CHAOTIC

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 June 1925, Page 5

CHAOTIC

SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENTS

SHIPPING STRIKE SPREA'DING.SITUATION OTHERWISE QUIET. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, June 27. The Sunday Times says that Cabinet reviewed the China situation. Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty was consulted, since when new movements of the Navy have been instituted, in which at least one Australian iignt cruiser is participating. . , Simultaneously the British and In- : dian military units in India and Pacino stations have been held in readiness. Meantime informal conversations have taken place between London and Washington. PEKIN, June 27. The Chinese crews of the Hong Kong and Kowloon ferry boats struck, naval ratings from the war snip lit am a and submarine men replacing them and maintaining a partial service. The crews of the Kowloon Dock Company’s' steam launches struck, and the steamlaunch crews at the Taikoo dockyards also went out. Europeans are carrying on. A few mechanics at the Taikoo docks also struck. The Powers individually acknowledge receipt of the Chinese note regarding unequal treaties without- comment/ Shanghai reports state that stonethrowing is rife. Passengers in tram--cars and Japanese in a- motor-car were pelted. The crowds were most hostile to the police nlaking efforts to protect them. One policeman was badly injured, being sent to hospital. British bluejackets unloaded the steamer Empress of India, and will foi- - load other incoming British vessels 'if the-coolies continue to-strike. • , At Hong Kong the general situation!' is calm. The foreign community are* largely engaged in volunteer occupations, the men as special police, bakers. butchers, ’ and other essential dip,, ties, while the women are combining, to run' community kitchens and creches, boy scouts have replaced the telegraph messengers and have otherwise mad e ' themselves generally useful. The stoppage of trains is proving a serious drawback to traffic, and food supplies for the Ghinese are'-'running • short, no vegetables or fish reaching tlie markets as a result of the shipping strike. Over a score of British coastal - and ocean-going vessels are idle in Kowloon Bay*. Trains proceeding to Canton are stopped and robbed immediately they enter Chinese territory. Canton reports that the situation is quiet, the foreign authorities main-"' taining an attitude of watchful waiting and preparedness. , A British warsnip brought large supplies of food . from Hong Kong for those in the British concession. Since the • arrival of. - soldiers from Hong Kong additional steps have been taken to strengthen the defences at Shameen to guard '• against a possible attack.- . The civil governor has requested A conference with the American consul, and as a result of the-two meeting the consul hopes an international committee of inquiry will be appointed. The French consul sent a note to the civil governor in connection with the recent shooting in Shameen, stating that he was compelled to ask for an indemnity for the murder of*a French citiyen and damage to property. He de mil nds that he be informed whether the Government will countenance disorder or provide protection for foreign- - ers. He is prepared to consider any* proposals for peaceful settlement, compatible with French honour, and concludes : “In the interest of humanity,--and with a view Ho, avoiding a -repetition of the outrages, we shall.be forced to use any means of preparation at our disposal.” He adjures the Government to use its best efforts to reestablish peace and tranquility. No reply has been received. Reports from Shanghai state that at - a meeting of representatives of. stu- 4 dents’" unions it was resolved to urge the Canton Government to send troops' to occupy Shameen. ; The majority of the shops have re-. ~ opened and the position is quiet, but the shipping situation has not improved. The strike is causing heavy losses to Anglo-Japanese trade, and food supplies are running short. Amoy reports that students’ demonstrations in the international settlement are making the situation' more acute. Chinese naval ratings, control . the settlement, though-.they are pi*ov~.' . ing inefficient. A British sloop and Japanese and American destroyers are en route here. : '':' :

Ningpo reports that the position is quiet. Hoihow advises ; that foreign women and children have been evacuated from the port. At Tientsin pamohiets were distributed in the native ity urging that rioting will add to the iresent ill-treatment of Chinese.