RIOTS IN SHANGHAI

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1946, Page 7

RIOTS IN SHANGHAI

POLICE CHARGE MOB WITH BAYONETS

OVER 100 PEOPLE INJURED SHANGHAI, December 2.

The police charged with fixed bayonets and clubs yesterday to break up a mob of several thousand Chinese who rioted before the Whankpoo police station in a protest against the recent arrest of 600 street vendors for illegal trading. One of the rioters was killed and at least 100 were injured. The mob alleged that six of the vendors died in prison from beatings.

Dozens of shops reopened this morning as heavily armed foot and motorised police with orders to shoot demonstrators on sight patrolled the streets in an effort to prevent a recurrence of the rioting. Many stores, however, are still closed, the owners evidently being fearful of further violence.

A municipal spokesman expressed the opinion that the situation was under control and claimed that nobody was killed. The United Press correspondent, however, claims that two persons were killed and at least 140 injured, and that sporadic fighting is continuing to-day. The rioting followed freezing' weather in which at least 50 persons died in the streets from exposure. The rioters wrecked 100 motor-cars and looted or wrecked numerous shops. The police vainly tried to end the disturbances with tear gas, firehoses,, and rifle fire. The rioters confiscated a theatre for their “field headquarters” and threatened to wreck any .store which opened.

The Mayor (Mr. K. C. Wu) failed in his attempts to bargain with the rioters and he threatened stiff enforcement of martial law which has been, in effect technically since the Japanese surrender. He blamed Communists for fomenting trouble. United States Army and Navy personnel and their dependants have been restricted to their quarters indefinitely to keep them away from the disturbances.