SHAMEEN FIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1925, Page 5

SHAMEEN FIGHT

WHO started the firing? T\Vo QIT’OSING STORIES. . (Reuter.) ' HONG KONG, June 25. The civil Governor of Canton, in a note to the British Consul General states, inter alia : In reference to the procession- in Shanghai, Avheu it had almost entirely passed Shake Street, soldier-.; ahd police in the British concession suddenly opened fire- with machine guns and rifles on the ; croAVds in the procession on tile othersides of*’ the canal, Avhereupon the soldiers and police in the French concession likewise fired, while the •Portuguese gunboat fired ‘ its big guns, killing and wounding over a hundred. This brutal killing was premeditated and secretly planned. When he (the Civil Governor) heard the particulars he was amazed and was in.duty bound to enter a most serious protest, as well as to state dearly that the entire- responsibility for the affair -rested upon the civil and military-officials, British, French and Portuguese soldiers and police, and the gunboat concerned. The British CohsuFGeneral, in his reply, points out thatrthe Portuguese gunboat took no part. It was the defence forces of the concessions alone that replied to the attacjc made on them by the Chinese on the other side of the canal. The note adds: “I can say from the evidence of our oavii even that the firing was first started by the Chinese. the senior naval officer Avere ■ present for . the purpose of preventing precipitate action on the pait of the''defenders, and he ami the naval officer barelv escaped with there lives from the hail of builds directed at them by the Chinese. It av;is only then in ■.’•ell' defence that l-re .was opened from Shameen and bv the FremTi forces, ' avlnch Avere similarly attacked. He repud’ates the charge, that, - responsibility rests Avith foreigners and asks the Civil Governor to take complete measures to I'-afe-guard the lives of the Britishers around Canton. EYE WITNESSES’ EVIDENCE. CANTON, June 25. An eve Avitness of Tuesday’s disturbance says: Ea-cii the little boys in the procession jumped about like Dervishes, draAving blinds across throats and bodies, indicating what they would do Avith us, and s-bout-ing in English and French: “Kill foreigners.” As the procession passed the French concession, which was Avell guarded and is opposite the English concession, Avhere there was little sign of preparedness some one in the crowd fired lavo shots. The soldiers immediately opened fire which was thereupon returned. One Shameen official states that the actual attack was made bv Shameen students led by Russian BolsheA’iks. FolloAving them Avere three thousand soldiers disguised as Yunnane—- *abourers, Almost immediately, twenty carefully concealed machine guns, opened fire upon the mob, hammeL in" at the gates of Shameen, decimating them as they came forward. The mob reeled, and -fell back in confusion, exposing innocent spectators behind them for a time, to the terrific fire, which had been concentrate ed upon the actual attackers. After this ceased,- sniping continued for some time, then suddenly stopped. Evidence from all quarters is that it Avas not a peaceful procession but a thoroughly organised military attack.

STUDENTS PLAN ATTACK (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) HUNG KONG, June 25., The remaining women and children from Shameen sailed for Hong Kong aboard His Majesty’s ship “Khaki. Arrangements are being made Canton for both sides to meet. The Canton Government at present forbids any further attack. At Shameen is expected a demonstration at the international settlement to-day. The Chinese naval authorities are assuming full responsibility to- cope with the situation.

Mr. Jamieson, British ConsulGeneral at Canton, addressed a Note to the Chinese Bureau of Foreign Abairs- stating he had been reliably informed that the students in their patriotic demonstration to-morrow intended to make martyrs of themselves by attacking 'the bridges leading to Shameen, and that the students at the University- of Kwailgturig had been chosen by lot for the work. He warned the Government of Kwangtung that any attempt to penetrate the British concession at Shameen will be resisted by force of arms, and the Government would be held responsible for any consequences and the blood of the victims would be on their own heads.

CGNSPIRAUY ERUSTRATED(Reuter.) SHANGHAI, June 25. ~ Coinciding with disturbing repoils clsvwheie, I lie s Shanghai .po lice ob - tained information of a widespread plot by students to hire motor cAis, and dash round the settlement, throwing bombs, and shooting. The police have ordered the garage not to hire cars except to known customers. S olunteers and specials are mobilised and distributed at tactical points. 'The shipping position is worse. An "10-Japanese ocean goers are avoiding o Shanghai. The N.Y.K. has suspended sailings Irom Shanghai, except two fast mail boats, pending the approval of the Government.

CHINESE ASPIRATIONS PEKIN, June 21. Chinese authorities at Harbin and Tientsin have prohibited demonstrations arranged for to-morrow. The Chinese Foreign Ollice has handed a note to the interested Powers, which lengthily argues that the unequal treaties with China should be given up. The Note says that when China joined in lhe war, she was encouraged to hope for a definite improvement in her international status, which, however is still interior to that of conquered nations. With a readjustment of the treaties, the other nations’ rights could be better protected. The satisfaction of the Chinese aspirations would consolidate friendly relations with the Foreign Powers.