GUNBOATS IN CHINA.

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 6

GUNBOATS IN CHINA.

British gunboats have been finding excitement on the Yang-tse-Kiang, hundreds of miles from the sea. Britain keeps a mosquito fleet on the great river, and two of the vessels of this patrol have been engaged in an action altogether in line with the old “ cutting out ” expeditions of the days of “ wooden walls.” It was a gallant engagement, so far as their part in it was concerned, but it would have been much better if it could have been avoided. "We have described three Chinas, all professing independence of the Peking Government. They are Manchuria, under Marshal Chang, the big block of central eastern provinces over which Sun Chuan-Fang claims to be supremo, and the Cantonese provinces, subject to the Bolshevist Kuo Mintang party. It appears, however, that there is a fourth. The Governor of Sechwan, in the very heart of China, has declared the intention of his province to be also a law to itself, and it is this bravo, General Yang-sen, who has given the latest extension to Chinese troubles and caused British forces to be embroiled. It is something of a confused story at this stage, but it appears that Yang-sen had illegally commandeered two British merchantmen, which were moored, under a guard of 300 Chinese soldiers, inshore at Wanhsien, which is just within the borders of his remote territory, 800 miles or so up the river from Hankow, which is 600 miles, as the Yang-tsa-Kiang winds, Pm M m ll® sM? ws M

been in a state of convulsion owing to tho attack on Hankow by tho Red armies from Canton, who now control the city, which has a normal foreign population of 3,000, swollen recently, no doubt, by refugees. The crews of two gunboats which were sent to Wanhsien boarded and recaptured the merchantmen, despite tho much superior force by which they were guarded, and beneath tho guns of tho shore batteries, rescuing tho British prisoners; but they did not do so without casualties, including tho lives of several of their officers. Wanhsien was bombarded by a third British gunboat, which was also under fire from the shore.

Tlie days have ’ been when such an incident, provoked by the high-handed conduct of Yang-son, might have caused war between Great Britain and China. There is the famous precedent of “ Jenkins’s ear,” when the clamor for a war against Spain proved irresistible because a merchant captain named Jenkins alleged that he had been tortured by tho Spaniards and deprived of his ear. In much later days tho truculent Palmerston challenged tho House of Commons to say “ whether, as the Roman in days of old held himself free from indignity when he could say ‘Civis Romanus sum,’ so also a British subject, in whatever land he may he, shall feel confident that tho watchful eyo and tho strong arm of England will protect him against injustice and wrong.” Tho Roman citizen, in his particular case, was a Mediterranean Jew, one Don Pacifico, who chanced to be a British subject. His house at Athens had been sacked by a mob, and ho presented a. demand for compensation, fraudulent on tho face of it, which tho Greek Government refused to pay. England despatched a fleet to collect the amount. But Lord Palmerston’s doctrine, much attacked at the time, has gone out of favor since ho propounded it. His action is not likely to be followed at tho present time. In regard to tho seizure of merchantmen, tho Foreign Office has stated that there is no possibility of even sending a Noto to China on account of the civil war in that country, and tho fact that Yang-sen apparently acted on his own initiative. An indemnity will be required, no doubt, for the British deaths, whenever it. can be collected, but :t is not likely to take tho form of a demand of this century, which gave Germany command of the rich district of Kino-Chan as the price of the lives of two German missionaries. Tho worst consequence to bo feared from tho Wanhsien scrimmage is that it may lead to a revival in China of the anti-foreign hatred, which had died down since last year’s frenzy. And that complication is not needed in tin present state of tho country, when internal divisions and wars make tho conditions for foreigners, it has been said, worso than they have been since the Boxer rebellion.

The question of filling the vacancy caused by the retirement of Dr Falconer as medical superintendent of tho Dunedin Hospital is to ho the subject of a report by a sub-committee of the board’s Finance Committee. Tho minute prepared by the Finance Committee of the board as to the retiring officer reads as follows:—“ That in accepting with the greatest regret the resignation of Dr Alexander Robertson Falconer from his position of medical superintendent, tho Otago Hospital Board desires to place on record its appreciation of his services over a period of twenty-one years extending from March, 190 G, until cessation ot duties on February 23, 1927. Dr Falconer occupied tho position of resident medical officer, Dunedin Hospital, under the Dunedin Hospital trustees, whose functions devolved upon the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in April, 1910. This latter hoard, now the Otago Hospital Board, later extended Dr Falconer’s duties to cover tho position of medical superintendent, which he has filled with marked ability and unabating energy during his period of service. Dr Falconer will leave tho service of the board with the very bosl wishes of all tho members for his good health, for success in his proposed position, and in whatever sphere of life his future may lie.”

A Christchurch Press Association telegram states that at a meeting of the Unemployment Committee the mayor said shat it was very unsatisfactory that such a largo number of men wore out of work, especially as it was hoped that tho position would have been greatly improved by this time. The totals are 346 on. tho register ,and fifty on relief works.

At a special meeting of the executive of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union hold last night, the secretary (Mr G. S. Thomson) reported that he had received twenty-six applications for tho secretaryship, and it was decided that tho following six names ho submitted to a special general meeting of members to ho hold next Thursday for final selection; —Messrs A. C. Dixon, P. J. Dolan, A. W. Halton, Ralph Harrison, M. J. Kelley, and J. Niall. lb was further decided to recommend to tho new secretary that Miss I. S. Thomson he appointed assistant secretary.

Declaring that he is losing money heavily, and is compelled to break into Ills capital, a Christchurch timber merchant informed a reporter this morning that the timber war, which started at"tho beginning of June, is still being continued relentlessly. The trouble, it was ascertained, was caused by a merchant outside the Timber Merchants Association making substantial cuts in his prices with the object of securing now business. The association retaliated by revising its price-list and making a reduction of 12} per cent, on the principal lines of timber used in house-building. It was stated at the time that this would mean a drop m the cost of building a__ standard size bungalow by r about £25. Since then the parties to the trade war have not succeeded in patching up their differences, and the price-cutting is stated to be causing some concern among a number of the firms, \\beii the association revised its price-list many builders were of the opinion that the new rates would not bo continued for any length of time, and consequently house-building was given a fillip.— Christchurch correspondent.

The Finance Committee of the Otago Hospital Board reports having accepted certain tenders for supplies. Meat for the main institution is to come from Barton and Trengrovo’s, whilst D. Thomson is to supply the Wakari Hospital and R. L. Anderson the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium and the Palmerston Hospital. The Taieri and Peninsula Company has the main contract for milk, R. D. Johnston to supply it to Wakari and W. T. Hook to Pleasant Valley. For steam coal at the Dunedin Hospital and at tho Benevolent Institution the contract is with John Mill and Co., and household coal for all institutions is to bo supplied by the Bruce Coal Co. For the removal of ashes from the Dunedin Hospital and the nurses’ home W. Casey and Son are the successful tenderers. Hope and Kinaston and R* M‘Lean and Son are to attend to funerals month and month about. J. S. Hastings, Ltd., has the supplying of all such items in the drapery lino as tenders are accepted for. The Finance Committee has not yet accepted tenders for broad and pyopkery. " " i

Tlie Director-General of Health lias notified the Otago Hospital Board that ho has recommended the Minister to consent to the erection of the proposed new kitchen and diet block at tlie Dunedin Hospital to take the place of the isolation block and the existing kitchen. The hoard is now recommended by the Hospital Committee to instruct the architect to' call for tenders for the work.

In connection with the Dunedin Competitions a correspondent asks where tho lino is drawn between amateurs and professionals, whether the receipt of a fee for taking part in a concert programme makes tho performer a professional, and whether it is justifiable for such a fee to bo included in the travelling expenses. The Dmiediu Competitions' Society’s definition of an amateur is as follows;—“An amateur means one who has not received any remuneration "of any kind whatever from tho exercise of his or her talents in the particular section in which he or she may compote. Prize money at these or similar competitions not to affect the status of an amateur, provided that all persons under the age of eighteen be deemed amateurs.” Eleven waiting patients have been this week accepted at the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, and six are going into tho Wakari Hospital. It is significant that the Pleasant Valley institution is always, full, men and women waiting for admittance. Tho homo for stray bicycles in Christchurch is tho Central Police Station. On an average six machines a day find their way to the police premises. Already this year about SCO bicycles have been handed in to or have been recovered by the police. There lias been a daily procession of every kind of machine and of every make. Strangely enough, those people wno lose their bicycles do not seem particularly keen to get them back again. There are over .1.00 machines at the police station waiting for their owners. Tho machines "are carefully checked and packed away in a room at tho station. Many of the cycles have not had much use, and several of them are now. Olliers, of course, have had their day so far as looks go, but with a little attention and a pot of paint they could be made quite presentable.—Christchurch correspondent. Tho Otago Hospital Board is advised that the six bags of ashes which are supposed to contain tho radium lost a while ago havo reached England and have been sent to Belgium for treat-' mont by the Colon plant in the hope of extracting tho otherwise indiscoverable speck. Though of tho value of from £l5O to £IBO. this radium is less in hulk than ten niiligrnmmes. When in use it was encased in a tube half an inch long and about tho thickness of a pencil, "in appearance the precious metal may bo likened to tho tip of a gramophone needle. In tho meantime a now atom of equal scientific value has been procured for use in Dunedin. If tho missing speck is sifted out the board will bo credited with the money value remaining after expenses are paid.

Three or four laborers wero yesterday put on by tho Dunedin Jockey Club to clear away the debris of tho stand that was consumed by lire last Saturday. Arrangements are being thought out for minimising the inconvenience at tho forthcoming spring races by reason of the big stand being lost. One matter already settled is that half of the middle stand is to be reserved for members and their lady friends. The racing will go on as usual, and as soon as possible the full facilities will bo restored, and perhaps added to.

The Otago Harbor Board’s operations at the Heads are making tho north spit quite a lively place, horfcyfivo men are working there in preparing for the reconstruction of tho mole. This is ono of tho chief works that Mr A. Robertson, tho acting engineer, has in hand. The man in charge on tho job is Mr C. R. Davis. The old wooden structure has been, as far as low-wator mark. The piles , are found to bo sound, so they are being cut down and will be used as tho base on which to rear the new wooden skeleton pier from which the stone will ho dropped to form the new mole. Most of tho timber for the inshore bays of the structure has been delivered. A powerful cranp for handling tho heavy beams and piles is now on the way out from Homo and shortly to arrive. Tho steam shovel for use at the quarry on the north spit is already to hand. Workmen’s cribs to accommodate fortylive men are to bo ready for occupation next week. Shower baths and other accessories that make for comfort and decency are provided in these cribs. At a stop-work meeting of the Seamen’s Union held on Tuesday the following resolution was carried unanimously Whereas tho Trades Council has been keenly scrutinising decisions given by the Court of Arbitration of recent months, and liavo come to the conclusion that such decisions have always been in favor of the employing class and against tho weight of evidence, we think it is high time that wo had an alteration in the constitution of tho Court of Arbitration. We therefore emphatically protest against tho decisions of tho court, and call upon tho Government to remove Mr Justice Frazer from the position of President of this court.”

In the multiplicity of appeals to tho Dunedin public for financial aid to this, that, and tho other cause tho modest request of tho Dunedin Choral Society for the wherewithal to found an adequate library has been so far lost sight of. About £IOO would servo immediate requirements—-a more trifle. Maybe some generous citizen will do himself the honor of providing this in one sum, and thus rid the society of its difficulty in regard to music. In the meantime, pending the appearance of finch a benefactor, the singing members have subscribed amongst themselves the £8 required for the purchase of ‘ Tho Rebel Maid,’ 'Gerontius,' and the part songs from tho Exhibition Company, and if there is any virtue in the saying that heaven helps those who help themselves they have established a claim for assistance. The public expects that a society like the Dunedin Choral shall sing standard oratorios and other ponderous works the music of which is not picked up on bargain counters, and it is hardly a fair -thing that tho choir should have to pay for the music as well as provide the singing.

The Kawarau gates appear to have been reopened without any harm to nroperty down the river. The Blow opening of the gates practically cleared away any possibility of a sudden i ush of water. Surveys arc now being made along the whole course of the river. For supplying liquor to female Natives at a pa James M Gulloch, a farmer, was lined £JO, and for supplying to a male Native in the proclaimed area a fine of £lO was imposed.—Waipawa Press Association telegram.

One of the requirements of marine officers’ certificates in Now Zealand is a knowledge of wireless operating, but Mi Sullivan (Avon) informed the Minister of Marine in the House yesterday that no facilities for instruction existed. The Northern Steamship Company had closed the school it established for its officers, while the Union Company had a school in Wellington for its staff only. Mr Anderson replied that he recognised the importance of the matter. New Zealand was the first to < require a knowledge of wireless operating from holders of seamen’s tickets, the object being that wireless could ultimately be used on the smallest ships around the coast. He understood that the Union Company was willing to give lessons to candidates outside its staff, and he saw no reason why the Government should establish a wireless school any more than a nautical school. He would, discuss with the Minister of Education the possibility of adding a wireless class to some technical college.—From our Parlia--1

The deputy-mayor, Mr W. B. Taverner, recently received a cheque for £375 from a generous citizen who subscribed himself an “Exhibition Shareholder.” Tho sum_ represented tho donor’s dividend on his Exhibition shares, and was sent for distribution amongst the charitable organisations of tho city. Certain suggestions were made by the donor regarding the distribution of the funds, and for the remainder the deputy-mayor was requested to use his own discretion. Mr Taverner has now dispersed the fund as follows:—Unemployment Committee (for labor) £IOO, Salvation Army (Shelter Fund) £25, Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society £SO, Men’s Mission £SO, Roman Catholic orphanages £SO, Little Sisters of tho Poor £25, Sister Nora £25, Methodist Central Mission £25, Presbyterian Social Service Association £25.

For being drunk in charge o r r. motor van, William Wolland, a. butcher was fined at Wellington by Mr PagoS.M., £25 and his driving license was cancelled for throe years. It was stated that at high speed he drove into a motor car. His van overturned, suffering damage to tlie extent of £l5O. Ho was employed by his father. —Press Association.

The following prisoners were sentenced in the Supreme Court. Christchurch;—David Maxwell Gillies, forgery, probation for three years; John Hu nr, burglary at Ashburton, one year in gaol; Henry Blackwell, laborer, aged 20, forgery, three years’ probation; Arthur Gavan, burglary, two years in gaol.—Press Association. The case in which G. S. Thomson proceeded against Aubrey Douglas foi fraudulently failing to account for £5 6s collected by him came before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., at the City Police Court to-day. The matter had been adjourned from last week in order to give Mr Thomson an opportunity to bring evidence. The magistrate read a letter from the defendant in which lie asked that tho case bo adjourned until September 17. Mr Thomson: 1 have no objection. I don’t want to be hard on the man. The case was adjourned until September 17. Three informations charging him with assaults on girls were preferred against Herbert IV. Morgan, a young man, in the Dannevirks Magistrate’s Court. Accused admitted the charges. It was represented by the polite that accused had been hanging round streets following girls home at night. This Was what had occurred in the cases the subject of the charges. On one occasion ho had attempted to kiss one of the girls. Accused, who had been in trouble previously, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment bn _ one charge, and was convicted and discharged on the others.—Press Association telegram.

At a wcll-atlendcd meeting in the Auckland Trades Hall it was resolved—- “ This meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labor Council and the Auckland District Council of the Alliance of Labor and officers of the Auckland Trade Unions approves the basis of unity agreed ttpon between the executives of tho Trades and Labor Council Federation and tho Alliance of Labor, and pledges itself to recommend its acceptance by .unions, and to secure its endorsement and approval by the industrial organisations of the Auckland district.—Press Association.

A Christchurch Association message states that Cyril Clifton Banks, a young man, was to-day ordered by the magistrate to be detained in tho Borstal Institute for three years for obtaining goods by fraud, representing himself to bo a fanner. A seven-roomed house in Avondale South, Auckland, occupied by T. Goultou, was practically destroyed by lire. The insurances, in tho South British, were:—House, £ooofurniture, £101). —Press Association.

There should bo a large attendance at the Sisters of Mercy garden fete, to be opened in the grounds, Broughton street, to-night by His Lordship Bishop Whyte. The grounds will be illuminated with colored lights, and cakes, children’s toys, and art works will be for sale at the various stalls. An entertainment will bo provided by the Mount St. Joseph’s Orphanage boys and members of the St. Vincent Orphanage, assisted by pupils of St. Philomena’s College. A string band will also be in attendance. The proceeds are in aid of tho funds for community purposes. The fete will also bo open tomorrow evening.

For glasses guaranteed to suit consult W. V. Stunner, U.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1., 2 Octagon, Dunedin; ’phone 7,2s2.—[Advt.j An extended night dance will be held in the Trades Hall on Saturday night. Tho Square Deal Euchre Assembly will hold its weekly tournament in tho South Dunedin Town Hal!, at 8 o’clock to-night. Tho prizes consist of £ls in orders and ten other prizes.