CHINA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 September 1924, Page 9

CHINA

STOPPAGE OF TRAINS. ■LEADS TO COAL SHORTAGE. A't OA.BIIN —PKKSH ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received Sept. 19, 12.15 p.m. PEKIN, Sept. 18. With the stoppage of the trains Tientsin is faced with a coal shortage, which will soon be serious. The -worst aspect is that the Laiho conservancy shipping lines will soon he unable to obtain bunkering, and it is believed that they will have to cease dredging at Taku bar, with the result that the river will silt up, preventing the entrance of steamers. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . The Chekiang southern troops, having been bribed, went over to the Fukien© side, which is advancing towards Hangchow The Chekiang troops ,on the Ihing front have also gone over to the enemy. In this case the Kiangsu side of the civil government of Hangchow has proclaimed its independence to save the city from the two armies. There are now only the Shantung mercenaries of the Chekiang army holding out on the Liuhohwangtu line, but it is expected to surrender tonight, leaving Shanghai, the Chinese city,/at the mercy of the Kiangsuites. exists regarding the safety of tjhe settlements, in view of what are considered the adequate precautions taken. The volunteers have been called out .‘and the police and naval guards are prepared. Thousands of refugees are pouring into Shanghai. Wiunghsiang is at Lunghua, the yamen headouarters of his subordinate Hopengling. defences commissioner at Shanghai. A mandate appoints Wupeifu com-mander-in-chief of the forces engaged in the suppression of the rebels. An official bulletin says that the Fengtien forces are entrenched at Chaoyanyssu, near Chaoyang Fentien. Aeroplanes dropped eight J bombs at Shanhaikuan this morning, but they did no damage.—Reuter.