CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 19713, 14 November 1927, Page 2

CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

NATIONALIST OFFENSIVE BEGUN PIRATES AUCTION VICTIMS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright . SHANGHAI, November 11. Nationalist forces controlled by,the Nanking Government have commenced a general offensive northwards mid westwards of Tientsin, the Pukow Railway, and the Yangtso River respectively, undertaking’ operations on a largo scale. Pirates operating in the Yangtse gorges have introduced novelty in their business, according to travellers arriving in Shanghai, including passengers released by pirates owing to their poverty. These describe a human auction mart, where victims carried off from the pirated vessels are divided into three classes according to wealth and auctioned to the highest bidder, who takes the risk as to the amount of ransom he may obtain from the victim purchased.

COMMUNIST PEASANT.FUSING ARMED WITH SCYTHES AND SPEARS. TRAIL OF DESOLATION. Press Association—By Telegraph- Copyright. SHANGHAI, November 11. ’ Tbe rival Nationalist forces at Nanking and Hankow have finally come to grips in the vicinity of Wusih. Shipping is held up, and vessels venturing within range are fired upon. Changsha is reported to have fallen to the Nankingites under Sin Chuan-faug. A Communist peasant uprising of serious proportions laid waste more than 10 villages north-east of Wusih, along the Shanghai-Nanking Railway. Two small armies of Communists, armed with scythes, spears, ancient knives, and agricultural implements, and wearing red rags round their necks, are at present sweeping eveything in their path, burning and demolishing villages, looting homes, killing the owners, and. leaving desolation and also Communist literature in their tracks. FALL OF HANKOW EXPECTED. RIVAL NATIONALIST FORCES. SHANGHAI. November 12. The capture of Hankow by the Nanking Nationalist forces is momentarily expected. They are reported to bo within 10 miles unopposed, owing to wholesale bribery by the Hankow generals. A tense situation and the disorganisation of Hankow are inevitable, but it is considered that the position cannot become worse than it is under the existing regime. A few hundred foreigners in Hankow are not considered to bo endangered by the issue, which is confined to the obliteration of one or other of the Nationalist Governments.

A strong force of marines and bluejackets of several nationalities is available if required.