WAR IN CHINA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 22 August 1927, Page 5

WAR IN CHINA.

SOUTHERNERS' LOOTING AT NANKING. VISITORS CONSOL! DATING THEIR GAIN'S. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SHANGHAI, Aug. 20. The Southerners have commenced looting a. portion of the native quarters at Nanking. There is spasmodic gunfire across the Yangtsze River which is blackened with rivercraift conveying the last of the Southerners leaving the north bank, anxious to- place the river between themselves and the Northerners. The situation bias quietened down temporarily. The Northerners' are busy occupying the posts- vacated by the fleeing Southerners, and are consolidating their ga-ims preparatory to driving across the river, whilst -the Southerners are exhibiting all signs of demoralisation . TOKIO', Aug. 21. Despatches from Clhin-Kiang report the British are expected to- re-occupy their concession by force. Japanese residents are exercising extraordinary precautions .in view of the anticipated clash.

SHANGHAI DEFENCE LINE. BRITISH RE-ESTABLISH IT. (British Official Wireless.) ItIIGBY, Aug. IS. The railway -line which was cut in eonsequence of interi'erene-e with an aeroplane lieair Shanghai, d:s m. iloqpline on the western (border of -the international .settlement. It connects- lviaiigwan with the Cliine.se military headquarters, and is near the British posts on the Shanghai cordon estab-lashed by the defence ifo-ice when the international settlement was imperilled some months ago. -.By pure coincidence this has occurred at- a time when refugees and a.rnned stragglers from the -defeated Southern forces are flocking along the route from Nanking to Shanghai in such numbers that the international! settlement authorities have considered it advisable partially to re-etsablisli the defence line. This* precautionary measure was taken yesterday. The latest reports from Shanghai state -that, although conditions are quiet-, -there is latent uneasiness among die Chinese owing to the- uncertainty of the situation and a consequent recurrence of extremism. The British naval authorities on the Yangtsze have made arrangements for .facilitating the withdrawal to vessels in the -river of foreign residents in Nanking should -such, a course become necessary in view of t-he presence of Northern troops, which Lave already occupied Pukow, on the opposite side of the river, and are reported to- have commenced ia- bombardment of Nanking.

CONDITIONS AROUND CANTON. HAVE EASED CONSIDERABLY. Rceivoi.l 10.10 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, Aug. 22. The Rov. P. Wilkinson, of New Zealand, a Presbyterian missionary, has arrived from China on route to Dunedin. Air Wilkinson has been stationed at Kongcliuen, a few miles north of Canton. He says that conditions about there have eased considerably, although the missionaries had been recalled from inland stations in January. Many wore now returning.