A CITY OF SURPRISES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3439, 5 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CITY OF SURPRISES

VIGNETTES OF SHANGHAI. The scene is Nanking Road, the centre of the Foreign Settlement. A luxurious sedan car draws up to the sidewalk and a stalwart Russian bodyguard opens the door for a wealthy Chinese. Suddenly the staccato rattle of automatics, confused shouts, the grinding of gears—and another attempt at kidnapping has failed, even though the bodyguard lies grievously wounded on the ground.

Such is by no means an isolated incident, nor do these attempts always end so happily. The writer witnessed an attempt in broad daylight to kidnap the Marshal Li (Prince Li). The attempt took place in Haigh Avenue, a foreign residential section, and was frustrated only by the bravery of the Russian chauffeur and the bodyguard. The latter lost his life, while his compatriot was severely wounded. _ Numerous foreigners were in the vicintiy. but were helpless to resist the kidnappers, who escaped in a motor, stolen for the purpose. On another occasion a Chinese merchant was shot down in broad daylight in Nanking Road.

Kidnapping is a staple industry in China, and constitutes a capital crime in the Foreign Settlement. There is no doubt that the Settlement affords a peculiarly attractive field for kidnapping activities, owing to the large number of wealthy Chinese who have taken up residence within its limits, and the resulting greater rewards in the shape of ransom; but it cannot be said that the Settlement is any worse than other areas in Shanghai or than other Chinese cities, in this and other forms of armed crime. The chief difference is that the Settlement is adequately policed, and has an incorruptible administrative body. whatever I^? LU ba the ~f the comparisGr, between the Settlement and other areas on this point, there is no doubt that the prevalence of armed crime, particularly kidnapping, in the Settlement is a very serious matter. The victims of kidnappers are, as a rule, wealthy Chinese or their children; the kidnapper does not worry foreigners. ARMED CRIME MOST PREVALENT.

Statistics show that in ordinary crime the Settlement is not abnormally criminal; in armed crime it is abnormal. Figures for 1930 show that there were during that year 36 true cases of armed abduction, excluding mere attempts. Five cases were attended with murder. Ten victims were liberated by the municipal police, 16 reported escaped, four released on ransom, and there was no information concerning the remaining six. In 31 cases cars were used, 15 of them being the victims' own cars, nine the kidnappers' cars, and seven were hired cars. The figures for 1931, while not officially available, reveal that more than 150 per cent increase will be shown.

At any hour of the day and night the " steel waistcoat" squad may be seen patrolling down the centre of the main thoroughfares. These parties of six to eight Chinese police constables, with an English sergeant, wear, as the nickname implies, steei armour over all the vital portions of the upper body. They are armed with automatics, and the sergeant generally carries his ready in his hand.

At night, even in the most populous streets, one may expect one's vehicle to be stopped for inspection, particularly rickshaws, and it is no uncommon thing to see several Chinese with arms held aloft while being searched by the police. Even in daylight there is plenty of excitement. We well remember while ci-ossing Garden Bridge into Broadway (after nearly being skittled by a furiously-driven car which dashed across the road) finding ourselves under a cross-fire from the occupants (escaping armed robbers) of the car and the police car in pursuit. When happenings such as these can take place in such an efficientlypoliced and controlled city as modern Shanghai one can readily imagine the state of affairs in the surrounding Chinese areas. There is little co-op-eration by the police of the. Chinese areas with those oi 1 the Settlement

and Concession, though members of the former body assist in the house-to-house searches in external roafi areas. These searches are a daily and nightly feature of Shanghai.

The present crisis in Settlement history is bound to greatly increase the difficulties of the authorities hi regard to the above and kindred matters. From the news received up to the present the situation is not at all clear. The boundaries between the Settlement and the Chinese areas are for the most part purely arbitrary, and marked by no natural features. They pass in some instances through the middle of houses.

NEUTRALITY MENACED. The cables state that an area reaching from Range Road to the Japanese headquarters has been destroyed by fire. Range Road, which forms part of the northern Settlement boundary, runs parallel with Nanking Road. There are several public buildings in it—the Kongkew Fire Station, Police Hospital, Victoria Nursing Home, the Public School Hostel, and the Public School for Chinese. The Japanese headquarters lie at the top of North Szchuen Road, about a mile distant. The area affected by the fire would appear to be that area to the west of North Szchuen Road. To the east lies the Dixwell Road area of Chapei, the scene of much heavy fighting during the 1927 trouble. It is also reported that fighting has taken place within 100 yards of the British Consulate. It is difficult to imagine that this "fighting" could have been anything more than a minor street affray, between a few civilians and police, since the Consulate is situate in the heart of the Settlement and far removed from any boundary. Moreover, it is not at all likely that the Japanese would have established any forces in thai parc!cular region. IS, however, the report means what it appears to mean, then the situation in the Settlement is more serious than would appear, as it iifc fc», Voives the violation by both antagon* . ists of the neutrality of the Settlement.