CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1927, Page 3

CHINESE TROUBLE.

[BY TELEOIIAPn PF.It rRESS ASSOCIATION.]

SHELLING OF XANKXG. (Received tliis day at 9.30 n. 111.) SI l AXC lI A I, Alarcli 21. The latest report from Nanking states naval rescuers approached a lull under renewed lire from the C antonese resulting in further foreign casualties, including soifie Americans, i ItimateIv, however, as the result of this heroic effort., the remaining foreigners were evacuated. Giles is reported to he not severei'y wounded. Probably there are other liritish casualties. STORY OF ( lIIXA. I,OXDO.X, .March 25. The Sydneyite, Rev. Charles Lack, lias arrived on furlough from Yenclieng, where he has been a missionary for twenty-seven years. He toll's a terrible story of the ravages of bandits in the province of Honan during the past two years events. In army foitnation they sack walled cities, loot and carry off hundreds of inhabitants till a ransom is paid. Recently three tluuisand innocents were massacred in Cowkiakow. from which tbe Australian, Freeman Davies, was carried off. It was through the instrumentality of two native evangelists that the release of Davies was procured. Davies and his wife are now iu Shanghai, the former recovering from the terrible experiences.

SIIRULING OCCURS. SHANGHAI, March FI

Chinese troops, lielieved to be CS'.ntonese regulars, shelled a hill near the north gate of the <Ttv where foreigners are concentrated, killing a Britisher. Dr Smith and some Americans, and wounded the liritish Consul Giles, ami another Britisher. The warship Mineraid and TT.S.A. destroyers Xoa and Preston shelled the area around the hill to permit the evacuation, alter which the vessels landed armed parties. Further reports state that a third Britisher and a number of Americans were wounded.

Undisciplined Cantonese troops looted the city including the British Consulate, the American Consulate ami staff taking refuge on a hill. The Shanghai Council issued a proclamation requiring residents to remain indoors between ten at night and four in the morning. British ami American warships at Nanking shelled the city lor seventeen minutes and partially destroyed it during mob riots. The city is reported to be in flames.

OFFICIAL VIEWPOINT. LONDON, -March 2-L _ The Foreign Office at present is iu receipt of no official account of the shelling of Nanking, hut explains that the city is particularly difficult to defend. The plan was in the event of trouble that foreigners should congregate at the Standard Oil Company’? premises, built on a hill close to the city wall, which would give adequate protection against spasmodic ride fire, which characterises Chinese lighting, but not against shelling, which was tmcxpected. The idea was that as a last resort, foreigners should be lowered in baskets at night-time to warship in the river, a method which may yet he adopted. The authorities, however, are confident that Cantonese regular commanders will soon succeed in cheeking these unauthorised attacks. Official quarters admitted that ns far as Shanghai was concerned, troubles incidental to a change over to Cantonese, though completely justifying the despatch of a defence force, had been less serious than expected. The interview between International Delegation and Paiehinghsi cabled yesterday was reported satisfactory. The Populationists made it clear that they would not tolerate a repetition of events at Hankow.

General Paicliinglisi was conciliatory, , and accented full resnonsH>i lit.v for the maintenance of order. The best guarantee of the Cantonese desire to check violence and looting is the occupation of Shanghai, which has given them access to the richest money prize in Chinn, .in the shape of customs revenue. Formerly Cantonese objected strongly do the provisions of the "Washington Treaty, allocating revenues to the local authorities at the different ports. Now they are reaping the reward of this provision.