treaties, because series, of defeated soldiers and civilian jobs are allowed to reach the bouncaries. • Already the British troops at the railray connecting Shanghai with the Sungkiang "front have disarmed many deserting troops who were endeavouring to get the protection of the foreign settlements. The Shanghai Council has openly dedared that the Shantungites are here to protect Shanghai, yet they are know n to be the worst looters, pillagers and mur- i ferers in China. ' General Chang C'liung-chang, the commander, is a notorious ex-bandit with a siameful record of governorship of Shantnng province, having executed editors and banished merchants wholesale without trial, for resisting or denouncing his governmental tactics. The Council therefore, is taking no chances. Already Shantung soldiers i n the Chinese city have shot shopkeepers for refusing to accept worthless Shantung paper money. Chang C'hung-chang and Sun Chuanfang together arrived at Shanghai from banking. It is believed the presence of Shantung troops on the Sungkiang front will hold the Cantonese advance for a few days; but will eventually crumble. In sdeh an emergency the Shanghai defence force will be sent. The latter is continuously policing the Shanghai countryside, watching for the anticipated rash of defeated troops to Shanghai with the enemy on their heels. When this occurs scenes similar to those described by a Presbyterian missionary who escaped from Hangchow following the arrival of the Cantonese, may he expected in the Chinese territory. Wholesale Murder Feared. A missionary states that the wholesale tnurder, of' anti-Reds by the Cantonese-Mlrtwed the capture of Hang-chow.;-"Civilians' suspected of northern sympathies were executed instantly. Shops' and homes were looted, and huge sums demanded from the authorities in lieu of a complete sacking of the city, were paid. The missionary saw civilians with Eerely a northern accent, trampled and beaten to death. Two hundred captive anti-Reds were lined up and slaughtered with machine-gun fire, the Reds laughing the while.

This, missionary states that several Cantonese wore frock coats and British rain capes, and carried Mills bombs. After .the butchery thev embarked on an orgy of looting and rape ~a few women only escaping. Resisters were murdered. The recent warning of the British Consul to foreigners to evacuate Hangchow appears to have been timely. PIQUANT SITUATION.

Port Closed Nightly to Safeguard Shanghai. CONSULAR BODY PROTESTS. SHANGHAI, February 27. A piqu.int situation-has arisen by the action of General Li Pao-shang, the Shanghai Defence Commissioner, issuing a proclamation that Woosung, the entrance to Whangpoo, which is the only approach to Shanghai from the Yangtzse delta, will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to all shipping.' This is in order to prevent possible attack on Shanghai by Nationalist naval forces. Notice of the proclamation was served on the Consular body, which protested. Although no other action has so far been taken, it is generally recognised that -Li Pao-shang has a good prima facie' case. As he is in the position of heing the defender of Shanghai he must have some sort of examination of shipping : entering, but it is equally well recognised that Shanghai's immense shipping, which enters and leaves the port as the tides dictate, cannot thus be interfered with. It is generallv expected that the matter will be settled by amicable compromise, but at present all ships violating the order are subject to a thorough search bv ths Chinese authorities.