CLASH AT SHANGHAI.

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1927, Page 5

CLASH AT SHANGHAI.

LIKELY SOON. British Anticipation. (Received December 13 at '0.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. ‘‘The Times” points out that Bhang hai is “the key position” i- th iron the Chinese and from the intui uatiuna viewpoint, and it says: —V Tory a Shanghai for the Kuomintang Govern meat prove decisive in i s mon ditiicjilt task of achieving a dominant over Northern China. Alorcov. r. tin Customs revenue is greater in snang hai than it is elsewhere, and ties is naturally, the object of keen int« res' to the political forces contending t*oi supremacy. Lt is welcome news there fore that the Cabinet is alert to tin fact that there may yet be time to »'e cido carefully its tactics and policy, ready there* are indications of revolu * tionary propaganda, which always pre cedes a Kuomingtang offensive, bein' attempted in Shanghai. At Hankow. BRITISH REP ENTERS NEGOTIATIONS. PEKIN, January 12. A wireless message from llaukou stales that the Chinese authorities have instructed the Imai inhabitant' to keep order anil not molest foreign ers, or their property during the discus sions with Mr. O'Malley (British re presentnt i ve Tire war trips Wyvern and Verit.c have arrived. The flag on the British Consulate which l:as not been flown since tin taking over of the Concession has beer re-hoisted. The general position is un I Itered. HANKOW AGITATION. AGAINST IMPERIALISM. PEKIN. January 12. Agitators are again active in Hankow, and posters are appearing eri'i,' where, reding :“Down with Imperial ism! ’ ’ The move is construed as an attempt to intimidate Mr. O Malley, who arrived to-day to enter neg .tintions ovei the Concession. A little m»»rc looting occurred .-it Kiukaing by nd-iiers oil duly. British Cabinet Meeting. NO DECISION TAKEN. /■(Received Jan tuny 13 at X. 10 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. Marshal Trench-rd, the Chief of the Air Force, w: < summoned to yestOTday’s Cabinet n evting, a; which St Austen Chamberla. i made a most de tailed statement regarding the happenings in China. The Cabinet meet ng lasted for ninety minutes. A number of the members of the Cabinet affirm that no decision was reached at the meei ng, as the Ministers are awaiting a ■ eport from Mr ‘O’Mallev regarding his conversations -with Chen at Ilankov. The “Daily Expres ” states that at yestvrda'* J s meeting the Cabinet gave approval to a pacific policy in (’hina, the whole desire bein', that bloodshed .shall be avoided. It adds that thk. vis the first review of the situation s nee the Christmas holidays. Mr Bald vin felt that no further time should be ost in consulting with those Ministirs who were available. The “Daily Express’ adds: “It is understood that Mr O’Milley was not empowereTT to discuss the treaty policy. He was instructed to >e> k to avert a c onflict. ’’

Hankow Conference. EASES THE TENSION (Received January 13 at i'.45 p.m.) PEKING, .Tnnviry 12. Mr. O'Malley (British Tdpresenta five) had a two-hoyrs’ conf, ritiee will' 'Chen at the Foreign Office st Hankow No statement Ims been Issmd.lbut the tension has undoubtedly been lessened Britishers are now able to m|oe free ly around the concession. Up the Yangtze. EVACUATIOfFoBSTACLSS. PEKING, January 12. News from np the river indicates that the evaluation of toreign ers from the interior is proving uiffi--eiilt, owing to then' being a general boy u-i.tt, the result of ■which is Hat nc .iboats or other eonvenieces or rallies rre available, and many are - com tell<.«' to walk At Kiukiang. FOREIGN CONSULS TAKE TO RIVER. PEKING, January It. Foreigners arriving from Kiukitni state that the Cantonese are et.atiulei as sentries in the concession then-. . dozen foreign men are remaining, lb-; are distributed between the warship Scarab and W; vein. They were able reach safety only with much difficult;.

.owing to obstruction from a mob. \ The British Consul at Kiukiatld ravaged to remove the archives befor.| sea'Kfig the consulate, which, so far, ha.. not Jr. en molested. The consul is now living aboard a steam launch, from which the Consular flag, still fliesThe French CommlssSoner of; Custtmns at Kuikiang is also functioning .aboard a launch. Some thirteen foreigners including women and children are still at Luling (near Kuikiang) where -they have elected to remain, although advised to J eave. SEAMEN _ ON STRIKE. PEKIN, January 12. A seamen’s strike has commence i amt a general anti-foreign strike and boycott will be declared on Januarj JL

TALK OF SHOOTINGS. IN NEAR FUTURE. SHANGHAI, January 12. The Shanghai Municipal Council recruiting volunteers to assist the iuivi forces ami police in defence of tli settlement. Disorders presaging an era of unre.*and the possibility of a general strike occurred in a riot at a British cut to mill, no doubt instigated by '‘Nod agitators. Throe thousand male and fi male workers attacked a handful c foreign overseers, and smashed the ma chinery, necessitating police reinforce ments, but lire hoses and a revolve lowing the May 30, 1925 affair ui more than anybody else io get the trai way services resumed, and to keep th Chinese* workers at their posts. The- at thorities consider that the crime i more than ordinarily significant. Lt i known that “Rods” have* market -own for killing several oi the work ris, whose opposition 1o strike ag-ita jfyions stand in the way of their aim> iThe present victim was one. , display dispersed the mob after ai hour’s light. It is expected that tin* trouble* wil | pread to all the* other mills, and th:* (eventually there will be a repetitioi lof the events preceding last year’s dis (orders, culminating on May 30, witl I snooting. The authefities are aware that- : plut is afoot to cut. off rail suppliefrom the Cantonese intend ing to threw a belt round the producing .tr as of the country preventing on 1 • Shanghai, and thereby incieas ing the discontent among the labourercausing riots. The Chinese foreman of the Shanghai Foreign Settlement T ramways, whil* driving a riesha in a quiet part of the settlement was attacked by three Chin ese ami shot dead. The assailant’s es caped. Tin victim was a man wFo, fol SHANGHAI WORKERS. Ri:i’Cl.si;i) WITH FIRE HOSES. LONDON, January 13. The “Daily Express’s” Shanghai • onespomlent reports that seiious antiBritish rioting has broken out there. A mob of three thousand Chinese workmen attempted to smash machinery in two cotton mills, but they were repulsed by foreign fire brigade men with hoses. AMERICANS EVACUATED. SHANGHAI, January 13. As a ready response to the National- ■ t troops seizing the American mission property at Shaowu ami other parts of Fukien, the American authori lies have ordered missionaries to leave in some places ami prepare for imine('■ate departure in others. JAP WARNING. TO CANTONESE. TOK 10, January 12. Though hitherto the Press has re trained from much comment on the Yangtsze situation, the loading papers arc now expressing sympathy with Brito, in, whose perseverance and fortitude displayed at Hankow ami Kiukiang. highly praised, and is considered to reflect British wisdom.

The “Asahi.” which reflects Iho general attitude of the vernacular papers, urges the Cantonese to exercise n.ore self-control, warning them that otherwise they will bring about the united action of the Powers against China, resulting in Canton ultimately losing everything it has gained. FRENCH ATTITUDE. PARIS, January 12. The French Cabinet has decided to maintain a watchful policy in Chiun, but at the same time, it will be readv to meet any aggression. It is learned that active naval and military preparations arc in progress ;>• ease cvcntulities arise. SIR. J. ALLEN’S~PRUDENT VIEW DUNEDIN, January 13. At the jubilee celebrations of the Tuapeka County last evening, at Law icnce, Sir James Allen expressed thank fulness that Britain had preserved her calm in the Chinese hubbub, and had done nothing to augment the bad feel ing, cither from China or other nations Sir James Allen added: “It is impos sible at present to come to a conclu >jon on the Chinese question. We must exercise profound patience and be careful to do nothing that could be wrongly interpreted. At the end patience will be rewarded.” MORE WAR TALK. AUCKLAND, January 13. Contrary to a current rumour in Auckland to-day. the warship Diomede has not been ofd**r<‘d to the (’hina state, t ion, nor has all leave been stopped. The fact that a few Jack Tars w<‘rc seen humping their scabags and suitcases on to the Devonport Ferries had •io underlying significance, their ordinary leave having expired. There may be war, or rumours of war in the China I Sea, but the officers and men of rhe Diamede are not worrying. The vessei lies alongside her sister, the Dunedin '(snugly moored at the sheerlcgs, anc * ; the bugle calls which ring out Moai u across the harbour carry no. summons tc reyprish activity in the stokehold oj ’ elscwhW aboard the trim cruiser.

CANTON LIKELY TO WIN OCT. SYDNEY, January 13. Professor Griifith Taylor, who attended the Pan-Pacific Science Congress at Tokio, and then te China, has returned. I He says that ho was surprised to find how lightly the Chinese treated the ' dvil war. The people as a. whole did ’not seem to care which side won. so pong as peace camo. Tin- feeling was more anti foreign tlmii except in the South, 1 here moat <>!’ t)l1 ' foreigners were British. The Southern Party, which Professor Taylor thinks w-iil In- the win a;ng party, with the. slogan “China foi '1 ie° t'l.inese,'” is the 'strongest anil 4 ost powerfi?) pa’ ty throughout G ina.