NEUTRAL ZONE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 April 1927, Page 9

NEUTRAL ZONE

IN VANGTSZE VALLEY.

POWERS PROPOSED ACTION.

ENFORCEMENT :0F SANCTIONS

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.

Received 10.50 a.m. to-day. SHANGHAI, April 25. American, reports dealing with sanctions which, it is contemplated will accompany the Powers’ second Note regarding the' Nanking outrages, indicate that they include the declaration! of a neutral zone between 25 and 50 miles in width, from the month of the Yangtsze to Ichang, a thousand miles up the river, and including all cities on both banks, also the declaration of neutrality of Canton, Tsingt.no and Peking, thus wiping out the sources of revenue of Avar lords. The neutralisation of the Yangtsze takes in Shanghai, the entire Shaughai-Nanking railway, and creates a clear passage for the whole of the trading on the Yangtsze, Avith communication with Shanghai. A complete agreement lias not yet been reached between the Powers. Japan is reported to be insisting on the inclusion of Shantung, and a portion of Manchuria in the neutral zone. The presentation of a new Note is imminent, and it is expected it- will be delivered to Mr Eugene- Chen. The only indications are that the text will include a time limit for compliance' Avith the- terms, which are severe. Political observers declare: that the enforcement of sanctions Avould cause a pacification of the Yangtsze Valley, and there would be a trad© boom upon resumption of foreign internal trade. Forty-three foreign men-o’-Avar are anchored off the shores of Hankow, and others are leaving Shanghai in -preparation for an enforcement of the demands. whatever their ultimate nature.

■THIRTY-FIVE ENGAGEMENTS. Received 10.50 a.m. to-day. SHANGHAI, April 25. The apparently deliberate efforts of both Northern and Southern, forces to drive foreign -shipping from the Yangtsze are proving more disastrous to Chinese than to foreigners. The only effect on the latter is giving the sailors gunnery practice. British naval authorities preserve the -strictest secrecy regarding the results or engagements between British warships and Chinese -soldiers ashore. An American pilot Avho has reached Shanghai gives the first reliable estimate of the. damage caused bv foreign warships, principally American _ and British, in. the past months of Yangtsze- warfare, in Avhich the Avanships of no other nation are reported to be active, the British and Americans undertaking the whole of the convoying of merchant -ships, whether carrying French, Spanish, Japanese or Italian refugees. The pilot declares that therewere 35 separate engagements between foreign fax-ships and Chinese forces, eight British and five American cruisers, destroyers and gunboats participating. Four Chinese forts Avere rendered virtually useless, fifty field guns disabled, and numberless machine-guns wrecked. It> is -roughly estimated that three thousand Chinese soldiers and civilians were- killed or AA’ounded. Hundreds of houses Avere destroyed, but they Averei mostly occupied by troops. An April 23 the British gunboat Mantis, Avhile convoying two. refugee ships, was fired upon by Cantonese soldiers. The Mantis replied with sixinch shells, which fell among a bunch of 150 soldiers. When the smoke cleared thirty were counted alive. The destroyers Wolsley and Iveppel AA-ere also fired on near Nanking from mud forts, and they -replied, demolishing the forts. Similar incidents occur, almost daily. Despite -severe- reprisals, it is considered that only the general clearing out Avhich is contemplated will prove effective.

CHINESE CONFUSION. Received noon to-day. SHANGHAI, April 25. Visitors to Nanking report that the city is in a state of greatest confusion. A few hundred Russians, Avith ten thousand Northern -soldiers, Avho are surrounded at Pulcoav, refuse to surrender, and continue to drop shells from -an armoured train into Nanking streets.

Cbiang Kaishek seems likely to prove strong enough to Avreck the Communists, but too Aveak to enable the Nationalists to carry on without them. Hankow’s fate, either from the Northern advance or internal insurrection, is only a -matter of Aveek-s. HahikoAV coolies are already pil’laging British “o-odoAvns” .and auctioning the goods. The police are powerless to intervene.

Sir Pereival Phillips writes from Shanghai concerning -relentless, confiscation of private fortunes, Avhicli has begun in the shape of a capital .'levy of 30 per cent, on all bank deposits. The latest methods of the Communist Government at Hankow to extract money from Chinese merchants are the familiar Russian methods of intimidation, including the execution of those proving reluctant. They are already in full operation at Changsha-., Nan- ' chung and elsewhere in the interior. No execution have yet taken -place at HankoAV. but labour pickets have arrested prominent" Chinese on charges of the possession of Av-ealtli illegally acquired, and thev Avill be- tried by a special tribunal. —Sydney Sun Cable.