WAR DEVASTATION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 October 1927, Page 5

WAR DEVASTATION

CONDITIONS IN CHINA.

PROVINCES LAID BARE. POPULATION STARVING. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received 30.55 a.m. to-day. SHANGHAI, Oct. 13. Reliable reports have been received of the devastation carried out by Feng YTih Siang’s troops in North Tonan, following the massacre at Mcngle. The troops burned villages within a radius of ten miles, and destroyed the crops, leaving the countryside ' hare. Later they proceeded to the outskirts of Wcihaiwei, burned twelve mission buildings and lootd the residence of the missionaries.

Conditions in the war zones in Shantung are reported to bo unprecedented. Owing to continued military activities denuding the entire southern part of the province, the native population is ’starving and will be facing famine throughout the winter. Already many are eating bark and roots of trees. The troops have seized all available food.

NEWS FROM THE CENTRES,

HONG KONG, Oct. 12. Swatow reports that the position is still uneasy. A British naval party boarded a British steamer, driving off 300 soldiers seeking a forced passage to Canton. The situation is critical at Lichaisum, the moderates being ousted by Chang-Fat-Kwai, who is well-known to be a Red Labourite allied to the Hankow clique. There has been much faction lighting in the streets.

The Chinese steamer Shingon, trading between Hong Kong and Wuehow, was pirated on the West River and GO Chinese passengers were kidnapped. The ship was ransacked and much booty was taken.