WAR UNAVOIDABLE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10316, 27 January 1927, Page 5

WAR UNAVOIDABLE

IF SHANGHAI THREATENED, BRITISH AMBASSADOR’S OP1N- • . - lON. DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI. POWERS TO LAND FORCES IF* NECESSARY. BRITISH EVACUATE NINGPO. (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 25. Sir Miles Lampson, British Minister in Pekin, declares that conflict between the troops of the Powers and the Cantonese is unavoidable, if the safety of Shanghai is threatened.' An agreement has been reached between Britain, France, Japan and America to land forces whenever in proportion to the international interests. One hundred Annamites are arriving from Indo-China to reinforce the French concession police. Others are en route.

Priests arriving from the interior say they were forced to shave their beards and adopt coolie disguives in order to escape the wrath of the mobs bent on murder. The British Government is commandeering British trans-Paeifie liners and freighters to transport troops to Shanghai from Hongkong d elsewhere. It is feared'that an a ttempt will be made by the Cantonese to 1 seize Shanghai before the arrival of the British. contingent from India and England, unless Sunchuanfang is able to hold the advance for another week.

Grandiloquent declarations such as Eugene Chen’s ultimatum to Britain always appeal to the Chinese mentality and repercussions arc already noted. Ningpo, a missionary centre distant from Shanghai by an overnight steam-ship journey, is being evceu.ited by the British authorities. Sunchuanfang, Shanghai’s anti- “ Red” military Governor, continues to suffer reverses, and the Cantonese are still advancing on Shanghai.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

WOMEN PREPARING TO LEAVE SHANGHAI. .BANK VAULTS FULL OF VALUABLES. SHANGHAI, Jan. 25. Though the Cantonese do not yet seriously threaten Shanghai, women are preparing to leave and valuables are being stored preparatory to their shipment homeward. The vaults of the principal banks are full of valuables. The' authorities arc taking precautions against possible riots following strikes. —A.N.Z.C.A.

CANTONESE CANNOT REACH SHANGHAI FOR WEEKS. BRITAIN WILL NOT INTERVENE IN CIVIL AVAR. LONDON, Jan. 25. Information received in British official circles indicates that the reported defeat of Sunchuanfang was only an unimportant skirmish. Serious fighting is not expected until the Cantonese reach Chuchow. There is no likelihood of their reaching Shanghai ior some weeks. In the meantime, it is pointed out, negotiations at Hankow and Pekin are proceeding “amicably,” and may result at least in a modus vivendi. It is again emphasised that Britain has no intention of intervening in the civil war in China. Only -- British lives are endangered will British troops take action. The Cantonese entry into Shanghai will not be resisted, but at the same time the Government is laced wit a the possibility of serious mob disorders if and when the Cantonese, approach the foreign settlement. Ibis is why adequate precautions are being taken. —A.N.Z.C.A.

MOV EMENTS OF CHIXESK TROOPS BRITISH GUARD SHANGHAI TUNNELS SHANGHAI, Jan. 2"). A naval wireless message states that 4900 Chinese troops crossed the river at Sha-si and 10,000 remain at Sha-si. A British armed guard had been placed at the railway tunnels at Nanking and Shanghai.—A. and N.Z.C.A. GAIETY AT PORTSMOUTH “SHANGHAI!! SHANGHAI!” (Received Jan. 26, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. The embarking of one thousand marines and two flights of the An Force aboard the Minnesota to-day recalled episodes familiar during the world war. But the light-hearted gaiety at Portsmouth was very different from the grim tragedies enacted in 1914 to 1918. , ; , Tlie whole town turned out to cheer the marines, who marched three miles along the Southsea Front, _ singing “Shanghai! Shanghai!” which is a most popular song. At the entrance to the dockyard the band struck up Elgar’s “Land' of Hope and Glory”. Fatigue parties then stowed the kits' aboard, the ship and the cranes lifted the aeroplanes to the deck. The public farewell is now finished: only close relatives will he allowed on the jetty to shout the last “GoodRyes” when the Minnesota steals away at dawn. (Received Jan. 27, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. The troops Up Minnesota has sailed for China.—Sun.

RUMORS OF TROOPS FROM DOMINIONS NO OFFERS FROM AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND LON E ON, Jan. 25. It is learned from well-informed sources that hitherto no otter has been made by the Australian and New Zealand Governments to send troops to China, as suggested- in a message from Peking. In the absence of confirmation. from Australia anil New Zealand, and in view of the fact that both Messrs Bruce and Coates are now on their way home and such decisions could scarcely he taken in their absence, there is little disposition to credit such reports.— A.N.Z.C.A.

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN. OFFERS OF 200 MEN FROM NEW ZEALAND. NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 26. Lieut.-Cblonol Weston, as commandant of the New Zealand. Legion of Frontiersmen, has telegraphed the Acting-Prime Minister offering 200 men fullv equipped for service in China —PA. AUSTRALTA 7 S~~ATTITUDE NO HELP NEEDED AT PRESENT. (Received Jan. 26. 11 v MELBOURNE, Jan. 26. ’ The Federal Cabinet to-day discussed: the Chinese situation. At the conclusion Dr. - Me. Page Mnaotnwed that Cabinet had decided that no action by the Commonwealth was necessary at this juncture—U.P.A..