CRUISERS READY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 292, 10 December 1929, Page 7

CRUISERS READY.

SAFETY OF NATIONALS. Tense Situation On Yangtse River. FIGHTING EXPECTED. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, December 9. In accordance with instructions issued by the British and American Consulates foreign women and children are being evacuated from Nanking. A steamer arrived at Shanghai this afternoon with 73 aboard. While the situation in the capital is quiet the step is indicative of the seriousness of the outlook. It is reported that Government officials at Nanking wirelessed instructin" the holding of a swift vessel in readiness to evacuate the Government in 'case of necessity. Foreign official opinion received from Nanking states that Chiang Kai-sliek is preparing to fight is contained a telegram received from the cruiser Suffolk this morning. All is quiet but trouble is anticipated hourly. .A train carrying Consular officials from Nanking last night reached the capital safely, but the midnight express was partly derailed as the result of the removal of a section of the rails. Shanghai .volunteer corps were ordered to stand by for mobilisation in the event of trouble. A British official wireless message states that a somewhat critical situation exists in several of the Yangtse River ports, arising out of the advance of the Ivuominchun troops and defections among the National troops at Changchow, which have led to the inteiruption of railway communications between Nanking and Shanghai. The conditions appear uncertain, and as a precautionary measure the British cruiser Suffolk left Shanghai for Nanking yesterday morning in order to be available, if required, for the safety of foreign residents. The cruiser Berwick has left Hongkong to replace the Suffolk at Shanghai.