WAR DANGER

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1927, Page 5

WAR DANGER

ON THE YANGTZE. Foreign Powers’ Plans. A NATIONALIST GENERAL. BETRAYS JUS SIDE. LONDON, .Tan. in. The “Daily Gazette’s” Shanghai correspondent reports the secession >t' a “Red” general, Changchihching, known as “The Flaming Evangel,” from the Northern Kuominehun Armv He became so disgusted with Bolshevism tha he fled to Peking, where he bet raved General Fengvssiang’s plans to Changtsolin, the Manchu leader. Another Evacuation. BY BRITISH! RS. THEY LEA YE KI I K l .' M . SHANGHAI, Jin. 1. At the town of Kiukiang on the rive? Yangtze Kiang (over 100 miles nearei the mouth than Hankow) the Kuomintung'flag has been hoisted over the British Consulate. The news was brought by passengers arriving here from Kiukiang. The British Consul of Kiukiang is now on board H.M.S. “Wyvern,” on the river Yangtze KiYesterday’s refugees include many missionaries. It is reported that a. hundred missonaries and others at Ruling are rut off from escape by the Kin kiang events. Advices from Japanese sources at Kiukiang state that Chinese crowds < eupied the municipal buildings there and the premises of British firms and private residences. The efforts of the Chinese troops to preserve peace and order appear to be unsuccessful, and the British Concession is endangered. Though the Japanese residents at present are safe, fears for tin ir future are entertained. The Customs officials took refuge on an American warship Canton Army. CHECKED NEAR HANGCHOW. SHANGHAI, Jan. S. A -'.ildlising influence in the Yangtze region west of Shanghai is that of Ge 1 • ral Sun Chuan Fang, the anti Red e inmander, who is now blockin;: the ad nice of the Red Army, hundreds of mihs west of Shanghai. Hr is al present holding his own, and before In. is defeated, leaving shanghai open t< the Can' nese entry, it is believed tha 4 the Powers will have arrived at an ar rangement, which is now lacking. AMERICAN ATTITUDE. YLW JOIN BRITISH NOW. TOKIO, Jan. S. An impression is growing here in both Japan- e and foreign diplomatic circles that America is about to sever diplomatic irlatioiis with China, adopt ing th.c same attitude regarding treat ies, debts ami obligat'ons as in tae c<.s( of Russia. FOREIGN POWERS’ UNDERSTAND

ING. TO OPPOSE CANTONESE AT SHANGHAI. LONDON, Jan. 9. The “Observer's” Pekin correspondent gathers that most ot the Powers have agreed to regard as an act of war any threat against the Shanghai foreign settlement similar to that at Hankow. Washington 1... s promised to participate to the < .ent of protecting its nationals. Definite action by the Powers is not expected until all possible of the interior residents have reached safety, the Powers feat ng reprisals, but intervention appv;*! inevitable. Britain cannot be blamed for her inaction. She has long been a scapegoat and the other Powers are now realising that they are equally affected. Only a conceited demonstration is required to rest«>i'* order. Bloodshed is unnecessary, jud” ng by the Kiukiang events. Whei two blanks were fired by a gunboat in response to a Consulate signal, tin- mob fled in terror. BELGIAN - ATTITUDE. BRUSSELS, Jan. 9. The newspaper “I’ciiple” understands that the Government has sympathetically replied tot:..- British Mem orandum to China, but is opposed to anv proposals result in “ in the reinforcement of the Northern military leaders against the ' -mese.

ECONOMIC BOYCOTTING. BRITISH RETaHaTK ■' MOOTED. LONDON, Jim. -.1. “The Times’s’’ I’ekin .[-respondent recalling that the Brit 1 developed the Hankow Concession ti. 11 a mud flat to the present very liable prop erty in which millions , invested points out that the Canton now realise that the boycott is a tw . . dged weapon. The closure of the l>:i s and the cessation of business has lislocated trade, anil is idling te>thousands I who are demanding that Ihi al auth orities pay their wages wlii . ihey are unemployed. 'l'he correspondent enipl : s that British I.nuking, shipping ami uinerce preponderates to exercise .-ii active economic pressure on the 11 ■ ports and other commercial e<-ii:.i-<- the purpose of bringing the Cai to Hankow Situation. SOVIET FLAGS FLYING. SHANGHAI, Jan 8, The Hankow situation is di ued unable to become worse. Ihe ; ncipal British buildings have :il ady been looted. They are flying - let flags noil are being used as heu-l .inters foi- labour unions and iigitat--Refugees state that youthful ■»- ese soldiers burst into homes am! rdered out the inmates, even babi, ~ arms. They placed Red seals mi doors and refused to allow possess i , to be taken. It is stated that the Chinese, not > tent with the recovery of the I om sion, want tn expel every foreigi from Chinn. They are supported in t by the military, who are declared a. but unwilling to control the situatio and are assisting in the demonst ratio i according to predictions. Ships are arriving from Hankow fill ed with refugees. All speak ill hig terms of praise of the restraint am furebearance of the British marines un der prolonged provocation. All the Hong Kong Bank sei-uritie-have been removed from Hankow. All the administrative offices in th; British Concession are now in the hand *if the Chinese, who control the polic

and municipal buildings. The Ministry of 1' reign Affairs hi assured the safety of all foreigners. AMERICANS LEAVE HANKOW. SHANGHAI, Jan. 8. Advices dated Hankow, 7th, state that a steamer left for Shanghai the previous night, carrying evacuated American women and children. American sentiment, hitherto favouring no interference, is now stirred by the Hankow events. ALONG THE YANGTZE. TIIE AXT I-FOREIGN CAMPAIGN. SHANGHAI. Jan. S. The entire A'angtze Valley will be influenced by the Hankow events, and the present ' wave of anti-for. ig-nisn. and violence will not cease until reach ing Shanghai, but here it is not expected to reach the Ilaukow pri.port ions. WILD PREDICTIONS. SHANGHAI, Jan. S. There are signs that the Chinese ex tremists throughout the country -.inbecoming intoxicated by their sucn--, lit Hankow. Teintsin, Pekin’s pmi. though anti Red controlled, is showia;; | signs of imitating Hankow, and the , are similar reports elsewhere, sugges; ing that a second Boxer uprising may be” expected unless the Powers reael; an understanding immediately. Japan’s Attitude. WATCHING U.S.A. MOVES.

TOKIO, Jan. 8. ’The Japanese Foreign Oflice intimates that Japan will wait and see the American attitude before answering the British Memorandum, although Washington’s position is unlikely to be definite”before the return of the American Minister from China, who is expected here on January 24, en route for America. While here he will consult M. Shidehara. The morning papers further comment unfavourably on the British Memorandum. “Britain’s attempt to court Chinese favour will most probably fail.” is the verdict of the “Chugai,” which reflects the attitude of the Janauese press as a whole. The “Chugai” considers that the proposals are dictated by selfish mofives which. Tiesides being unfair to the other Powers, are transparently in- ! sincere and are likely to harm rather than improve the British relations | with Chin:#. SOVIET SCEPTICISM. OVER BRITISH NOTE. LONDON, Jan. 9. K-L'he Times’s” Riga correspondent t-tes that the Soviet, fearing an nn- ' Lenient of Anglo-Chinese relations, issuing daily statements, exposing “ rit-iin’s subtle attempt to hoodwink ■ s t ‘revolution with the Memoranud. ■>,