NEW CHINESE TERROR

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 November 1930, Page 7

NEW CHINESE TERROR

SPREAD OF BRIGANDAGE Although the Nanking Government in China has regained some of the prestige it lost in the summer as a result of the Northern Coalition’s military successes, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Observer, London, it has not yet re-established itself to an extent sufficient to dispel the increasing anxiety felt by foreign interests over the new terror produced by rapidly spreading brigandage throughout the IS provinces. No doubt the condition of stalemate that, descended upon the struggle between Yen Hsi-shan and Feng Yuhsiang on the one hand and Chiang Kai-shek on the other provided the opportunity for banditry with impunity, but. the scale on which the bandits have begun to operate is causing consternation among those who have economic or financial interests in China. As the demoralisation increases, brigandage becomes a more and more popular profession. It has been stated in the Shanghai press that 14 separate Rod armies are ravaging Central and Southern China without opposition, their main objective being loot. One Communist gang established itself at Hanchwan, only 30 miles from Hankow, and effectively levied tribute on the surrounding country. The capture of individuals such as of the two English missionaries for a ransom of 50,000 dollars is a mere sideline in the newly-developed technique of banditry. A Communist gang lately ho.d >IP Changsha and demanded a ransom ol a million dollars under thy threat of burning it. to the ground. As a foim of preliminary demonstration the gang looted the town aud executed many of the local officials. The gang left the town within 24 hours, the town having been recaptured, according to the Nanking Ministry of Marine, by a gunboat, but the more general belief was that the 1.000,000 dollars had been paid. Thc gang next moved toward Hankow, naming 100,000 dollars as their price. It is believed that the separate gangs are controlled by a central organisation. Their methods are remarkably consistent and thorough. In one case they deliberately won a desperate reputation by sending a gang 3000 strong to capture the town of Yunyang on the ’Honan-Hupeh border, and to murder 15,000 of thc inhabitants before carrying off 500 of them for ransom. In one fortnight no fewer .than 50 towns wore captured, raided, or looted by Communist gangs. A crew ol pirates oven landed in Shanghai harbour killed a Chinese and wounded four others, one of whom, a British Australian, died of his wounds.