GAY SHANGHAI.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 July 1928, Page 10

GAY SHANGHAI.

KIDNAPPING AND LOOTING. NANKING ATROCITIES. RESIDENT COMES TO NEW ZEALAND. "Shanghai lias become the gayest citv of the world, and its night life outshines anything on the continent of Europe today." commented a passenger by the Ulimaroa yesterday, who, after residing for 28 years in China has come out to New Zealand to spend the winter of his life. '"Residents of Shanghai," he said, "can • ■onsider themselves exceedingly fortunate that the city has not been looted as were Nanking and other places. I he British troops arrived just in time, and the city is now in reality a walled fortress, practically impregnable. It has become the harbour for many wealthy Chinese and Europeans from other parts, who have flocked to it for protection. I do not think that fighting will cease for the next fifty years. The whole trouble has undoubtedly come from Russia, and the strange thing about it is that many of the men who have received Russian gold have held on to it and not used it for the propaganda purposes for which it was intended.

"It is quite a common sight in Shanghai to see wealthy men, when venturing out on the street, protected by guards. Kidnapping is very rife, bandits always being on the look out for wealthy men or their sons, whom they hold for lansom. Many of the houses are guarded day and night, but despite all precautions, there are frequent disappearances. I remember a case shortlv before I left in which the son of a wealthy Chinese merchant was kidnapped, and the father refused the sum demanded. The boy's ear was cut off and sent to the merchant as a guarantee what would happen if the monev stipulated was not forthcoming. This is only one of numerous happenings of the kind, and many murders have taken place as a result of the operations of these bloodthirsty bandits. Trade is at a standstill, and can never recover v.'hile the country is in such a disturbed state. Nobody ever knows who is ruling China. One day one faction will assume control, jonly to be pulled down to-morrow. The Nanking horrors were so revolting that the Press could not publish the del tails."