SHANGHAI ARSENAL SHELLED

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1927, Page 5

SHANGHAI ARSENAL SHELLED

NAVALS TURIN GUNS AGAINST NORTHENERS • r- - Reign of Terror. NORTHERN MILITARISTS. m \ss\C’iir: \ worker*. PEKIN, February 22. The semi-lawful massacre of ('liiuest carried out in-the native city of Sluing hai by Chinese military, fur th'* pur pose of suupprcssing the Ke«l agitatin', strike is shocking the community, dm to the ruthlessness employed by executing immediately without t'ial. Youths are being dragged fiom the arms ot their mothers, and their Lends loppe« off while screaming. Oth< struggled and were hacked lu pit <■» >, and escapees were shut while escaping. General Sun Chuan I’ang, the north rm commander, ami ruler of the native city of Shanghai, .is the author of the executions. A proclamation posted at the General Post Office that employees i.ot returning to work would Tc execut cd put an end to all picketing and also brought many back to work, enabling a resumption on a small scale of th. service. Not since the Spanish inquisition has a city the size of Shanghai witnessed the scenes being viiacb-d daily. The heartless < rs havi completely terrorised the natives \<li( fear to venturi* abroad !< -i (hey l.e s is pected. The executioners are merciless, th* walking squad, arresting students, >a hour agitators, union deelgates, strik ( ers and workers. ( FOREIGNERS WINKING AT IT. The international settlement authori , ties are not interfering, appreciating the display of force, though regret , ting the bloodshed. Under the circuni- . stances there is hardly a whisper of j ( protest from tie* Chinese*. The reign oil terror prevails as the only prevenlativt |. of m<»b riots similar to Hankow. . Warrants for many prominent ('nr* . tonuse ham been issued. BLIND FURY. There is widespread indignation ex yiresscd at the decapitation of the Chinese editor of an English printed news paper, following the publication of Sun Chuan Fang’s reverses in fighting tm Cantonese. The editor was kidnapped a fortnight ago from tip* international settlement in daylight, by djsguise I Chinese soldiers, and carried to the na five territory. FOREIGN HOSTILITY. TO THE Si 1: IK Ek’S. PEKIN, February 22. ; Foreigners’ irritation at non-delivery and acceptance of mails for three days, fulminated in the settlement authori ties informing the Chinese postal a i thorities that unless the postal strike teased by ten o’clock this morning, i f will take over the post office, and run It is foreign until the strikers r iurn Volunteers have been mobilisel and or dered to stand by if necessary to assist the police to clear the post offic< of the strikers. OBJECT GF MASSACRE. PURELY MILITARY. SHANGHAI, February 22. The excutions are being carried out with th< intention of counteracting the Canton movement, intended Io embar rass Sun Chuan Tang s defence at Shanghai. Sun Chuan Fang succeeded in checking ihe Cantonese advance at Kashing, 70 miles southwest and th'* Nationalist occupation of Shanghai is stayed.

Rsply to Executioners.

A BOMBARDMENT OF SHANGHAI. BY (’ HIN ESE GUN BOAT. SHANGHAI, Feb. 22. An unbroken boom of heavy guns is I audible from the foreign settlments. Shells fell in the French concession. Many fled from their homes to the international settlement. There wen* no foreign casualties. In the state of emergency all other forces are standing by. All the firing is from the south in The direction of the native citv. It is uncertain whether the Cantonese have arrived, if the defenders have mutinied, or if native riots are taking place. Five shells exploded in the French Concession, and between the sounds five others were heard. It is believed that they exploded just outside in the native city. All the French defence forces have been mobilised. It is -believed that one of Hun Chuan Fang’s gunboats lying in the river turned over to the Southerners, and tried to shell Kiangnan arsenal. It is known that four foreigners were hint. LONDON, Feb. 23. The Foreign Office has not received conf irmat ion of the bombardment of Shanghai by a Chinese gunboat, but official circles point out these is at present little cau.'-e for alarm. The gunboat, by western standards, is a small negligible craf£ Probably the gunnery is indifferent, and shelling is unlikely to cause much damage or loss of life. The main source of satisfaction is that the firing was not prompted by antipathy to the British and other foreign people. It was nut directed against the international settlement, but against the native city. It was part of the Chinese civil war and did not arise from, the hatred of foreigners. The view is taken that while the life of foreigner i in Shanghai must be exceedingly uncomfortable, owing to the strike and general uncertainly, it would bo an exaggeration to HUggiait that Britishers are at present in daily peril of losing ( their lives.

Object of the Shelling.

BIG NORTHERN ARSENAL. SHANGHAI, Feb. 22. It is confirmed that a Chinese cruiser defected from the side of General Sun (Titian Fang to the Southerners, and then fired its guns at Kiangnan Arsenal which is one of the biggest arsenals in China. This arsenal is situated almost on the boundary of the French Shanghai Settlement. It turns out the munitions and guns for the whole of Genera) Sun Chuan Fang’s forces, and its de molitimi would seriously handicap the Xortln rners in the defence of Shanghai. There were two Chinese killed in the native city, into which five shells fell. Two British and two American homes wen* hit. as well as the old French Club which is at present a school. TWO CRUISERS FIRE ON ARSENAI. ( Ib-ed. Feb. 23 at 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Feb. 22. A later report states: It transpired that two (’hinese cruisers, the “Kiang.'.ci,” and the “Kiangkang,” lying up the River Yangtze, above Shanghai, were concerned in the firing, then crews having been bribed by the Cantonese to defect from General Sun Chuan Fang. Their intention was tc si'am up the Whanypoo, in order tu join the Southerners. FRENCH GUNBOATS FACE CHINESE CRUISERS. SHANGHAI, Feb. 23. When the Chinese cruisers fired, the French gunboats “Alerte” and “Marne” which were anchored nearby, trained their guns on the Chinese cruisers, but they did not fire. The French authorities have now posted marines with machine guns in all tin* streets leading to the ('hinese City. NATIONALISTS RETALIATE ASHORE. (Received February 23 at S p.m.) (Sun Cable.) SHANGHAI. FMunary 23. The naval shooting aroused the more extreme spirits in the native city, am 1 one hundred soldiers and agitators mad< an attack on a Chinese police station The police then fired, killing several. The North China Daily News reportI hat the gunboats which fired were try ing to escape to join the southern gun boats further up the river, when they were Hetected. One shell passed through a bedroom of a foreign resident s honsi over two sleeping children, ami lodged inAhe wall a foot above their heads. FOREIGN FORCES ON ALERT. SHANGHAI, Feb. 22. All the British troops in Shanghai and the British naval men are stand ing by. The foreign volunteers of Shanghai are also standing by, and there is an armoured car section also on duty. The French marines at Shanghai have been rushed to strategic, points on the boundary of the French concessions. The cruiser’s firing has caused intense alarm in the Chinese City, and : also considerable excitement in the For eign Settlement. I’he foreigners residing outside the settlement are taking precautions. Some of them are moving their valuables to ih»* foreign settlement. Chinese refugees are pouring into the Foreign Settlement from the native MORE BRITISH FORCES. Q t’A RTERED IN SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI. - 22. Eight hundred of the Suffolk s Regi ment landed here, occupying the quar ters of the Punjabis on the racecourse: The latter have gone to Hongkong. Th J problem of providing space for the British troops has been solved. To aver! possible protests from the other nationals against the British troops being quartered in international property, only British property has so far been used, 'inis meant much congestion and restriction, for apart from the racecourse there is not much exclusivelyowned space in Shanghai available for soldiers. The British Consul-General applied to the municipality fpr permission to use Jesscfield Park for quartering troops. The municipality intimated that all municipal property would be placed at he disposal of the defence force if required The decision is an expression of deep gratitude of all nationals for the protection by the presence of British troops.

Northerners Fight Each Other

WU-PEI-FU FLEES. “WHITE” RUSSIANS’ HEAVY (Reed. Feb. 23 at 9 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Feb. 23. Reports from the Honan Province (north of Hankow) state that General Chang Chun Chang, finding Genera! Wu-pie-fu obstinately resisting his advance southwards, sent his vanguard ot six thousand “White” Russians, echo knowing that if captured they would be beheaded, fought so fiercely that General Wu-pei-fu was defeated and fled to the mountains. The Russian losses are reported to be three thousand. CHINESE FORCES COMING TO SHANGHAI. (Reed. Feb. 23 al 7.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, Fob. 23. According to a Japanese report from Nanking, General Chang Tsu Chang’s troops are crossing the river Yangtze to Nanking. Apparently their object is to eorne to Shanghai. THE STRIKERS. STILL 100,000 STRONG. SHANGHAI. Feb. 22. While executions, which are continuing on a much smaller scale, have been effective in bringing baek the rank and He to work, they have greatly increas cd the activities of the agitators, win, are directing affairs front safety. The general strike is waning, owing to the native soldiery and police prae. tically murdering scores suspected of agitating or supporting the Cantonese 1 movement. The number of strikers is decreasing somewhat, and the situation in the for-

eign settlement remains quiet. With a partial resumption of the postal service, and all international settlement buses, and nearly all the trams running, the situation a little brighter, despite the fact that local shipping is virtually tied up. Official estimates state that the strikers number a hundred thousand, but the majority arc in the native city. PEKIN 7 , February 22.

While it is noteworthy that there r‘ still no sign of an anti-foreign strike, the feeling has increased. An anti-Brit ish agitation is repotted at lehang Chinese pilots were intimidated and American ships threatened for carrying British passengers, while at Changsa, the Labour unions threatened to condemn to death all Chinese remaining in British employ and supplying necessities to Britons. COMPENSATION TO BRITISH. VXD eli X E w~agreeme XT s. “LONDON, Feb. 22. the House of Commons, Mr G. Loeker-Lampson informed Mr Ramsaj MacDonald that a Kiukiang agreenieu* was signed at the same time as the IHnVow Agreement. It provided that any losses suffered by British subjects during the disturbances shall be made ml by the Canton Nationalist Goveminent. Sir C. Kinloch Cooke: “Wib. our nn tionals at Hankow get compensation?” Mr Loeker-Lampson: ‘‘There was no! the same intensive looting there as at Kiukiang. U.S.A, seeks’equal treaty. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. The House of Representatives adopted a resolution requesting the President ' to enter into negotiations with the Chinese Republic, to place treaties relating to China’s tariff, autonomy, extra territoriality, etc., on an equal and ireciprocal basis. The new treaties would replace the old arrangements existing for two centuries.