THE SHOOTING AT NANKING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 11

THE SHOOTING AT NANKING.

j STATEMENT IN COMMONS. I j SIX FOREIGNERS KILLED. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIBELESS.) RUGBY, April 4. Sir Austen Chamberlain (Foreign Secretary), in reply to a series ot questions on the Chinese situation, m the House of Commons to-day, said that from information gathered from numerous disinterested Chinese, the general belief among Chinese was (Sat three Chinese civilians only were killed by the shells fired by the British and American warships at Nanking. it was impossible to ascertain the number of military casualties, but these took place solely among the troops engaged in attacking foreigners at the Standard Oil Hill. General Chiang Kai-shek (the Cantonese Commander-in-Chief) had, however, told a number of Press correspondents at Shanghai that the estimate of casualties suffered by the Chinese was six killed and 15 wounded. The ground within range of the firing was entirely open, except for a few foreign-owned houses, and the damage done to Chinese property was infinitesimal. No part of the city was set on fire, as the area where the shelling took place was open agricultural ground. The firing continued intermittently for 70 minutes, and in all 76 shells were fired by the British warship Emerald, and approximately the same number by the two American destroyers. Foreign casualties, according to his latest information, were: British, three killed: Dr. Smith, Mr Huber, and a naval Seaman Knox. Americans, one killed, one wounded. French, one killed. Italian, one killed. He had no accurate information about the Japanese casualties, but it was reported that two or three were wounded. The latest report from Nanking was that conditions were becoming more normal in regard to the Chinese population, but the attitude of the Nationalists towards foreigners and foreign property was every day becoming increasingly truculent. British steamers leaving port had been heavily fired on from the waterfront, and the looting of foreign houses still continued. All foreigners had been brought out of the city. The British Government was in consultation with the United States, Japanese, French, and Italian Governments regarding matters connected with the Nanking outrages The latest repoi ts indicated that the situation in Hankow was easier, but a further crisis was anticipated. Steps were being taken to reduce the British community to a minimum, and the United States authorities were evacuating their residents as rapidly as possible. British subjects in the interior of China, in places where disfurbances were to be anticipated, had been advised from time to time ever since November last to withdraw to places ot safety. This advice had been repeated as occasion arose by the British Con%suls, and had been extended to further districts when necessary In a continuous process of this nature it was not possible to give a series ot exact dates, but on March 26th, the British Consular officers at Ningp°> Swatow, Foochow, Chingkiang, Wuhu, Kuikiang, Hankow, Yunnanfu, and Kiungchow were warned to be prepared to be evacuated if necessary. On March 28th, the advice was extended to British subjects in the interior of Tientsin, Chefoo, Taingtao, and Tsinan Consular districts, and on March 30th to every part of the interior of China. Chungkiang had been completely evacuated, as had &>\sc Changsha, except for the British Con sul, the Mother Superior of the Fran ciscan Mission, and a British warship Stationed there.. Ichang was to be similarly evacuated st the earliest posAU British subjects who elected to disregard this repeated advice _ had been warned that they did so entirely at their own risk, and on their own responsibility. Asked as to the number of British subjects in the interior of China, Sir Austen Chamberlain that he was reluctant to give an estimate, because the numbers varied from day to day, but he thought they numbered not more than 200. ...... c In regard to the responsibility for the outrages at Nanking, the British Consul-General there had stated that the outstanding fact, which could be proved beyond question, was that the looting and killing were the work or Nationalist soldiers in uniform. It was an established fact that foreigners were shot down in cold blood by' Nationalist soldiers, and it_ was equally established _ that _ practically every foreign house including; the Consulates, was gutted, and at least eight foreign houses burnt down, all by Nationalist soldiers. Looting continued for several dan after March 24th. Sir L. Worthington Evans (teecretarv for'War\ replying to-a Question about the defence of_ the French Comcession at Shanghai, said this had not been undertaken by the British defence force. In response, however, to an enquiry from the French Commander as to whether, if pressed. 1" could call for British assistance. General Duncan had informed him that he could po-o-erate if the French lme were in danger.

AMERICA'S DEMANDS. WASHINGTON, April 4. The Government has. sent delayed instructions to Mr Mac Murray regarding the joint demands to the Nationalists. The instructions are understood to modifv the joint draft demands that Mr Mac Murray submitted to the State Department after the conferences with the British and Japanese Ministers. The new orders permit the joint demands for an indemnity for the Nanking and other outrages, and the request for guarantees of future protection for foreign lives and property,_ but do not authorise an American or joint ultimatum. According to informed persons here, it is considered probable that Mr MacMurray and the British and Japanese Ministers at Peking will be able_ to agree to joint action along the lines favoured by the Americans. NATIONALIST REVERSES. (AUSTRALIAN AXD !T ' r - CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received April 6th, 12.50 a.m.) SHANGHAI, April 5. The Nationalist thrust towards the Yellow river is now meeting resistance from the Northerners who counterattacked on April 3rd and 4th, and captured Kwantien after heavy fighting, the Nationalists rushing up reinforcements, while 200 wounded arrived at Nanking.