OMINOUS QUIET.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 7

OMINOUS QUIET.

NANKING SITUATION.

AH Foreigners Ordered To

Evacuate.

WARSHIPS ON SCENE.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright]

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, December 10.

There is an ominous quiet at present in the situation, but it is obviously misleading. All foreigners have been ordered by their respective Consuls to evacuate Nanking, where a serious outbreak is expected unless General Chiang Kai-shek can suppress the.rebels in the surrounding areas. Hongkong messages state that the majority of "British and American women in Nanking were evacuated yesterday on the steamer Shenking and the remainder, two British and about four American, are being evacuated to-day. The British aircraft carrier Hermesis proceeding to Shanghai from Hongkong, and a cruiser and two destroyers are proceeding to Nanking. The cruiser Hirato is proceeding to Shanghai to co-operate with the Suffolk and the other warships for the protection of foreigners at Shanghai, with 5500 troops. The American, British, French and Japanese troops,, together with 1500 volunteers, and a large police force, are believed in Shanghai to be sufficient to ensure adequate protection for the settlements.

The cruiser Berwick arrived at Shanghai to-day. The Bruce, the Serapis and the Stormland proceeded up the Yangtse.

The barbed wire defences between the French concessions and the Chinese city are already 'manned. The tosal foreign troops stationed in China are 15,600. Statement in Commons. A British' official wireless message states that the disturbed situation in China was the subject of a statement in the House, of Commons by the Secretary, of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arthur Henderson. The Minister said that following on the mutiny of troops at Pukow, opposite Nanking, the President, Chiang Kaishek, disarmed the guards left in Nanking by certain generals of,whose loyalty he was doubtful, and arrested their civilian staffs. Martial law was proclaimed. Measures were at once taken for the dispatch of British naval reinforcements, and preparations made for the evacuation of the women and children. The national situation had since developed, owing to the revolt of the troops stationed on the Shanghai-Nan-king Railway, about mid-way between the two cities. In view of these developments the British Consul-General at Nanking, Mr. Meyrick Hewlett, had been instructed that in the event of danger he should at once order the withdrawal of the women and children.

Regarding the position at Shanghai, Mr. Henderson said there were at present three British warships there, and a flotilla leaded and two destroyers were on their way from Hongkong. All the refitting in Hongkong dockyard was being expedited, and overtime .was being worked. Arrangements were in hand fo'r the transfer of a battalion from Hongkong to Shanghai, should the j situation demand it.

Mr. Henderson added that he had no information that British property had been interfered with or endangered elsewhere, except • perhaps at Ichang. A small body of rebels approached that place, and preparations were made to evacuate foreigners, in case of need. Later reports showed that the defence of Ichang had received reinforcements, and after continuous, fighting the rebels had been repulsed.

No immediate trouble was foreseen there, but as a precaution the women and children either remained afloat or were concentrated on the river front.