CHINESE BATTLE.

Grey River Argus, 8 April 1927, Page 5

CHINESE BATTLE.

NORTH v. SOUTH. Very Heavy Fighting. (Received April 7 at 7.40 p.m.) SHANGHAI, April 6. The latest reports from Nanking say that very heavy fighting is reported by the British warship ‘ fEJmerald’ ’ between the North and South armies at Kwantien. Raid on Soviet Embassy. ANTLRUSSIAN MOVE. A HIGH-HANDED PROCEEDING. PEKIN, April 6. Acting on the signed authorisation of the Diplomatic Corps body, Chant! Tso Lin’s trops and armed police raid ed the Soviet Embassy. One shot was heard, whereafter a Russian was dragged out bound and carried off’ in a motor-car. Six Russians and from 15 from 20 Chinese were subsequently removed to the police station. A machine gun, fifteen rifles, and a quantity of ammunition were removed from the Embassy'. It is understood that tin* Soviet Charge I)’Affaires and other officials were detained in their offices. Troops Still occupy’ the building. LONDON, April G. The Foreign Office has not received confirmation of the raid on the Soviet Embassy in Pekin. Official circles question the truth of the report, and doubt the suggestion that the diplomatic corps gave specific authorisation. Ordinarily’ no warrants may’ be executed within the settlements without the diplomats’ signature, which ordinarily is automatically granted, otherwise criminals could very easily’ find sanctuary in the settlements and defy’ the police, but in present disturbed conditions, the Diplomatic Corps 'would be sure to examine every request, all the Powers being equally’ anxious to avoid the appearance of partisanship. It is unofficially suggested it is most probable that an application was made to raid some buildings where the Russians weje housed. Diplomats would feel bound to consent to an act which the Chinese authorities represented as essential, but it is very’ doubtful if they would consent to a deliberate raid on the Russian Embassy.

BRITISH TROOPS ASSIST. CHANG TSO LIN RAIDS SOVIET EMBASSY. SHANGHAI, April 7. v Official details are published of the laid on the Soviet Embassy’ at Peking ■’hey show that secret agents of Chang jtso Lin investigated the source of rad Kcal propaganda that has been eminat ing from Peking for months past, and this culminated in the arrest of the two Americans already reported, the trial of whom is held over, pending the result of other investigations. Chang Tso Lin has also appealed to the Foreign Ministers comprising the Diplomatic Corps at Peking to curb tbe activities of the Peking Communists stated to be sheltering in the Foreign Legation quarters. Permission was asked by Chang Tso Lin to enter the Legation quarters. This was granted in contravention of the diplomatic etiquette. Acting on this permission, one hundred Chinese police, personally com manded by a police chief, and also two hundred Chinese soldiers from Chang Tso Lin’s body guard, surrounded the Russian Embassy grounds on three aides. Simultaneously, British troops, with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles, appeared at the British Legation wall on the fourth side. Then, without hes itation, the Chinese forced an entry into the Russian Embassy. They searched all there in residence thoroughly, and arrested all whom they found on the premises. The first build ing the Chinese entered was that of the former Russian Garrison. The searchers met with some resistance. A shot was fired from within. The seachers later emerged dragging a Rus sian. He was kicking and lighting. Other searchers discovered two machine guns, fifteen rifles, some small arms, and two red flags. The Russian was then handcuffed. He was dragged into the street. Meantime the other prisoners emerged quietly, and were

driven off in automobiles. The fighting Russian refused to go into an automobile. His struggles attracted a crowd of people, which was batoned away with the assistance of foreigners. The episode produced the wildest scenes in the Foreign Legation quarter. There were mobs who were dispersed only with the greatest difficulty. The search of the Soviet Embassy was then continued. The Embassy' officials were ordered to remain in their offices. There was fire, which broke out in the main building. Apparently, it was to destroy important documents. It was soon extinguished. After six hours of searching, sixtyfour persons were arrested. They were handcuffed and incarcerated. They include the Soviet Charge D’Affaires. Meantime five trucks of documentary data and other material was removed, including seals that were inscribed:— 4 ‘Peking Branch of the Kuomintang,” and the “Political Committee of the Kirin, Shansi, Kansu Chihli Provinces. ’ ’ Those arcsted include six women, all of whom have been detained at the Pekin Metropolitan Police Board. The search of the Soviet Embassy it still continuing. Staff experts who were convened by the headquarters to examine the seizec documents have reported that the exac documents desired have not beei found.

Camouflage. (Received April 7 at 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. In order to avoid misconception, it is scmi-officially explained that tho Russian Embassy at Pekin was not in-

vaded. A building was raided in the Russian Embassy grounds, and as it was necessary to traverse the grounds to reach" the building, the Diplomatic Corps granted permission for that purpose. British Freebooters. ANTI-CANTON EXPEDITION. KNOCKED ON THE HEAD. LONDON, April 6. As an endorsement made by’ the Foreign Office on his passport, reading: “Not Valid for China,” this has abruptly’ ended a scheme planned by Captain Livingstone Leamouth, who is a descendant of David Livingstone, the African explorer, to take out a small party of gentlemen adventurers, for the purpose of fighting under Chang Tso Lin (the Manchu War Lord) in an anti-red campaign in China. Fifteen or sixteen former British officers Jiave already joined Leamouth’s party, and a cable has been sent to Chang Tso Lin offering their services, but the Passport Office demanded Le Armouth’s passport, and sent it to the Foreign Office, which endorsed it as invalid, at the same time intimating that passports to China arc only’ being issued under special circi instances. JAP DIVISION. FOR NORTH CHINA. TOKTO, April 6. The Japanese arc sending the Utsunomiya Division, which is largely composed of cavalry’, into Manchurianleased territory, ostensibly to relieve a Division that is serving there. Two companies have been ordered to reinforce the Japanese Peking Embassy Guard.

JAP NAVAL REINFORCEMENTS. SHANGHAI, April 6. It is officially stated that the Japanese casualties as the result of Sunday’s riots were five killed and ten missing. Japanese reinforcements have arrived at Hankow. FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS. PARIS, April G. “L’Echo de Paris” states that Cabinet is considering the dispatch to Shanghai of another cruiser and 60C troops. GERMAN~ATTITUDE. ~BERLIN, April G. The association of German ship owners and the East Asian Union decided not to accept shipments of war material for China. ANTI-FOREIGN BOYCOTT. GENERAL STRIKE AT SHANGHAI. SHANGHAI, April 6. A general strike and boycott of all foreign goods in the entire Yangtze district has commenced, and the situation is rapidly becoming graver. All the Japanese are evacuating Yangtze Valley. The warships of the Interna tional Asiatic fleets are rushing to important ports, and a large fleet is concentrating at Hankow, where the Japanese Admiral has sworn on his word of honour to prevent the Chinese trespassing in the Japanese Concession. He promises to maintain the dignity of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The present strength of the Japanese landing party at Hankow is 300, and it is being hurriedly reinforced. The cruiser Tentyu is on route.

A wireless from Nanking says that the anti-foreign feeling is still evident. Foreign houses are being looted. A Northern aeroplane dropped two bombs on Pukow and three on Nanking city. PROTECTION OF FOREIGNERS. NEW CANTONESE STEP. SHANGHAI, April 6. The Chinese authorities at Hankow have issued a procalamation ordering the complete immunity of foreigners from molestation for the future. FRENCH CAPITALISTS. ANTI-CANTONESE ATTITUDE. (Received April 7 at 9.5 p.m.) (“Times” Cable.) LONDON, April 6. “The Times’s” Paris correspondent .states: ‘The Franco-Asiatic Chamber of Commerce here, including the Messag|eries Maritimes Coy., the Shanghai (Tramways Company’, and many Franc.o- - companies, banks, and commercial organisations, have written to JV. Bria nd (Foreign Minister) urging the wisdom of a general policy of agreement with the Powers in China, declaring that it would be most dangerous to trust in the promises of the moderate Chinese Ministers, who probably' are destined shortly to be overwhelmed. The letters adds that the French Concession at Shanghai is at present adequately defended, taking into account the fact that there will be other military support to the French in the event of emergencies.

DEBATE-IN COMMONS. LABOUR LEADER’S CRITICISM. OF BRITISH POLICY. LONDON, April 6. Tn the Commons, there was a crowd cd attendance when Mr MacDonald initiated a debate on China. He said that no one could say what was going to happen. The despatch of Shanghai defence forces had undoubtedly increased our negotiating difficulties without increasing protection for Britishers outside Shanghai. It had also fed traditional Chinese suspicion though he believed this was without foundation. Not Shanghai, but the t whole of China, was the immediate test I of our policy. Nobody could say before an inquiry what had happened in Nanking, therefore* he urged the Government to use the League method of inquiry. Personally he was most glad that. Britain. America and Japan to-day were presenting notes not ultimata. There should be a clear statement that we still stood where we were at Christ- ■ mas. If the League of Nations could 1 mate the Nanking inquiry, it would do • a tremendous lot of good. He hoped

that Sir A. Chamberlain would not decline to use the League. They should know what was in the mind of the War Office in sending out more troops, and how far we were acting alone in such matters. It was not in British interests, as the market for our goods was circumscribed, barred by prejudice and ill will. The Chinese had learned tho power of the boycott. Sir R. Mitchell Banks (Conservative)

said that Mr MacDonald’s speech recalled the proverb that in the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man was king. He wished Mr MacDonald could give some vision to his party', but unfortunately his kingdom was governed i.ot from the throne but from the antechamber. Mr MacDonald had said revolutionary propaganda in the East was based in history, but he (Mitchell Banks) declared that the Independent Labour Party was busy preparing history upon which to base propaganda. If anybody had spread suspicion it was the Labour Party' by meetings and resolutions, and if there should be disaster, they' would be its chief authors. 11 Sir A. Chamberlain had to defend him self, it would Be against pushing the virtue of patience almost to a fault. After Commander Wedgwood (Labour) had spoken, there were loud cries for Sir A. Chamberlain.

The Deputy-Speaker called on Sir Alfred Mond, but tho interruption continued. Mr Moseley' shouted: “We are debating the Government policy without hearing what it is.” Sir A. Mond began, amidst h chorus of Labour interruptions, and cries of ‘ ‘ Poison gas. ’ ’ The Speaker warned both Mr Purcell and Mr Beckett, who consistently interrupted Sir A. Mond. Sir A. Chamberlain, replying, said I the whole city of Shanghai had been created by foreigners, and it existed and prospered because of foreigners. Britain was ready to negotiate to meet the National aspect, and remove the special conditions rendered necessary £y past conditions, as soon as China could give foreigners the same justice and security as the Chinese obtained elsewhere in the civilised world. The looting in Nanking, he said, had continued unchecked to April 4th. The officer in charge of the Nationalists sent a warning that any Britisher going ashore would be .shot. Similar incidents occurred at Chekiang, Ichang, and oilier places under the control of the Nationalists.

While Sir A. Chamberlain was read ing the report on Ichang, Mr Wallhead (Labour) interjected: It sounds like a students’ rag This was followed by cries of, “Order. ” Sir A. Chamberlain asked: What interest does the member serve by min-1 imising these outrages? Mr Wallhead: Nothing I have heard justifies war. Sir A. Chamberlain continued that Britain must know the attitude of the. lesponsible Chinese authorities towards the outrages. He believed that all the Powers were in substantial agreement that it was necessary to require redress, but he did not want to speak too confidently. He knew that an agreement had been reached by the Ministers at Pekin, but he was not absolutely certain regarding the attitude of their Governments thereon. All the indications were that Japan, United States and ourselves were not merely in agreement on the matter of asking for reparations, tyut regarding what reparations should be asked. Sir Austen Chamberlain said the Nationalist authorities must understand that their reputation as a Government, and the honour of China, required them to give full satisfaction and reparation. He read the British ViceConsul’s report on the outrages in Nanking, and pointed out that looting was continuing there without the Chinese authorities attempting to interfere. A similar state of affairs prevailed in every place under Nationalists’ control, including looting and outrages in hopitals. These attacks were not confined to British subjects or interests. The most significant feature of the present debate was that the Labourites, unmoved, were again demanding the recall of the defence force. Did the Labourites desire to expose Britishers in Shanghai to the dangers realised in Nanking? The Government was pursuing a policy of conciliation and adjustment to meet the new Chinese aspirations. Sir A. Chamberlain concluded, amidst cheers: ‘But we are not prepared to hustle out of China, withdraw our nationals from Shanghai and other places, or allow them to be treated as though the lives of our people were* of no account. ’ ’ Mr Lloyd George paid a tribute to the courage with which Sir A. Chamberlain faced a difficult task, and continued to pursue the policy specificallv laid down a few months ago. Mr Trevelyan (Labour) said that if we went to war against China, we should probably do so alone, and oUi trade would pass into the hands of the Powers standing aloof. The Labourites forced a division on the motion for adjournment of the debate, which was defeated by 277 to 117.