FIGHTING BETWEEN CHINESE FACTIONS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8477, 24 December 1923, Page 3

FIGHTING BETWEEN CHINESE FACTIONS

CONDITIONS REPORTED TO BE VERY UNCERTAIN.

* Press Assoc* Lsy let. Copyright

Ar~t.—N.Z. Cable Assoc. Rcc. Dec. 24, 8.5 a, lll. Hongkong, Dec. 21. Advices from Canton state that numerous street placards ui|;e a boycott against British and Americans. Other placards ask the people to unite to gain die Kwantung Customs snrphi s in order to save thc Chinese : nation. Other messages from Can- I ton indicate that factional affairs 1 in China are rapidly approaching & another crisis. This time the* posi- ! tion is aggravated by internal niutin- jj tes and disaffection?. Fighting has | occurred between Kwangsi and Sunnani.se troops, both being nominally j united to defend the city against the assaults ol the Northern leader } Chenchungmen. The nature cf the differences which caused the clash have not yet been learned. Meanwhile local conditions are unsettled, j Sun Yat Sen, following on his ap- I peal to-Mr Ramsay MacDonald, pre- i settled an ultimatum, demanding that the surplus Cantonese customs, accrued since March 20, 1920, be turned over to his Government, failing which he threatens to appoint new Customs officials, who will recognise his authority and execute his wishes.