AN ORGY OF BLOOD

Evening Star, Issue 20117, 6 March 1929, Page 11

AN ORGY OF BLOOD

CHINESE GENERAL’S RULE KILLING OFF THE OPPOSITION. While the situation on the surface at tlie port of Chefoo, in the Chinese Province of Shantung (says the ‘Herald’s’ Shanghai correspondent), is apparently quiet and normal, there is a strong undercurrent of uneasiness prevailing among both the foreign and Chinese residents of the port. Chefoo, at present, is governed by General Lin Chenmpii, formerly a strong supporter of the Northern Command, but, from motives of expediency, now a convert to the Nationalist cause. General Liu, disregarding the orders from Nanking, has installed his own men in nil the important military and civil posts under his command. The Nationalists informed General Liu. that these positions must bo. filled by men nominated by the Nanking Government, and the men. selected were, accordingly sent to Chefoo to take up their duties; at least fourteen of the Nanking emissaries have been found murdered, while some thirty others have been executed on various pretexts, -The general belief is that Liu has adopted the plan of maintaining his authority, by a process of elimination, or, in other words, killing off the opposition. The subordinates of General Liu are distinctly uneasy owing to his orgy of bloodshed, and there arc rumours of a. possible mutiny in his army. In addition. fighting is anticipated between General Liu’s forces and a rival army stationed at the port of Tengchowfu, sixty miles north - of Chefoo; the general in charge at the. latter port called on General Liu, and afterwards completely disappeared, and his followers believe '.hat he lias tree - ) assassinated. A delegation from the Christian general, Marshal Feng Yu-hsiang, also called on General Liu, on behalf of the Nanking Government, with a view to discussing the situation, but Liu settled the affair by arresting the members of the delegation and snooting them. A second delegation sent a few days later met a similar fate. There are no British troops stationed at Chefoo. and British authority is represented by one single destroyer. Consequently, in view of General Liu’s reign of terror, the situation is viewed with, considerable alarm by the foreign resir dents of the port.