CHINESE TURMOIL

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1926, Page 4

CHINESE TURMOIL

SECOND EDITION

HORRORS PILING UP. RESORT TO -CANNIBALISM. (Received' 1.40 pun.) PEKING, September 28. Scattered reports' issuing l from Wuchang, -which is still besieged, refer to horrors within the city walls. The military commandeered' all food, and a number of civilians have turned cannibals. They are reported to be eating female babies- and animals. All foreigners previously unable to leave are reported safe. The negotiations- for evacuation of native women and' children have failed, owing to further disagreement between rival parties. It is believed that the defending general is merely playing for‘ time, hoping for rescue. ' Latest reports state that 1500 of the Notorious “Red Spear" bandits offered their services to the Reds to capture Wiphang and the offer was accepted willingly. ‘"The “Red Spears" are members of 3 society similar to the Boxers, who caused the famous rebellion. They believe themselves invulnerable to ballets and carry only swords. They are terrible fighters;.

It is also reported that 400 original Boxers have arrived at Hangkow for the- .same purpose. Tbe Boxers are now believed to be affiliated with the “Red Lamp" Society, which was responsible for the offer -of 100 dollars for every foreign head brought to headquarters. They are fanatics, similar to the Thug societies in India, and were the instigators of anti-foreignism at , Chunking, causing the evacuation in July. The murder of a foreign woman, Mrs. Sibley, who was- decapitated and her head backed, was perpetrated by the ‘(Bed Lamps."

> Terrible slaughter is feared in the " event of the “Bed Spears” being smc- : cessful in the Wuchang storming; The populace is panic-etrieken. 1 The gravest anxiety is felt for ,500 I foreign residents in Ghengtu, the capital of Szechuan Province. It is in the ' remotest interior, 25 days’ journey from Shanghai and a 10 days’ ehair ' ‘journey from Chungking. The moun- , tain passes are infested-with -bandits • of the worst type. 1 A message received at Shanghai says J that the situation is daily ■ becoming more serious. The British Consul and ' others are in a predicament as to how !to safeguard the population owing to I remoteness of Ghengtu. j Reports received at Shanghai from Kaifeng state that another town, Chamgtsu, in the vicinity of the recent massacre, .was burned. The fate is unknown >of three British mission- | aides, a man and two : ladies. , ■ Further outrages have been committed in Yiinan Province, and the towns of Tongchang and Talifu have been captured by bandits. Two lady missionaries are in the former. Ho' news has been received of them since 'August 26. !The bandits demanded huge ransom ( from the population, of which part [has been paid. The bandits threaten j to burn and massacre unless the balance I is forthcoming.—A. and N.Z.